Elder Bun Care

[BrunosMama]

Hello all of you fabulous bunny people! 🙂

My bun Caesar is getting quite old, he is 9 1/2 and aside from being blind, is perking along quite well. Due to age, he has trouble grooming and needs butt baths a few times a week because his edible poops sometimes get stuck/cant reach them and it’s a mess.

His fur is constantly coming out, like a heavy molt every day. But, he never goes bald or anything, just gobs of loose fur that easily plucks out.

My question is this: when bunnies groom themselves, does it move natural oils and stuff to keep their fur healthy? He can’t/doesnt groom as often as when he was younger and he lost his mate a year or so ago, so no help grooming. Would running a comb through his fur help simulate his own grooming and help his fur be healthier? I try to keep up on removing loose fur, but it seems never ending.

He was to the vet this Spring and got a clean bill of health, aside from being blind (which we had known for awhile).

Thanks for any advice! I have not had a bun this old before, so just wanted to check in. 🙂 I hope you have all been well and that your buns are doing great, too! 🙂

[Bam]

Congratulations on having a healthy senior bun!

If Caesar approves, brushing is good. It increases blood flow to the skin, so it is a form of light massage. Some rabbits dont like being brushed though, so I’m thinking it’s up to Caesar to “decide”.

Removing loose fur by plucking, brushing and/or combing is very important. It decreases the amount of fur the bun can ingest. If Caesar is smooth haired (i e not a lionhead or teddy or angora) you can remove quite a bit of loose hair with a sticky paper lint roller. This method is gentle on the bun.

[BrunosMama]

Thanks Bam! I figured this was the case, but was just curious. 🙂

[LBJ10]

RE: Poopy butt – This is probably due to arthritis. Have you considered doing sanitary shaves?

[BrunosMama]

Hey LBJ 🙂

Yes. I have asked the vet about it, but he is hesitant because of rabbits delicate skin. He said he normally sedates rabbits when he has to shave them and due to Caesars age, that’s not an option.

I have been giving him Oxbow Joint Support treats. He loves them, but sometimes it seems like it makes the poopy butt worse? So, I am trying to cut back on them to see if it helps. He is good about eating hay and such, though.

I have tried trimming him myself, but am finding it difficult to get decent enough trimmers that will work on his thick fur.

[LBJ10]

Hiya! Hmm… that’s interesting. I’ve never had issues. My vet doesn’t shave too close and she doesn’t sedate either.

[Bam]

Some joint support (GAGs, glucoseaminoglucans) can sometimes cause stomach upset in humans as well.

Is he on meloxicam for arthritis? (Meloxicam can be a bit hard on the tummy too, but can be combined with famotidine to protect the stomach lining). Arthritic rabbits typically do well on a maintenance dose of meloxicam. For more severe pain, gabapentin is sometimes used.

 

[BrunosMama]

Thanks guys! 🙂

No, he isn’t on meloxicam or anything. I will ask the vet about it, though, if the supplements end up causing more trouble than good.

He seems to be enjoying the brushing 🙂 He gets all settled in while I comb and pluck his fur. He is such a good boy and rarely gets feisty about the baths and brushing. 🙂 I found a comb with softer teeth and it doesnt seem to bother him, so hopefully it will help make his fur a bit healthier.

[Bam]

How lovely that he enjoys the brushing! 🥰

[Bunstar]

Yay! I’m glad Caesar doesn’t mind being combed. I also have a 9 1/2 yo elder-bun. I have her a butt clean today and noticed I should have been doing this for a while! There were some nasty clumps in there, but she HATES being held and groomed. Have you tried the Fur Buster comb? I like it because the rubber strips hold on to the loose undercoat but the teeth are gentle.

[BrunosMama]

Hi Bunstar!

I haven’t tried the Fur Buster comb yet. I have a similar brush for my cats that works wonders on the long haired one, though!

Yeah, holding/picking up buns can be stressful for everyone involved lol. Fortunately, Caesar is pretty mellow and doesn’t get too upset. 🙂

Thank you for the suggestion!

[Author]

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