Grooming Questions

[dlscanne]

So I’ve only had rabbits for 1.5 years, which I realize is a relatively short time.  I’m still trying to get used to my bunnies shedding routine.

Just wondering first of all what you guys find to be the best brushes for your rabbit’s coat.  I use a shedding comb and a “zoom groom” on Franklin, and just the zoom groom on Winston because he won’t tolerate the comb (which is fine because it doesnt seem to work on his more wooly coat).  Do you think shedding combs could be too harsh on their skin?  I’m talking the rectangular kind with two lengths of teeth.  I found slickers to be pretty useless except for finishing touches.

Also, when do you find laxatives necessary or useful?  I just used one for the first time because despite regular brushing, Franklin had some poops stuck together with hair and some seemed a little smaller.  Everything was normal within hours, but I gave her another dose the next day just in case.  Do you think this is proper use?  Do you guys ever use it as a preventative measure during shedding?

Also, I’m curious how long do your rabbits typically shed for?  Franklin seems to shed for 3 months at a time.  Her undercoat is so dense, I end up with fistfulls every time I groom her, which is every day!  She has short hair but it is so silky and dense, I wonder if she might have some satin breed in her.

[Puddle Bunny]

Mr. Puddles is a mini rex, so his hair is very short and velvety. The only thing that has worked for his coat is a shedding rake that we use for our husky.
After that I just wet down my hands and go over his fur. Then to get the fur off your hands, just rub them together. I do this a few times, but could do it all day really.
I haven’t ever tried any laxitives with him though. That makes me nervous. I bet some ofo the others will have good ideas.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

What kind of laxatives are you referring to? Human ones are no good!

If you mean pineapple/papaya tablets, pineapple juice (fresh) or Petromalt those are all rabbit safe. I don’t use petromalt anymore, the buns don’t really like it and its not really shown to do anything. Everyone gets an oxbow papaya tablet daily (Kahlua won’t always eat hers-she’s watching her figure I’m told she’s not really into treats actually) and I feed pineapple and papaya when I can.

I think the brushing and hay are the most important.

[dlscanne]

oh yes I meant the Petromalt type. I have the Peter’s brand. I do give them both a couple Oxbow papaya tablets a day and their diet is nearly all hay, so I should be good then. I dont know if Franklin’s issue cleared up on its own or because of the laxative. It says on the label that you can use it regularly every day as a preventative measure during shedding, but that sounded like not the best idea to me. It has molasses in it and that doesnt seem like something they should eat that much of. It seemed to work for this little incident, maybe I’ll just keep it in my back pocket for times like that.

[KatnipCrzy]

Using hairball remedies like Laxatone or Petromalt is debatable in bunnies.  Some vets feel that the products coat the hairball (usually a mineral oil based type med) and actually slow any possible passing of hair- it prevents it from staying moist in the rabbits gut.  But there are of course arguments for it too.  Just like papaya tablets are questionable if they REALLY help or not.  Mine like them as a treat so I give the papaya tablets as a treat.  (Fresh pineapple and fresh papaya are supposed to be more beneficial).

If you notice poos stung together by hair- THIS IS A GOOD THING!!!  It means any hair ingested IS passing.  The problem is what a large amount of hair lingers in the rabbit gut and causes problems.  So as much a pain in the butt to clean the “double” or “pearl” poos are it means the hair is passing thru.  Rabbits like cats are such clean animals and groom themselves frequently- that even if you combed daily and gave “whatever” remedy- you should still see some hair pass. 

You could only be concerend if you are see a LOT of hair-connected poos.  But the best rememdy would still be using a comb, Hair Buster, Zoom Groom, Furminator, etc.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have 3 rabbits with very different types of fur and I use the following things to get me through shedding:

-Furminator for cats (on my mini-rex and short haired mix)
-small plastic baby comb (mini-rex)-
-Detangling comb with rotating teeth (for my lop)
– small slicker brush (Lil Pals brand made for toy breed puppies, I find it’s nice and gentle for the buns)
and wet hands and lots hay to help pass the hair.

I had to experiment with lots of different brushes to find what’s right for each bun.

[Author]

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