Vet visit preparation, brushing, etc.

[Boing]

At long last my transportation issues are resolved, and I have vacation when the rabbit vet is in.  I have made an appointment.

Is there anything I should bring in the car with him?  There is air conditioning, but it’s very hot and humid here, and I wonder if he would like water, or should I bring his favorite red leaf lettuce? 

How do they check teeth?  That is something I need done.  He is still very into devouring tree branches (not just the bark).  The sudden desire for them that I posted about months ago never went away.

Does anyone actually have a rabbit that lets them brush their stomach?  He has finally gotten used to ‘top’ brushing, but thumps if I so much as think about brushing his stomach or chin.

On an unrelated, strange note, my cat is imitating my rabbit!  I saw her precariously balance on her hind legs right in front of him, and use both paws to wash her face.  She looked incredibly smug (even for a cat), and was looking right at him!  Has anyone ever heard of this interspecies imitation?  It was exactly like how rabbits wash.  I was so shocked that I missed getting a picture.  I will bide my time, but am not a very good photographer.  I can’t even get a binky – my rabbit is happy, and I promise he does actually binky.  

[Mocha]

In the car, I would put some hay, a towel, and a small piece of lettuce in his carrier. I wouldn’t put water, as it would get really messy and he would probably be too scared to even drink it.

My vet puts her thumbs on either side of my rabbits mouth and very gently pulls the skin it aside. One of my rabbits Mocha, hates it, but my other Rumpus doesn’t mind.

My rabbits don’t shed on their stomachs, so I dont brush them. My rabbits dont even groom their stomach. Are you sure that he might not just be grooming his bottom? For the chin, I usually hold a treat up high, making them stand, and let them eat the treat while I pluck out the loose bits of fur.

Upload pictures of your cat!

[Boing]

Thank you for the advice, Mocha!  I did as you said, and things went well.  The vet gave him a clean bill of health, and was particularly impressed by his coat and teeth.  He was very good for the exam.  As for my cat, I didn’t get a picture of her acting rabbit-like, but it was so cute.  

[Eepster]

Posted By Boing on 6/27/2014 7:04 PM

On an unrelated, strange note, my cat is imitating my rabbit!  I saw her precariously balance on her hind legs right in front of him, and use both paws to wash her face.  She looked incredibly smug (even for a cat), and was looking right at him!  Has anyone ever heard of this interspecies imitation?  It was exactly like how rabbits wash.  I was so shocked that I missed getting a picture.  I will bide my time, but am not a very good photographer.  I can’t even get a binky – my rabbit is happy, and I promise he does actually binky.  

We once got a kitten so young she hadn’t learned how to wash herself yet from her mother.  So, my sister and I had to wash her.  We would run water over a wash cloth at the sink then wipe off the kitten, again run the wash cloth under the tap, wipe, over and over till our kitten was clean.   She also would sit on the bathroom counter watch my sister and I wash our faces and brushing our teeth.  

When she was older, she bathed herself by sitting next to the sink holding her paw under the running water from the tap and then rubbing herself with it and licking the water off the paw.  It was sort of a combination of normal cat grooming and human grooming.

[Eepster]

Oh, and to answer your real question, I always just put a few greens in the carrier with Porky when we go to the vet.  He never wants his belly combed.  Porky has short fur, so it really doesn’t matter.

[Author]

Messages