What are the best grooming tools for a small bunny

[Silly Sungura]

Hodari has these little tufts on each side of her rear, like wings of semi loose hair and I can’t seem to comb them out. (Not without torturing her, anyway.) All I’m using right now is a flea comb. I wanted to get the comb that’s sold here, but I have a similar one already and it is actually pretty darn sharp and heavy! I worry about using it on such a delicate animal. I like that the flea comb is light and gentle, but with her hair growing much longer, it just isn’t working. Not to mention the fact that she’s starting to get little mats in those tufts from peeing and sitting in the litter box. So, I’m wondering what you all use on your long-haired, smaller bunnies.

Thanks!

[Beka27]

Have you tried a slicker brush? A small one made for cats would probably work well on her. With longer-furred breeds you have to be very diligent on frequent (daily or every other day) grooming. Getting her used to it now is imperative.

[Lagomorphic]

You can gently pull them out with your fingers. I’ve had better luck with that than any kind of a brush. Sometimes it’s easier to pull one out bit by bit rather than all at once. I usually do this as I’m petting them. So I’ll do a couple of long, full-body pets, pull a couple of clumps, do some more full-body pets, get some more clumps, etc.

[Elrohwen]

I have the Hairbuster comb from this site and I love it! It’s definitely not heavy.

In general, I find that different brushes work better with different rabbits – mine are both lops, but their hair is different enough that I use different brushes. Otto has silkier hair, and the slicker brush doesn’t do much unless the fur is really loose, but the hairbuster works great. Hannah’s hair is shorter and denser and the slicker works better with her. I got one specifically for small animals, but it doesn’t have the blunt plastic ends – I find those ones don’t work at all on my buns.

I also have a furminator which works well, but neither of them like it so I rarely use it.

eta: I’m also a fan of the plucking technique. They hate when I do it, but I try to be stealthy.

[Silly Sungura]

Yeah, I have to be sneaky when working around her bottom. She flinches a little even if I barely touch her there. I do groom her every day, though, and she sits still for it and grinds her teeth gently. I will definitely try the fur buster, if you guys thinks it’s good. I do like that it looks like it’s got some rubbery cushioning around the shorter tines. My other shedding comb seems potentially dangerous, as I have conked my cats with it on occasion during our grooming sessions, and it gets caught in the carpet fibers sometimes, too. I will also try a slicker for cats since you think that might help. I often order from Drs Foster and Smith, and I know they carry a few but I didn’t know how suitable they’d be… Most of their selection for rabbits, per se, isn’t always the best. I would say that Hodari’s hair is quite silky and getting more dense, particularly around her bottom, if that helps.

[mia]

Posted By Elrohwen on 05/02/2011 01:00 PM

I have the Hairbuster comb from this site and I love it! It’s definitely not heavy.

In general, I find that different brushes work better with different rabbits – mine are both lops, but their hair is different enough that I use different brushes. Otto has silkier hair, and the slicker brush doesn’t do much unless the fur is really loose, but the hairbuster works great. Hannah’s hair is shorter and denser and the slicker works better with her. I got one specifically for small animals, but it doesn’t have the blunt plastic ends – I find those ones don’t work at all on my buns.

I also have a furminator which works well, but neither of them like it so I rarely use it.

eta: I’m also a fan of the plucking technique. They hate when I do it, but I try to be stealthy.

Would you say the furminator is worth the high pricetag?

I have the comb that’s on this site and I agree that it’s is not heavy at all.

[Silly Sungura]

Thank you, miaeih. I have wondered about the furminator, too. I hear it’s great, but am very reluctant to spend that much unless it really would be best for my bunny. The hair buster sounds good, though. Hodari is so tiny- not even two pounds – that I just don’t want to use anything that’s too big or heavy.

[Ashley and Emily]

When you said you groom your bin everyday my jaw dropped! Emily hates being brushed or even seeing the brush! How am I ever going to get her to get used to being groomed!?! She is molting and needs it but I am avoiding the fight right now by just petting her and wiping away what I can if she even let’s me do that! Im sure it’s a process we will get it eventually!

[Tate]

Depends on the bunny, but I would not use a furminator on mine! I think they have quite a few different varieties now though. Mine is just a basic one that’s good for all hair types. I used to be a dog groomer and would only use my furminator on labs with thick coats!! Not saying it wouldn’t work, but I wouldn’t spend the money on it. You could always return it though!

[Silly Sungura]

Ashley and Emily: I think I am pretty lucky that she likes to be groomed. When I first started with her, she was always hopping away. She never got upset, though, and she even lets me comb her when she’s eating, which surprises me! Hopefully your bunny will get used to it if you keep trying. The thing I am dreading is cutting her nails – the vet did this for us – and cleaning her glands because she will not tolerate being picked up. I will definitely have to take the advice I’ve read here, and stay on the ground with her and go slow.

Thank you, Tate, for the info. It helps to have the opinion of a groomer, even if we are talking about a different type of critter. You do also have experience with bunnies, so I trust your judgement. Maybe if I could try one out first, but I do not want to buy one and have to send/take it back.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

I use a little pack I bought from Petco, it has a small slicker brush, then I use the soft one thats like a baby brush. He seems to enjoy it.

[Tate]

No problem.
I would go with a slicker brush. They look painful because they are SPIKY, but won’t hurt her. Just go slow and be gentle. My boys like when I hold the brush up and let them run their face on it. Haha

[Silly Sungura]

Great! I’ll get her a small slicker then, and possibly the hair buster comb that’s sold here. Here’s a pic of her fluffy butt! 

 

 

 

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Agh she’s so cute! Why wont my bunny lay like that!!

[Silly Sungura]

OneTwoThree, I bet your bunny will eventually lay like that. It took Hodari a while to do it. Her out of cage time has become less novel to her, and she’s much more at ease. We’ve had her for a little more than two months. When we first got her all she wanted to do was explore and make mad dashes all over the bed. And thanks for the compliment. I really like the fluffy bunny butt, but a good combing out is gonna be needed very often methinks.

[LoveChaCha]

Chacha does it most of the time that she is out hehe.

I agree, plucking is the best method.

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