How to Groom Your Rabbit

2 of 6 how-to rabbit videos presented by Lisa-Karr-Lilienthal, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Companion Animal Specialist. Rabbits are one of many animal science projects 4-H youth can enroll in. To find out more about 4-H, contact your local extension office.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Rabbit
• Rabbits
• How
• to
• Groom
• Brush
• Comb
• Your
• 4-H
• Animal
• Science
• Project
• Extension
• UNL
• University
• of
• Nebraska
• Lincoln

[sarahtantt]

the vet told me to never grab a rabbit by its neck!!!

[4HLancasterNE]

@sarahtantt You should be very careful when holding a rabbit by the neck. You don't want to use it to lift the rabbit or pick it up like a cat. You can grab here to help stabilize the rabbit when you are moving it or demonstrating a part of the rabbit's body, but you must still support the rabbit's weight with your other hand.

[sektion1]

please just tell me HOW DID U MAKE UR RABBIT SO TAME?? mine is a 9 week old dwarf lionhead, he is constantly scared, but would allow me to pet him and pick him up to take him out of the cage.. thats pretty much it. He wont sit still like the rabbit in the video, and i can never groom his tummy/chest which is getting all entangled.. if i lift him up in my arms he panics and there is no way i can turn him on his back, he starts kicking and wriggling.:( WHAT TO DO????

[4HLancasterNE]

@sektion1 The best thing to do to make them calmer is lots of practice handling. It may help to calm your rabbit if you cover it's eyes while handling and grooming. For some rabbits if they can't see it, it's not happening. You can do this by carrying your rabbit in a football type hold with it's eyes under your arm or by asking a friend to cover the rabbit's eyes when you have it on it's back for grooming or nail trimming.

[chinbunny1]

I raise rabbits for ARBA shows, and grooming their fur like that is not good for them. Brushing against the caot can harm the guard hairs, and throw the coat out of condition. However, it looks like your rabbit is well cared for. My rabbits are short haired, I don't brush unless I have to. The best way to brush is to wet your hands down with water, and run it over the bunnies back, and shoulders. It will work out the loose hair, plus condition the coat. Always go with the fur, never against it.

[4HLancasterNE]

@chinbunny1 Though brushing against the fur is not needed for every breed of rabbit, it may be required to remove excess dirt and impurities. Wiping your rabbit down with damp hands is a great practice for the show table, however, some rabbits may require a more extensive approach. Rabbits that are "blowing a coat" will require regular grooming to remove the undercoat. In this instance, brushing against the fur is a great advantage to avoid skin conditions and fur matting.

[Keirab456]

@omgiheartmusicxxx25

It is safe, but is not necessary, this "trance" is like an act. The rabbit will think it is being attacked and plays dead. Again, it is safe but not necessary to put the rabbit through that kind of trauma.

The worst bedding you could pick is a wood type of shaving this causes respetory problems.

You can brush your bunny as much as you want as little as once a day.

[Keirab456]

I think this video is very helpful but I agree nickynoodles12345, you should not brush from tail to head because this damages skin and fur. Also, you picked the rabbit up the wrong way, you should put one hand under the front legs and then scoop him up with the other under his butt. You also should NEVER put anything anywhere in the rabbits ear. Also, one more thing, you only need to use a soft bristle brush, a metal brush is for a heavy shed

[nickynoodles12345]

u should NEVER i repeat NEVER brush against the fur.NEVER

[aglover100]

is that a real rabbit!?!??!?! its so calm!

[sektion1]

@4HLancasterNE oh okie, i will try doing that, maybe it will help. thank you so much for the advice !!