water brushing

[bwild]

So I might be the worst bunny mom ever. I hurt Thumper, AGAIN, while brushing him tonight. It wasn’t the brush this time though, it was just Thumper’s skin is so darn thin! The brush (soft brissels) pulled out a clump of hair and attached to the bottom of the lump was SKIN! It’s not a very large wound, and I still have the Silvaderme cream, so hopefully it will heal fairly quickly. 

Obviously I’m giving up brushing Thumper with a brush, and I plan to start doing the ‘wet hand’ brushing. When doing this, is warm or cold water better? How wet should I actually have my hand? Any other suggestions? 

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Oh, I think I do this with Lady, just because I can’t find the pet brush. It shouldn’t matter what temp the water is, the reason it works is because your hand when damp creates a friction and grabs all the loose hairs. I’ve used a baby wipe a few times before too. But she has shorter hair, so maybe its different.

[Mandyyy]

Bunnies naturally have really thin skin*, so most tell you not to use a wire brush. :/

I am not sure on the technique you are talking about, but I use a small bunny brush that’s good for removing lose fur chuncks during molting and gentle on their skin. I also don’t repeat brushing in certain areas; in case it irritates them.

[bwild]

Okay, thanks you all. I’m waiting to try anything out on him until his sore heals (probably going to take him into the vet monday as he seems to be messing with it and not going to let it heal. Luckily, my vet only charges me about $25 to put a stitches in!

And @Mandyyyy, this brush wasn’t even a wire brush! I made that mistake the first time and actually cut him with the brush! This time was the case of the skin just came along with the hair. So no more brushes, of any kind, for me!

[kinggoblin]

Oh jeeze, I’ve never tried water brushing my bunny, he brushes himself on his cardboard house in his cage, lol. I vacuum it daily because his loose fur gets caught on the doorway as he runs in/out and falls to the bottom of his cage

[bwild]

Haha kinggoblin, I have to vacuum daily because Thumper does the same thing, except his fur just comes out all over the place (but especially on the door of his cage)! It’s like he’s molting 24/7, it’s ridiculous!

[RabbitPam]

I’d just get it about room temperature, warmish but not very, and not cold. So there’s no really noticeable temp. change for him to feel if that makes sense.

Start stroking him from head to tail, in the direction of his fur. Just pet him “with the grain” , ie. the direction his fur grows in, in short or long strokes, removing the fur you get off each time. It should just feel like pets to him. don’t forget underneath.

[Author]

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