Constantly shedding?!?

[KytKattin]

 I brush Nova every day, but the fur doesn’t ever seem to end! When I pet her it doesn’t seem like any fur is coming off, but her cage and pen always have a layer by the end of the day. The Hairbuster gets a lot of fur off as well, and if I am doing that daily, I just don’t understand how there can still be so much everywhere else! My grooming starts with the hairbuster, then I lightly mist her topcoat (like dewdrops in the morning, not even close to her skin!) and smooth things over with a boarhair brush to get anything loose off the surface.  If she was actually going through a molt I would be able to get hair off her by petting, so this must just be normal shedding.  

How do you combat the hair?

[Sam and Lady's Human]

My girls barely shed it seems, so I’m not sure. But I’m curious, why do you mist her?

[KytKattin]

It is just like how some people wet their hands and then rub off the fur, I just do it with a brush. Since it would be bad for the brush to be spayed directly, I just spay her. Gets all the loose top hairs off wonderfully, hence why I can’t figure out where all this cage fluff is coming from!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Ooh thats cool! I’ll have to try that. Is she long haired? Maybe the daily grooming is stimulating more hair to grow?

[KytKattin]

I think it works pretty well, but it has to be a final step. If the hair has any moisture the Hairbuster doesn’t work very well, so it is always the last thing I do. She is the spotted one in my signature, so no, not long haired at all! lol. Could being fat contribute to her hair growth/loss? Her coat is soft and shiny, but maybe too much nutrition causes too much growth… She is slowly slimming down.

[Bunniesandferrets]

is she a dutch? or related to dutch or angora??
The reason people can make angora coats out of rabbit hair is because the angora rabbit constantly grows and sheds that nice long hair. The dutch rabbit is related to the angora and does the same thing. Mimzy ALWAYS has these chunks of loose fur coming out of her.
Do you know what exact breed she is or related to?

[KytKattin]

She is Polish, and I almost 100% sure. She was someone’s 4H project before she was dumped, so she must be a purebred something, and she looks Polish. I honestly don’t remember what they were originally bred for, but with their spots, I somehow doubt it was for fur.

[Stickerbunny]

Kyt, Powder is the same way and he’s a … I have been told NZ white by breeders, but not sure. Some rabbits just seem to have constant hair. lol I sweep it up every day to keep the excess out of the room, but no amount of brushing ever stops it.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

No help but I feel your pain. Rupert is a shedding machine. And Kahlua hardly sheds but needs shaving often. But when it’s shedding season, I have Rupert hair in my eyes, my mouth, my face…Yikes.

[KytKattin]

Actually, I have another problem now. She is getting a bald spot on her back. I think I might be over brushing her… Like when another rabbit over grooms their mate. Oops. Probably from the hair buster… Though she could just be getting ready to molt. Hence why I am thinking she is shedding constantly. She also might be a little stressed, lots of new things happening. Her skin is nice and pink, not irritated or red, so I don’t think it is a big concern. I will just keep an eye on it and try to brush less…

[jerseygirl]

Ah yes, if she’s just moved with you (I think you posted that??) that could trigger a shed.

Her coat is soft and shiny, but maybe too much nutrition causes too much growth…

I’m certain nutrition does have a bit to do with shedding. I know certain foods (seeds that contain oils I think) can cause some moulting. I’d also read rabbits need to increase their energy intake by 40% to be able to moult then grow the new coat. I’m sorry though as I read that mentioned by someone but there was no source quoted.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Bunniesandferrets on 01/06/2012 02:41 PM
is she a dutch? or related to dutch or angora??
The reason people can make angora coats out of rabbit hair is because the angora rabbit constantly grows and sheds that nice long hair. The dutch rabbit is related to the angora and does the same thing.

That’s really interesting!

[KytKattin]

She is in a new location, but the big move isn’t until Jan 21st. I am also wondering if her Circadian rhythm wasn’t messed up by that. She is going to have to adjust to a new schedule, though she should be able to sleep fine during the day while I am at school.

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