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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Scruffy butt?

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    • LBJ10
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        I don’t know what’s happening. Wooly is shedding and I have been trying to brush him as much as I can. It seems though that every time I look at his rear, his fur is all scruffy looking. The hairs are all stuck together in swirls, like someone has been giving him cowlicks (note: I’m talking about the area above his tail leading up to his back). Hmm, then again, I suppose Leopold could be giving him cowlicks. I know there aren’t a ton of wooly breed owners on here. Has anyone experienced this problem?


      • Roberta
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          HI LBJ,
          My Piglet is a French Angora and I know exactly what your talking about. Luckily the others are all getting the shorter coats except Blossom who is Daddy’s Little Girl (They are like Peas in a Pod) Unfortunately everyone still likes to sleep in a giant cuddle puddle even though the youngest is now nearly 7 months old and Piglet always ends up at the bottom with Blossom both of whom are victims of Pipi’s mad grooming obsession. Piglet is refusing to be brushed and the performance we had last time was pretty appalling. Perched in my lap grunting and snuffling finally getting his nose under my elbow and taking off under the day bed. (It didn’t help that I had Pepper, Pipi and Blossom all gathered round trying to help. Pepper was at my elbow giving instructions) I have a whole arsenal of special tools now to protect his sensitive skin but he won’t have a bar of it and Blossom is worse. She sits in the litter box and has a dirty butt that she will not let me tend to. I have now had to call in reinforcements. I have found a Specialty Rabbit Groomer nearby who will come out to the house and do a scissor shave. She shows Cashmere’s and Angora’s and knows what she is doing. The whole exercise for 5 nail trims, 1 full shave, 1 partial shave is going to cost around $100-120 including the travelling charge to my place. If she is as good as I have been told I will be singing her praises all over the inernet. I just hope I don’t sabotage myself as everytime I find a good plumber, electrician, vet etc etc etc they end up inundated and I can never get a booking with them again.


        • LBJ10
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            Yes, Wooly turns into a little psycho the second I start brushing him. He boxes and bats at the brush, grunts, and tries to look for an escape route. It’s so weird because I will brush things out back there and then it will be utter chaos again by the next day. I suppose he could be rubbing on stuff too which would add to it. The fur will just look all gnarly and swirly, like a little rat’s nest.


          • RabbitPam
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              You could try bribing him with a baby carrot, which takes a few minutes to chew. He gets it while sitting in exchange for letting you hold him in place by firmly but gently pressing his shoulders, and brushing him out. It may occupy him long enough, and relate a treat with being brushed. No cooperation, no treat. Positive reinforcement for the act of brushing can work. (Not punishment, however.)


            • LBJ10
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                The trick would be finding something that would actually distract him that long. Heh, I had to get one of those rabbits that doesn’t like carrots.

                His favorite thing in the world is banana, but he gobbles that down in a blink of an eye. Regular banana (not the treats) makes him super hyper too. I give him a little bit of that stuff and he’s bouncing off the walls.

                Well, I guess he’s just going to have to have scruffy butt fur all the time. Even if I get it brushed out, it still looks like that in practically no time. I swear, someone has got to be sucking on it.


              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                  Hmmm can you take a picture? I’m having trouble picturing what you mean


                • Roberta
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                    Hi LBJ,

                    Is this anything like it..

                     

                    and here are two of the reason Piglet gets so tussled

                     

                     


                  • LBJ10
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                      Roberta, sort of. I took a pic for you guys. See how the fur is stuck together in swirls. It’s like someone (I’m thinking Leopold) has been sucking on it. Then I suppose Wooly is rubbing on stuff too. I will brush that all out so it isn’t stuck together like that and it returns to that state within a day or two. I try to brush Wooly every day when he’s shedding, but sometimes it doesn’t happen because he is wise to my ways. If I don’t succeed in tricking him, then I have to wait to try again when his guard is down.


                    • RabbitPam
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                        Yes, the idea is finding something that takes time to chew. Bananas won’t do it – and it’s just a sugar rush really. Maybe get some apple tree or willow sticks. Or a willow ring that Wooly likes, but I can see how that may not work.

                        Can the matted fur be trimmed down a wee bit?
                        Also, experienced members, is there anything that could act as a conditioner, like a small amount of mineral oil, that will separate the fur before combing? Something that is harmless to Wooly if tasted?


                      • LBJ10
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                          I will snip any mats off if I find them, but the fur isn’t really matted in that picture. The brush will undo all of that. It just returns to looking like that afterwards. He’s shedding right now so everything is puffy-looking as the fur slides down.
                          I could try the willow ring, but I’m not sure if he would be interested in that if the crazy lady is messing with his rear.


                        • Roberta
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                            I wonder if its new growth coming through under the old fur. The fact that its new and still full of natural oils could be making it cling and twirl as it pushes through the older drier fur that is being molted out.


                          • LBJ10
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                              Maybe. See how it is kinky, like a crimping iron got a hold of him? Does new wool look like that?

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                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Scruffy butt?