Can’t groom!

[Quentari]

I’ve had my bunny for just over a month, he’s 3 months old now. He’s a cashmere mini lop, so I knew when I got him that he’d need regular grooming. I brought a brush kit, and a pair of sharp blunt-ended scissors just in case they were needed.

The breeder neglected to mention that he HATED being groomed.

At first I’d just try to brush him while he was lying near me, but he’d run away pretty quick. I’ve even had him attack the brush! This is getting to be a problem because upon inspection when I got him home he has a huge matt of fur on one of his hind legs and on his chest between his front legs. He had one under his chin but I managed to get that with only a little trouble and now he’s forming smaller matts on the back of his neck.

I finally thought to myself that I’d have to do whatever it takes so I put him up on the bench with a towel under him so he doesn’t slip and slide (I know he doesn’t like that) but as soon as I started brushing him he seemed so scared! he was trying to hide in my jacket and my arm and actually jumped up into my arms to get away from the brush. I even tried giving him a treat to calm him, not even Bok Choy (his favourite) could calm him. He didn’t want to eat at all!

I’m being as gentle as possible, there’s no way I’m pulling his skin. This is my first bunny and I’d love to be able to take care of him properly. I can’t have him with matted fur, it’s gotta be hurting him or annoying him at least but I don’t know how to calm him.

[LittlePuffyTail]

At that age, it makes sense that he’s more excitable about being brushed. My buns are 6 years old and still hate being brushed. Olivia acts like I’m torturing her every time and they get groomed almost every night. I would never be able to brush them on the floor. I put them on a towel on the kitchen table. The area is blocked off by my grooming caddy so they are sort of stuck on the towel. I think grooming on a table or bench is your best bet. Just make sure, obviously, to never leave bunny unsupervised for even a second.

I suggest just keeping at it. Groom a little every day. He will probably never learn to like it but will learn not to be so fearful. Always follow with a healthy treat. I keep dried papaya in my grooming bin and as soon as I’m done, they expect their candy.

[Beka27]

When it comes to grooming, some stress isn’t a bad thing because it tends to frighten them into a prey response where they are more manipulative.

I bring my bunny into the bathroom and close the door to minimize noise. I put her on a towel on the bathroom counter in a spot where she is cornered (the wall on one side, backsplash in front, and me standing up against the counter) so there is only the other side that is open which I can easily block.

I groom quick. I don’t prolong it, if I don’t get everything, I get it next time. I don’t brush for longer than 3-5 minutes, but my bun is a very short-haired mini rex.

If matts are already developing, can you take him to the vet for some assistance in getting them out (and maybe shearing down the problem areas and “starting over”)?

[LBJ10]

If he is getting matted pretty bad, then I agree you may want to “start over”. If his hair is short and you are grooming him on a regular basis, then it will be beneficial in two ways. First his hair is short, so you can get him used to being groomed without too much pulling going on. Second, his hair is growing out and being brushed at the same time, so it will be easier to keep tangle free.

With Wooly, I usually bring him out to the living room where he can sit in my lap. He is pretty good about sitting in my lap, but I think putting your bun on a strange surface like a counter would be a better place to start. With wooly-breed fur, you have to start at the tips and work your way outward. I like to lift Wooly’s fur up so I can brush the fur near the bottom (like right above his tail) and work my way up (like on his back). If that makes sense. Wooly doesn’t appreciate being groomed, but I usually don’t have too much trouble. I think it is something that comes with age. He is 3 now.

[LBJ10]

Oh yeah, and a reward for being tortured is good. I always give it to Wooly after we are done. I put him down and he immediately looks for his treat. I knows now that he gets one for being a “good boy”.

[tanlover14]

Hmmm, I just wanted to mention… I read it when I was trying to get all the mats and knots out of Nora’s fur shortly after we rescued her from a pet store… but that scissors should never be used to cut a mat out of the fur. I read because they have such sensitive skin, it can easily tear the skin if you tug too hard and such.

Someone else feel free to correct me, I believe I read it on HRS though. It said to instead invest in a very cheap pair of clippers and clip the mat off so there’s absolutely no yanking.

[Roberta]

Piglet (French Angora) just had his Spring shave… He is a very happy bun at the moment… He loves his crew cut and does shuffle binkies and ear wiggles for hours afterwards… This time I even got mutually groomed whilst Peta was shearing… I cuddle whilst Peta trims… I was licked and snorgled through most of the process.

[LBJ10]

Tanlover – I believe scissors are okay to use as long as you don’t pull. If I use scissors, I use the blunt kind that are mean for dogs. I don’t try to cut anything that is too close to the skin. I hold the scissors so that the blades are flat in reference to the skin. I carefully cut without pulling on the mat at all. The reason you don’t want to pull is because their skin is super stretchy. If you pull, then you run the risk of accidentally cutting them. Obviously using scissors is not the most ideal method and clippers would be safer. So if you’re not comfortable using them or your bun is struggling and fighting, then I would recommend using a different method. Otherwise, I can snip little mats off of Wooly no problem at all. He sits just fine and doesn’t seem to mind it. It’s the pulling when being brushed that he doesn’t like.

[Stickerbunny]

Both of mine hate being brushed. But, they are short haired, so I can get away with a bit more. Since yours is long haired and developing mats, just keep at it and groom a little every day until he understands you aren’t going to hurt him. I use craisins for grooming sessions, so after a groom the buns each get one and they forget we were just torturing them as soon as they hear the bag.

[Quentari]

Thanks for the tips!

He went in for his snip today so I got the vet to clip off the worst spots. Next time I’ll have a piece of fruit or something for him to calm him down, he hasn’t had any fruit yet (only veggies) so it should be a good treat

I’ll brush him again tomorrow (might skip today, poor thing’s had enough today I think) and have some fruit handy. Maybe a second person that he likes to help soothe him.

[tanlover14]

I use craisins to reward them for sitting there also! My buns go NUTS for craisins.

[Stickerbunny]

Be sure to introduce any new foods (especially fruit) slowly as too much can upset their tummies and cause gas, or in more severe cases stasis. So just a nibble until you know it won’t negatively effect him.

[justwildbeat]

Ugh grooming. I have a super woolly lionhead and he’s learned to tolerate it more or less. He just needed to get used to the brushing sensation, plus treats/food bribes helped a lot. Just be consistent with it and have lots of patience. I love how fluffy my bun looks after a grooming, so it’s worth it (sometimes lol).

[Ali925]

Both of mine absolutely hate being groomed. One used to love it when she was <1 year old, now forget about it! They're holland lops and seem to shed constantly! The only way I can groom them is to bring them to a room they don't know (same place I do nail trims, administer meds, etc), on top of a dresser with towel on top.. I try to be quick and they'll tolerate it for a bit, although it's still a struggle. I'm agreeing with what everyone else has already said, just thought I'd add my 2cents. Afterwards I give a treat, and give them time to get over being mad at me haha. Although it seems they're much happier once they're all cleaned up, and back in their homes <img src='/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/BB_Theme//emoticons/wink.gif' align="absmiddle" border="0" />

[Kbana]

I too have this same problem. Though mine doesn’t mind the brush (as of now she is only a few months old so we’ll see if it lasts), and she loves massages. But whenever I get close to her hinds she hates it. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I rescued mine from a pet store a few weeks ago and got her with pretty bad mats on her neck and hinds. She is a lionhead/lop mix and has a mane and wooly bottom. The one on her neck is easily accessible but I hesitate clipping it off for fear of cutting her. I am a new bunny mom so I am hoping the vet can help when I take her for a check up on Thursday. She is still too young to be spayed but I was hoping they could take care of some of the more difficult mats when she is already under. Though I don’t think I’ll be able to make her wait that long. Poor thing. Let me know if your bun starts to come around. I’ll be anxious to see if mine will too. Good luck!!

[Quentari]

Hey!

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help. He still won’t eat while being groomed but I think he’s enjoying his sliver of banana after every session! (I’m eating the rest, so it’s good for me too!)

There’s still a few matts I haven’t managed to ge, but he’s a lot less freaked out now when it’s grooming time and I’m slowly getting there. I started using one of HIS blankets to cover the bench instead of a clean towel and I think that’s helped a little.

Thanks again everyone!

[Nelli]

It’s good to hear that things are improving! Just wanted to say about using scissors to cut the matts, well, I use those very small ones that are meant for men to cut their beard, They are very sharp, true, but the way I cut is I kind of cut the matt itself in half. That way many times the remainder of the matt just kind of untangles. I don’t know if I can explain it properly, but since the skin underneath is pulled by the matt, then when the matt is “spread” by cutting, it’s easier to remove the rest of it, or sometimes, if you’re lucky, just untangle it with your fingers. (My buns get the matts between their hind legs.)

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