Is brushing really necessary?

[Shiver_Rose]

Hello bunny luvers,

I have a quick question.  Is brushing actually necessary?  I would think that all of the hay they eat clears out any hairballs and reduces risk of impaction.

The reason I ask is because my bunny absolutely *hates* it and she is very very difficult to handle.

How often do you brush your buns?    

[Wick & Fable]

Yours looks like an angora, so definitely yes.

Wick is a Netherland and I groom him when he is shedding and aside from that which is daily, I’ll do it once per week or less often when he’s not shedding.

To make it easier for both of us, I usually just use my fingers to tug out loose fur tuffs, rather than brushing.

Grooming is very important. You may want to experiment with brushes to see which she tolerates best.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

My bunnies are absolute nightmares when it comes to being brushed. I use a grooming mit but even then I can only get a few pets/strokes with it The only way I can give them a proper groom is by luring them into their carrier, putting it on the kitchen work tops, taking the top of the carrier off and then grooming as much as possible. Getting them in their carrier is stressful tho (for me and them!)

[Muchelle]

Please groom the bun properly, especially during molting periods. If you link the grooming moment with treats giving or food moment it might accept it slowly (mine did). We had a very bad experience because of a fur ball that got stuck inside him, so it’s worth stressing the bun a bit to keep him away from harm

[Azerane]

Yes brushing is necessary. I brush once a week outside of moults, and when they are moulting I try to brush them every day (though don’t always succeed).

If I don’t brush them, I quickly start to notice fur build up in the poop, which is fine, but you never know when that fur can become too much fur for their little bodies to pass.

[Shiver_Rose]

Sarathegemini:

“My bunnies are absolute nightmares when it comes to being brushed. I use a grooming mit but even then I can only get a few pets/strokes with it  The only way I can give them a proper groom is by luring them into their carrier, putting it on the kitchen work tops, taking the top of the carrier off and then grooming as much as possible. Getting them in their carrier is stressful tho (for me and them!)”

This is a good idea!  Maybe I’ll try that.  She might feel safer in a carrier and I know from administering meds in the past that they are much less likely to move on a high surface.

[Shiver_Rose]

Posted By Wick on 9/17/2017 9:19 AM

Yours looks like an angora, so definitely yes.

Wick is a Netherland and I groom him when he is shedding and aside from that which is daily, I’ll do it once per week or less often when he’s not shedding.

To make it easier for both of us, I usually just use my fingers to tug out loose fur tuffs, rather than brushing.

Grooming is very important. You may want to experiment with brushes to see which she tolerates best.

She is a lionhead/holland lops mix so that’s where she gets that lion’s mane.  But yes, you’re right she is very hairy and it would be important to groom her.

[Shiver_Rose]

All very good advice.  Thanks everyone.  Btw how do I tell when she’s moulting?  Probably when there’s lots of hair clumping (usually toward her rear end) right?

[Bam]

As a rule there’s no mistaking it when a bun is molting. Hairs cone off when you pet the bunny. There’s suddenly hair in your mouth, in your food, in your nose and on your clothes. Your home gets filled with bunny fluff. You start feeling the need for a good lint-roller.

[DanaNM]

If your bun loves pellets (or some other healthy treat), you might be able to groom while you feed his pellet ration.

Moose doesn’t really like to be brushed, but I have started doing it while he eats his pellets (and praising him a lot when he stays still), and it’s been working out great.

Now he only gets his pellets while he’s being groomed, so he tolerates it pretty well.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[joea64]

I think maybe this weekend, I ought to try brushing Panda and Fernando while they’re having their evening salad. With 4+ cups of green vegetables for them to nom, there’s enough to eat that they’ll be pretty much focused on it so maybe if I’m careful and gentle about it I can get away with brushing at least one of them. It’s proven that they’ll hold still for petting when they’re given treats, so it seems to be worth expanding on.

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