The Importance of Grooming

[BunLover1221]

Hi, BTW I’m a new member, this is my first post I don’t have a bun but I may get one this summer (so excuse me if any info is wrong). I’ve done heavy research, and I wanted to join some bunny forums so here I am
Moving on…
Rabbits do groom themselves, yes, but unlike cats they cannot vomit therefore you need to groom your rabbit everyday so it does not cause severe blockages. Feeding your rabbit hay everyday will also help this (but feeding hay is not a choice: feed your rabbit every day and keep the vet away )
So yes, groom your rabbit every day or every other day during a shed, and every 3-4 days or a week other wise, but it really depends a lot on your breed. You should keep several brushes and combs to groom your bunny. One type that it great is a flea comb such as the furminator. This will help get out little tangles and such. Another comb that your buns may actually LOVE is a curry comb. Usually they are used on horses, and are the rubbery bristled soft combs. These are great as they are gentle on your rabbit but will grip any loose fur. But before we jump in with the brushes, start by plucking out any loose tufts. If the fur is not ready to come out, don’t, but try and get out tufts. If you like, you can even dampen your hand a bit and just pet your rabbit. The flea and curry combs are the only ones you might need, but if there are other combs available. I suppose you could use a soft bristled toothbrush a little on the face and sensitive areas. Along with brushing, you should clip your rabbits nails… But that a completely different subject.
I think most rabbit should cooperate with grooming, if not, maybe give thems some noms to cheer em up

[GottaLoveTheAngora]

I congratulate you on being a responsible rabbit owner- by doing your fair share of research in preparation for adding a new member to your family. Sadly, many first-time rabbit owners purchase a rabbit on an impulse, without truly knowing the commitment involved in owning one. Let me tell you, it is definitely no “walk in the park”- as I am sure you already know from your apparent hours of research. Why is it that rabbits end up in the shelters more often than cats and dogs? Rabbits are more high maintenance than more common household pets, and require a whole lot more work than one might think. Some rabbit breeds are more work than others- but generally a rabbit will consume anywhere from 3-5 hours of your day, 7 days a week, for 5-15 years. Many first time rabbit owners do not know the commitment that is involved in owning a rabbit, along with the cost of maintaining them, and behavioral problems that can arise when they enter into their adolescent years. For example: I once met a woman at our local pet store who was purchasing hay for her college-aged daughter’s rabbit, somehow we began a conversation and she explained that her daughter’s rabbit had begun destructive behaviour. Once I began to ask her questions pertaining to the age of the rabbit, and how long these problems have been going on for – I immediately knew the underlying issue… the rabbit hadn’t been been desexed. Please take into consideration the fact that this can be an expensive procedure, and that the veterinarian that performs the procedure should be well educated in rabbits. As I am sure you know – you should really desex your rabbit even if they will not be paired with a rabbit of the opposite sex. It prolongs your rabbit’s health – due to the fact that a vast 95% of rabbits die due to cancerous tumors. The chance of cancer is eliminated once your rabbit is fixed, not only this, but you will get to know your rabbit’s personality without hormones getting in the way of their true temperament.

Click on the link provided below and read the “What kinds of questions should I ask the vet?” section, these are crucial questions that should be asked.

http://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/

Before we got our rabbits, I spent many long hours surfing the internet in search of as much information as I could possibly find about them. But there are just some things that you won’t know until you actually have one, and those things are discovered and learned with experience. Before someone brings a new life into the world, I would hope that they would be well prepared. Now of course, a mother can only prepare to some extent, because their are some lessons that she can only learn from experience. But a mother should purchase diapers for her newborn, as well as clothes, create the ultimate nursery, pick out names, and so on and so forth. Just as a mother would read parenting books, and do her fair share of research from online sources, books, and classes- so should an expecting rabbit owner prepare for their soon-to-be rabbit. You sould want to be prepared to be the best owner that you can be. After all, your rabbit will look to you to be their primary provider of food, water, playtime, love and cleanliness. And if you are to have that great honor and responsibility- You should be as prepared as you can be.
Hours and hours and hours of reasearch will give you a great understanding of rabbits, their behaviour, their needs, wants, and common health concerns, so that you can be prepared for this new member of your family.
In the end, I believe that getting a rabbit is one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I hope and pray the same for you- but first you need to make sure that a rabbit is the pet for you, and that you understand the outstanding amount of commitment, time, and love that you need to give your rabbit in order for him to be happy and healthy.

Please contact me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. I would be more than happy to help !!!

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