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Bathing your rabbit

honeyandhazel

honeyandhazel

New Kit
Is it healthy to bath your rabbit?
I have bought my rabbit's some rabbit shampoo but I'm not sure if it is necessary to wash them or not as they are really clean as it it :)

What's your opinions?
Thanks!
 
No. Rabbits should never be bathed unless absolutely necessary, and even then it should only be a butt bath to clean the affected area.

Rabbits by nature are very clean animals and are constantly grooming themselves. The only reason a rabbit would need a butt bath is if there is some sort of health problem causing them to soil their bottom. And even then the butt bath should only be done if the soiling is very bad and can't be cleaned up with a cloth. Great care needs to be taken when giving butt baths as rabbits can easily be over stressed by this. And they absolutely have to be thoroughly dried or they could be susceptible to flystrike occurring.

So if your bunny is clean, no reason to ever bathe. If your rabbit is getting a soiled bottom, this should be checked by a rabbit vet and the vet can advise on giving a butt bath.

eta: sorry Jane, cross posted with you.
 
Last edited:
honeyandhazel said:
Is it healthy to bath your rabbit?
I have bought my rabbit's some rabbit shampoo but I'm not sure if it is necessary to wash them or not as they are really clean as it it :)

What's your opinions?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Rabbits should not be bathed unless there is a specific medical reason to do so :) For example a Rabbit who has a disability may be unable to keep him/herself clean and may need to have a bum/undercarriage wash to prevent urine scald,flystrike etc.
 
honeyandhazel said:
Okay thankyou for you help! I've always wondered and now I know, I shall leave them be :-D
Click to expand...

I use an inch of luke warm water in a butt bath, but only when the bum gets dirty. Rabbits don't need washing, not even when they are white rabbits that look grubby!
 
No, as others have said only when absolutely necessary such as to clean their bottoms. I have a tough enough time clipping their nails, I shudder to imagine trying to bath a rabbit! :lol:
 
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