overgrooming/licking front feet?

[pinkhollieandbob]

Bob is always licking/grooming his front two feet.

Its getting to the point where the fur always feels a bit hard on this front feet.
I was just wondering if this can cause any problems/indicates any problems?

He always licks me, he is very very affectionate, and so i guess he was just grooming. But TOO much??
He is absolutley fine everywhere else.


Here are some pictures that i took today of him chilling out on the grass where you can see the harder fur on his front feet:

Thankyou for your help ! X

 

[Gertie]

Hmmm, he looks beautiful! Which is why I "hmmm". I would have thought he'd have discharge from his eyes or nose and the front feet fur hardening was caused by grooming his face, but he looks fine. :? Sorry I am no help whatsover! :lol:

 

[pinkhollieandbob]

No, he doesnt seem to groom his face too much. He will just lay down like in the picture above and lick his feet for ages!
Thankyou xxxxx

 

[Gemmapookie]

He's gorgeous
Does he have a wife? Over grooming can be a sign of boredom, when health issues are ruled out, and as Gertie says he looks very healthy nose and eyes wise xxxx

 

[pinkhollieandbob]

No he doesnt, but then again he never has had one. He is getting older now (well not really old, only 4 years, but for those four years he has never had bunny contact.) so i would be worried about bonding him. He gets spoilt and a LOT of attention, so he shouldnt be bored, unless its over night.

Maybe he just wants some bunny company then?

 

[Gertie]

Have you put anything new with him? I had a bunny with a hay allergy and he overgroomed very badly if he came into any contact with it.

 

[pinkhollieandbob]

Did your bun overgroom badly everywhere? or just on his feet?

I really dont think i have used anything new at all. I have lined the bottom of his hutch with newspaper before putting woodchips (which i dont usually do) but surely that cant be the cause?

Thankyou x

 

[Gertie]

The woodchips are new, or the newspaper?

Mine would overgroom his tummy. He didn't do it on his back or his legs, just his tummy. His skin would get hot too. He was also allergic to wood shavings, so we bedded him on nothing but shredded paper.

 

[pinkhollieandbob]

the newspaper is the only difference in his hutch at the moment. Usually, i just put woodchips in.

I have always used the same woodchips, and he has always seemed to be fine with them before. Maybe i should try different ones for a while and see if there are any changes?

 

[Gertie]

I'm sorry, I'm a bit like this now: :? Hope someone can shed some more light on it for you!

 

[Coineanach]

I have always used the same woodchips, and he has always seemed to be fine with them before. Maybe i should try different ones for a while and see if there are any changes?

Okay, so it sounds like that's not the problem. I'd take the newspaper out as a precaution, although it's not likely to be that. Does he have a partner or is he definitely doing the grooming himself? How long has it been going on?

As someone has already mentioned, boredom is the usual cause of overgrooming. What's his environment, ie toys and playtime and, if a single bun, how much human interaction does he get? Single buns aren't recommended to live outside as they need mental stimulation. Anxiety can also be a cause, there is some limited information linking it to the rabbit being weaned too young, if this might be possible?

I remember reading an article a while ago which recommended cutting down pellets, which encourages the bun to eat more hay and takes up more time, therefore reducing boredom.

A dental check might be an idea too, just in case. A lot of buns are very prone to tooth problems and licking may be an early symptom.

There are also plenty of threads on homemade bunny toys if you do a quick search - I find loo roll tubes are a firm favourite!

Edit - Sorry, I missed your post about him getting lots of attention and not having a partner. I should learn to read. :roll:

It depends on what you class as a lot of attention. Our last single bun (from bad circumstances, not suited to a partner) was a house bun and there were probably at the most 2-3 hours in the day when there wasn't someone there. She had lots and lots of toys (I think I go a bit overboard :lol for the short periods when we weren't there. She didn't always pay attention to us but we were there.

In my opinion it's always better for them to have a companion, assuming you have the space and money for one. The only buns I've ever had alone were my first one, when I didn't know better, and buns with temperment problems not initially suited to partners. Plus the sight of two buns cuddling up together is

 

[pinkhollieandbob]

Yeah, i have taken out the newspaper just incase, and this has been happening for about a monthish. He gets a lot of human interaction (he is an outdoor bun but spends most of his time in here with me, or running around the garden binking!) haha he is a very happy bunny in general and have never had any problems with him, and he certainly doesnt seem to be scared of anything! He is the boldest bunny ive had!

His hutch is very big, and he has toys, but not loads. Maybe i should try getting him some more different ones. He used to like a rattley one i had (in a carrot shape- so cute) but it broke. Maybe i will get him another one of them.

and oooh toilet roll tubes!! my hamster used to love them! haha! I will put one of them in his hutch to play with too in the morning.


I am not sure about bonding him now, as he isnt used to it. Would he be okay with it? Only with a female i suppose? (and of course after being neutered) I definatley have space for another bun, his hutch is massive- I was just unsure about bonding him after so long.

Thankyou so much for the replies! Really helpful ideas! I am willing to try them all xxx