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Bunny Burrito:
Wrap your bunny in a towel and cover their eyes while holding
them securely on your lap. Take out one foot at a time to trim
nails. Covering eyes can calm down some rabbits. Be sure the
towel isn’t too tight or too loose so that the rabbit can
escape. Two people are sometimes better than one to keep the
rabbit safe.
Ears
Lop rabbits in particular need their ears cleaned on occasion.
When you clean bunny ears be sure not to push wax down into the
ear. Try an ear cleaning product containing Chlorhexadine. Ear
mite infestations display crusty, crumbly brownish red material
on ears. Consult with your veterinarian for topical or other
treatments for mites.
Rabbits Clean Themselves Several Times a Day
If they do require a bath (very rarely), use a special rabbit
shampoo or product for cats. Make sure the water is comfortably
lukewarm in temperature. It is best to use
a portable hose on your sink if you have one for cleaning the
rabbit's bottom. Never wash the entire rabbit. Make sure the
rabbit can stand so he doesn’t slip and hurt himself.
Flea Products are Toxic to Rabbits
If you must use one, get the mildest one you can find for
kittens or ask an experienced rabbit veterinarian. Most flea
products for adult cats and dogs are toxic to rabbits. Frontline
is known to be toxic to rabbits as are many other products – be
careful!.
Scent Gland Cleaning
If your rabbit starts to smell, check the scent glands. The
scent glands are located on each side of the reproductive organs
- just a slit in the fur. They will get dried crusty waxy
material in them. Gently clean out with a wet Q-tip. Do not
poke the rabbit. You can use your hands, but be careful of
sharp fingernails.
Hairbrush
Always use a soft brush on a rabbit for shedding hair. Rabbits
shed every other month with a heavy shedding every three
months. Don’t be alarmed by bald spots since they are common in
some rabbits. If the bald spot is cause by shedding, it will
fill back in within a couple of weeks.
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