What Kind of Grooming Does a Pet Rabbit Need?

Australian pet lovers might feel bad for Queenslanders since residents of the Sunshine State aren't legally able to keep rabbits as pets. Everyone else in the country can enjoy the company of the domestic rabbit, and a fair few people already do, with rabbits being amongst the most popular types of pets in the country. Rabbit owners must be familiar with the care that their pets require, with particular attention paid to their teeth since rabbits are susceptible to a variety of dental problems. But what about their grooming? Some of this pet grooming can (and should) take place at home, but for the more delicate procedures, it can be a great idea to find a local groomer experienced in caring for rabbits. 

Fur

Much of a rabbit's required grooming is concentrated on their fur. Rabbits frequently groom themselves and can often end up swallowing a considerable amount of their own hair. While this rarely causes any problems, it's best to avoid it with regular brushing to remove excess hair. This also prevents hair from clumping and matting, which can be uncomfortable. A rabbit's skin can be quite fragile, and it's easy to penetrate their skin if you use an improper method or an improper brush. A professional groomer will have the necessary equipment and expertise, and in some cases, a groomer might opt to remove clumped fur by gently shaving it off.

Claws

Although a pet rabbit should never be declawed, its claws will need to be trimmed. Untrimmed claws can quickly become overgrown. This can cause discomfort for your rabbit, and can also cause injury since the claws can easily become snagged on something as your rabbit moves across the room or through their enclosure. It also makes it less likely that your rabbit will accidentally scratch you while you're holding them. It's rather easy to remove too much of your rabbit's claws when clipping them, especially if the rabbit is fidgeting, so again, you might want to leave this to a professional.

Scent Glands

Pet rabbits have two scent glands. One is located under their chin, and the other is comprised of two small slits on either side of your rabbit's genitals. Rabbits tend to keep their chin scent gland clean with their feet, or by rubbing it against any convenient surface, but their genital scent glands can sometimes become clogged. It's quite a delicate procedure to unclog them, and too much force can tear the delicate skin. A specialist cleaning oil is needed to soften the buildup attached to the glands, after which it can easily be removed. If you don't feel comfortable attempting this yourself, you might want your groomer to demonstrate the best method, so you can do it yourself at home when needed. 

Although their grooming needs are different from that of a dog or cat, a rabbit still requires assistance with their grooming.

To learn more, reach out to a local pet grooming service.


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