I have a dwarf rabbit around 5 months and I never gave it a complete bath other then clean it's paws. he is getting a little stinky but I am scared to bath him since my cousin's dwarf rabbit died after being bathed (but she put it in front of the fan to dry the wet rabbit...which I believe was main cause of death). How do u bath or clean a dwarf rabbit? Any help I can get would be great! Thanks!!
2006-06-25 19:14:41 · 9 answers · asked by tracie2001eagle 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Your cousin learned the hard way that a rabbit shouldn't be bathed, but probably the biggest mistake your cousin made was putting it in front of a fan after bathing it. There are two main reasons why it is not good to bathe a rabbit. The first is that the rabbit could contract pneumonia, which is what probably happened to your cousin's rabbit. It's easy enough for them to contract pneumonia if they are bathed. Add a breeze or fan to the equation, especially if the air is somewhat cold and you have a great recipe for pneumonia, which will cause the rabbit to breathe hard and die. The second reason is that when you bathe a rabbit, it removes the natural oil from its fur.
To remove stains, clean the spot with a damp rag soaked in white vinegar. Rinse the vinegar out with a damp rag soaked in water, then work dry with a dry towel. Corn starch isn't needed, but it can help remove some of the smell.
There are a couple of other reasons that your rabbit could be smelling. The most likely reason is that your rabbit has diahrrea. If a rabbit has diahrea, it is very easy for the rabbit to smell bad. You'll need to check the underside to see if there is any poop matted to it's fur or to see if it looks wet around where it poops. You can also check the poop in the cage. If it is runny or not formed into a round ball, then your rabbit most likely has diahrrea. You need to watch giving it grass, vegetables, and fruits as these can easily give it diahrrea. It's best to stick to just the rabbit pellets and water. You also should take it to the vet if your rabbit has diahrrea. Taking a rabbit off of its feed for 24 hours and giving it plenty of water will help if it does have diahrrea. The bacteria that causes diahrrea normally grows off the food in the stomach. No food in the stomach means nothing for the bacteria to grow on.
The second other reason may be that the vents need cleaned. These are to either side of where you sex the rabbit and can be cleaned out with a Q-tip.
Lastly, you may want to look at buying a cage with a wire floor, that has a pan or something underneath that catches the poop if you don't already have one. A wire bottom cage is much easier to keep a rabbit clean than a solid bottom cage with bedding. My dad and I raise nothing but white rabbits and we keep them snow white by using wire bottom cages.
I've been raising and showing rabbits for 24 years.
2006-06-26 00:45:42 · answer #1 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Do not give your it a bath what ever you do! Do NOT use any shampoos. Rabbits have very sensitive skin and shampoo can kill it. I would suggest getting a wet towl and giving your bunny a bath that way. A few things to ask about why your bun might be stinky: Is it fixed? Hormones can cause quite the smell. Whats your rabbit litter box filled with? I recommend wood stove pellets. They are very good at absorbing smell.
Diana- Rabbit23girl
2006-06-27 12:18:41 · answer #2 · answered by Rabbit23girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why does your rabbit need a bath? Rabbits are very good about cleaning themselves and unless the get into something, really don't need to be bathed. Rabbits are one of those animals that die easily due to drafts and can be scared to death, so, baths can be risky.
If your rabbit smells, it's scent glands might need to be cleaned. I'll add a link detailing how to do that. If it's got poop sticking to it, then your rabbit is either overweight, not getting the right food, or ill.
If you have a light colored rabbit with urine stains on it's fur, you can spray down the affected area with white vinegar, rub corn starch into the wet fur, let it dry, then comb it out.
2006-06-25 19:34:41 · answer #3 · answered by RabbitMage 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not give your rabbit a bath. Do not use any shampoos. Rabbits have very sensitive skin and shampoo can kill it. I would suggest getting a wet towl and giving your bun a bath that way. A few things to ask about why your bun might be stinky: Is it fixed? Hormones can cause quite the smell. Whats your rabbit litter box filled with? I recommend wood stove pellets. They are very good at absorbing smell.
2006-06-26 01:35:59 · answer #4 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dwarf Bunnies
2016-09-30 04:58:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perfectly safe to bathe the bunny in lukewarm water and towel dry. Don't let the rabbit catch a draft. The fan dry probably killed your friend's rabbit.
2006-06-25 19:27:10 · answer #6 · answered by kriend 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you do not want to give him a full bath you can purchase Dry Bunny Bath at most pet stores. This is a powder that you sprinkle on the bunny and then comb through his fur. It helps to remove dead hair, and leaves your rabbit clean and fresh smelling. Hope this info helps.....
2006-06-25 19:23:59 · answer #7 · answered by DogTrainer416 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
im not sure if u can bathe a dwarf rabbit but can u ?
2014-07-12 11:21:23 · answer #8 · answered by Kamie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/ax2VV
rabbits are not supposed to be bathed. they can get sick and die. you can take a damp cloth and wipe her down but you should not bathe her.
2016-04-11 11:11:15 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋