okay i dont normally brush my rabbit but decided to today and chunks of hair came out...i mean i can just pull it out and you can tell where it has been pulled out....i dont know if it is just shedding but where the hair has been pulled out there looks to be a new coat...i also have a nether dwarf buck who is kept inside...so my question is is this normal because i have not had my rabbit for a full year so i dont know if this happens seasonally
2006-07-28 16:29:21 · 10 answers · asked by angel_44614 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
As a rabbit breeder and exhibitor, I can reassure you that rabbits DO shed in the fashion that you've described. This is known as a "moult" and it is very common. Usually occurrring a couple of times a year (though some can do it more often), they will loose all of the old dead hair in clumps and reveal the soft new coat beneath. If your rabbit is shedding in this fashion and it is revealing large bald patches, I would advise a trip to your veterinarian.
Provided that your bunny friend is just shedding, you can help him along by gently brushing him daily or, taking a spray bottle, you can lightly mist your hands (not wet) and use your hands to remove a great deal of the dead hair from your rabbit's coat. Be forewarned, however, that a moult usually takes about a week (sometimes two) in order to complete and it can be a very messy process.
Do NOT bathe your bunny unless you are ready for a HAIRY extravaganza. Doing so is what exhibitors commonly refer to as getting a rabbit to "blow his coat" meaning that it will throw him into an early moult and will cause him to lose his hair in handfuls, very quickly. While this is okay for experienced rabbit owners, it can be dangerous for inexperienced rabbit owners, due to a risk of hairballs and possible intestinal blockage.
Doing what you're doing is probably best. Just give your bunny a daily brushing and try the trick with misting your hands to help remove dead hair (without it flying all over). Your bunny should be back to normal fairly soon :)
2006-07-28 16:57:03 · answer #1 · answered by uglyrose01 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Totally normal. I had a Newfoundland for 12 years in a hutch outside, late summer/early fall he'd shed his summer coat. He also really bulked up every fall and throughout the winter to help against the cold. I'm not sure if a rabbit raised indoors will do that though.
2006-07-28 16:36:37 · answer #2 · answered by larsor4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My rabbit is currently shedding, largely in small tufts of hair at a time along with the odd loose hairs here and there. Pet your rabbit frequently, that will help get loose hairs out and minimize what's happening now.
As long as it's acting normally and seems healthy, it's most likely just fine.
2006-07-28 16:33:26 · answer #3 · answered by Empy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes rabbits go thru a heavy shed about twice a year. Each rabbit is different some shed a little at a time some shed their whole rear end at once. As long as there are not bald sopts or blood u should ok. http://www.rabbit.org
2006-07-29 10:44:55 · answer #4 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am a rabbit breeder, and with any animal if kept outside or inside they will shed.. whether its a dog cat rabbit cow or goat. if you had a body full of hair would you shed during summer months to stay cooler.. i have cows, goats dogs and rabbits they all get shaved except my dogs and rabbits however i do brush them in spring when it starts to warm up. otherwise with a rabbit when a female is going to have babies soon they will pull up lots and lots of hair to make their nest for the babies and they do look bald sometimes during winter months. hope this helps if you have further questions feel free to email me at littlechicky_82@yahoo.com
2006-07-28 16:39:20 · answer #5 · answered by littlechicky_82 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I rescued a rabbit and the people before me combed her hair. Anyhow, I read online you supposed to comb their hair once a month or so if it is long haired. But if it is short haired rabbit you don't need too, but it would help and it would prevent hairballs.
2006-07-28 17:09:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm a first time rabbit owner too but my friend says that they do shed seasonally during spring and before winter.
so be ready to see clumps of winter fur....
2006-07-28 16:35:28 · answer #7 · answered by Maggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, my oldest buck is shedding for summer. There's white hair everywhere.
2006-07-28 16:36:19 · answer #8 · answered by LokiBuff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probally just getting his/her summer coat. Animals usuall shed twice a year. They get a thicker coat when it gets colder.
2006-07-28 16:35:04 · answer #9 · answered by Tamara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea its kk its sheddin its normal yea all animals shedd
2006-07-28 16:33:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋