Health & Hygiene

Grooming & Hygiene

  • Rabbits bathe themselves as cats do and should rarely, if ever, need baths.
    • If a rabbit gets matted fur, corn starch-based baby powder works well. Talc in normal baby powder can be fatal if swallowed.
    • If a rabbit has diarrhea, consider bathing only the soiled area.
    • If a full bath becomes necessary, use only rabbit shampoo. If possible, use a waterless or a powder one instead. Keep the animal warm and away from drafts. Be sure to dry it quickly.
  • Nails may need frequent trimming or filing. Cut the clear part of the nail and avoid the quick - the pink part that contains blood vessels.
    • If bleeding occurs, use baking soda or styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
    • In the case of short or dark nails, use a nail file to trim instead of clippers


Health Issues:

A happy and healthy animal will be…

  • Active and alert
  • Inquisitive
  • Eat and drink regularly
  • Healthy skin and fur
  • Clear eyes
  • Hops normally
  • Clean bottom

A sick or injured animal may have…

  • Weight loss
  • Heavy or deep breathing
  • Skin lesions or bumps
  • Abnormal hair loss
  • Lethargic
  • Dirty bottom
  • Eye or nasal discharge

  • Heat stroke – emergency condition. Symptoms include heavy panting, drooling, and in extreme cases, seizures and loss of consciousness. Contact your vet immediately, and cool down your rabbit by soaking ears with cool water. For a minor case, mist the ears with water, use a fan to circulate air, and lay frozen bottles of water inside cage for the rabbit to lie against.
  • Diarrhea – loose or soft stools caused by a poor diet or dietary change, stress, internal parasites, unclean housing, or other illness. Contact a vet within 48 hours to determine cause and treatment. Call now if stools are very watery.
  • Malocclusion – overgrown or misaligned teeth. Have a vet trim teeth regularly or extract the tooth to prevent mouth sores and inability to eat.
  • Mites – fur mites cause patches of hair loss, while ear mites cause brown “scabs” in the ear. Contact veterinarian within the week for treatment.