Rabbits are cute, beautiful creatures that are often brought up to please little children. However, acquiring a pet is a crucial step, as it involves taking responsibility for the life and health of the new occupant of the house. It is necessary to provide him with the necessary care at all levels. One of the questions that you should ask yourself before letting the eared into your house is how to wash your rabbit.
How to wash and bathe a rabbit
Do I need to bathe
Decorative rabbits have not lost their animal instinct, so they are fairly clean. They are used to washing themselves, and they also tend to change their coat several times a year. Dwarf rabbits are not fond of swimming and swimming in water, so it is better not to clean the pet's cover: water can wash off the protective layer of fat from the hairs, the wool will begin to lose its attractiveness, and the pet will feel discomfort.
Many people do not know if it is possible to bathe a rabbit and how to do it correctly. Decorative rabbit, very different from its wild counterparts. Bathing can be a very serious and even fatal problem for him: if water gets into his ears, otitis media can form. But still you need to wash your pet, but only in special cases. So when exactly do you need to bathe a rabbit?
- with heavy dirt. When a pet gets dirty on a walk and is unable to wash itself, the help of the owner is simply necessary for him.
- With diarrhea. With diarrhea, you need to wash your pet so that he, trying to cleanse himself on his own, does not gorge himself on feces.
- If you smell urine. Bathing the rabbit at home will help remove the smell of urine.
- With heat stroke. To alleviate the condition of the pet, water procedures are performed.
When carrying out water procedures, you do not need to bathe the dwarf decorative rabbit completely: it is enough to clean only the place that is heavily polluted, since during water procedures the fluffy can experience stress.
Gentle cleaning only
So how to bathe a rabbit so that the procedure does not harm the pet? First you need to calm him down, pat him and treat him with his favorite treat. Also, you should not bathe the animal alone, it is better to ask someone to help, as the pet will break free and try to escape. The assistant will make sure that during the bathing the water does not get into the rabbit's ears.
In order to wash your pet at home, you will need:
- basin;
- special shampoo for animals;
- 2-3 towels.
Bathing is carried out in special conditions. To begin with, it is worth closing all the windows in the house so that there are no drafts. You can’t wash the rabbit in the shower, you need to use a basin: a shower can scare him, and water drops can get into your ears. It is important to watch that the rabbit is not cold, the water temperature should be 36-40 ° C. The pet should be placed in a basin, soap the stain and massage it a little.
It is forbidden to wet the eyes, ears and nose of the rabbit. It is also important to make sure that the detergent does not remain on the pet's hair, because the animal will lick itself and may gorge itself on chemicals. After the procedure, the baby should be wrapped in a towel.
What detergents are best for washing a rabbit
To atone for an animal, you cannot use shampoos for people: the substances that are in them will ruin the pet's coat. The shampoo you need is easy to find at specialty pet stores. It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the composition of the selected shampoo: it should not contain lauryl or sodium laureth.
There are also sprays for the skin of the animal. They make it easier to detangle and make the hairs soft and shiny. They must be carefully applied to the wool, rubbed with a cloth, and then gently comb the rabbit. Such sprays have a good effect: they rid animals of various parasites, and also relieve inflammation on the skin.
Of course, it is impossible to constantly wash the rabbit with a spray, since it will not give a good result, unlike special shampoos, but it can help out in cases where it is impossible to completely wet the animal. You can also use dry shampoo. It will help clean up dirt if there is no water at hand. This powder is applied to the rabbit's fur and then combed out gently. It is imperative to make sure that no powder remains on the coat.
What to do after washing your pet
It is important that the pet does not remain wet after bathing, so it should be thoroughly dried. It is better to do this with a towel, you can take a few pieces. Fuzzy should be taken and carefully wrapped in a towel, hold for several minutes so that it absorbs moisture. It is important to dry your pet carefully so as not to damage its coat.
It is imperative to make sure that the pet is completely dry, as it can get sick. If the rabbit is not afraid of loud and sharp sounds, you can use a hairdryer. It is important to set the temperature not too hot, so as not to burn the animal. The hairdryer is required to be kept away from the pet and from its muzzle.
After bathing is over, it is important to pet your pet. Your rabbit may be offended for a long time due to the stress received, and therefore needs hanging care and attention. But it happens that over time they get used to the water and happily go to wash.
Summarize
So, is it possible to bathe decorative rabbits in apartment conditions, as well as ordinary rabbits? Bathing a rabbit is carried out only when he really needs it. It is also worth doing it correctly in order not to harm the health of the pet.
It is not necessary to bathe the animal completely, it is enough to simply wash its paws and dirty spots on the wool. You cannot bring your pet to a stressful state - over time, he will get used to the water and will wash with great pleasure.