Grooming

As a rabbit owner, there are several tasks that you may need to regularly do for your rabbit in order to keep them healthy and safe.

Brushing
Rabbits love to be clean and will constantly lick themselves like cats. They can get hairballs if they ingest too much fur. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot vomit. If hairballs are allowed to form, they can become tangled masses of fur and food and will consequently block their digestion. Regular brushing along with plenty of hay helps to reduce this danger as well as keep fur from building up when vacuuming.

Typical brushing tools include a slicker brush or bristle brush. Some bunny owners have also reported good results with a FURminator, Hair Buster, flea comb, and rubber brushes and gloves like Zoom Groom, Evriholder FUR-D Duo Fur Remover, SwiPets Pet Hair Cleaning Glove, or a Love Glove Grooming Mitt. Most can be found in B&M stores such as PetSmart, Target, and Walmart. Others use more powerful tools like vacuum cleaner hoses to suck up loose fur. Be aware that rabbits may have differing opinions on each type of grooming tool. Regular short-haired rabbits should be brushed 1-2 times a week or as needed. Do not use a Furminator on Rex-type coats as they will scratch the skin. See Angora and Other Long Haired Rabbits for more information on proper grooming for long-haired bunnies.

In the case that your bunny does not like brushes at all, you may also try dampening your hands with water and wipe them over your rabbit to catch all the loose fur. Rub your hands to get the fur off, and rinse and repeat. You can also try using a damp hand towel instead, if you do not like the feeling of fur clinging to your hand.

You can also try brushing your rabbit while feeding pellets or vegetables every day. Your rabbit will learn to tolerate your grooming in order to eat.

During the severe molting season when your rabbit grows a new coat of fur, you can also just use your fingers to gently tug and pluck out his loose fur. It should come out easily without too much force and should not bother the rabbit much.

Here are some links with more information and pictures on rabbit grooming.
 * Bright Eyes Sanctuary, Rabbit Grooming

Trimming nails
Rabbits should have their nails trimmed every month or two. When a rabbit's toenails grow too long, they can catch in carpeting or cage wire. Broken bleeding toenails are prone to infection that can invade bony tissue and cause serious damage. Long toenails may also cause a serious issue called sore hocks.

Most vets, shelters, and rescue centers that deal with rabbits will offer this service for a small fee. If you would like to trim your rabbit's nails yourself, you may use small animal clippers. There are a couple of varieties available: small scissors, larger professional scissors, guillotine-style, and [http://www.amazon.com/Seki-Edge-Stainless-F