Shampooing a rabbit

[wannacow]

My DD is going to show my flemish giant rabbit for 4-H at our county fair. I know you are supposed to use a dry shampoo to wash them, but the only one I could find is a foaming shampoo for cats and kittens. You lather it onto the stain then towel it off. No water. Will this work? I assume if it's safe for cats to lick, it will be ok for rabbits. Am I correct? The reason she needs a "bath" is because she has the run of the barn and her abdomen is a little stained. She likes the concrete floor in the middle of the barn. It must be cooler.

 

[woodleighcreek]

I heard it is best not to wash rabbits at all. If I were you, I would try peroxide or vinegar.

 

[secuono]

All I've gotta say is don't wash a rabbit with water and shampoo. It's a thousand times worse than bathing a cat! They will loose their minds, cut you to strips and then go limp like they passed out and then you can bathe them...ugh!

 

[Ms. Research]

I heard it is best not to wash rabbits at all. If I were you, I would try peroxide or vinegar.

X2. I would be afraid the shampoo might hurt the texture of the rabbit's fur for show reasons. I've also read not to get rabbits wet, but I've seen them swim and also enjoy playing in bathtubs and sinks.

 

[wannacow]

This isn't a wet shampoo. It is foam then towel off.

 

[Ms. Research]

This isn't a wet shampoo. It is foam then towel off.

Sorry, my bad. You did state that.

I don't see then where there is a problem. Rabbits have a lot of tendencies that cats do. Especially in the grooming department. And it's not a medicated?

Don't blame her for trying to keep cool in this heat.

 

[wannacow]

No, it's not medicated. I thought they groomed a lot like cats too, but wasn't sure. I'm not going to clean her up until we are going to the fair, she'd just get dirty again. Thanks for the input.

 

[dbunni]

Do not bath the whole rabbit. When cleaning we spot clean an animal ... treat the area needed but non others. I would not use peroxide as it will open the pores on the coat and the rabbit will get dirty while waiting to show at the fair (learned this from showing dogs professionally for 40+ years). If you have a TSC or similar ... try Miricle by Absorbine (in horse dept) ... it has worked wonders on white angoras that like to spray! Baby wipes also help ...

Best of luck ...

 

[wannacow]

Thanks dbunni, I was afraid of peroxide. didn't want a bleached blonde, ya know. I'll look for Miricle. I was looking in the horse dept yesterday, but didn't really know what I was looking for. I'll try again.