Bunnies 101: Rabbit Grooming Guide

🐰 Bunnies 101: Grooming

A gentle guide to keeping your rabbit clean, healthy, and comfortable.

Rabbits are naturally tidy animals, but they still need regular grooming support from their humans. Proper grooming keeps their coat healthy, reduces shedding, prevents dangerous hair ingestion, and helps you catch health concerns early. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your bunny looking and feeling their best.

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🥕 Why Grooming Is Important

Rabbits can’t vomit — so any fur they ingest must pass through their digestive tract.
Grooming helps prevent:
    •    GI stasis caused by swallowed fur
    •    Matting
    •    Overheating
    •    Skin irritation
    •    Flystrike (rare in indoor buns, but still important to prevent)
    •    Stress-related shedding buildup

Regular grooming = a healthier, happier bunny.

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🧼 Brushing Your Bunny

How Often?
    •    Short-haired rabbits: Brush 1–2 times per week.
    •    Heavy shedders / shedding season: Brush daily.
    •    Long-haired breeds (Lionheads, Angoras): Brush daily or at minimum every other day.

Best Brushes & Tools

✔ Slicker brush (gentle)
✔ Rubber grooming glove
✔ Fine-toothed flea comb for tough sheds
✔ Blunt-tip scissors (for mats only — carefully!)

Avoid harsh bristle brushes that scratch the skin.

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🐇 Handling Mats

If mats form, never pull them — it hurts and can tear the skin.
    •    Try to gently loosen with your fingers.
    •    For stubborn mats, trim with blunt-tip scissors or seek a groomer familiar with rabbits.

Long-haired buns may need routine professional grooming.

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🧽 Cleaning the Scent Glands

Yes — rabbits have scent glands!
They’re located on either side of the genitals and can build up waxy debris over time.

How to clean safely:
    1.    Place your bunny on a stable surface.
    2.    With gentle hands, lift the tail area.
    3.    Use a cotton swab lightly moistened with warm water to wipe debris away.
    4.    Do NOT dig or scrape — only wipe what’s visible.

Most rabbits tolerate this surprisingly well.

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🐾 Nail Trimming

Most rabbits need nails trimmed every 4–6 weeks.

Tips for stress-free trims:
    •    Use a rabbit-safe nail trimmer.
    •    Only trim the very tip — avoid the quick (pink part).
    •    In dark nails, shine a small flashlight underneath to locate the quick.
    •    Have styptic powder nearby (just in case).

Some bunnies do best with two-person trims — one to hold, one to clip.

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🚫 Do Rabbits Need Baths?

No.
Rabbits should never be fully bathed — it is extremely stressful and dangerous.

If needed:
    •    Spot clean with a damp cloth.
    •    Use cornstarch (unscented) for messy bottoms.
    •    If a rabbit is consistently dirty, this may signal a health issue (arthritis, dental problems, obesity).

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🩺 Health Checks During Grooming

Grooming sessions are the perfect time to check:
    •    Eyes (clear, no discharge)
    •    Ears (clean, odor-free)
    •    Teeth (no drooling, no overgrowth)
    •    Feet (no sore hocks)
    •    Skin (flakes, redness, parasites)

Early detection prevents bigger health problems.

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❤️ Making Grooming Positive
    •    Groom after exercise, when bunny is calmer
    •    Offer treats and gentle praise
    •    Keep sessions short (2–5 minutes for sensitive buns)
    •    Avoid forcing or pinning — slow and steady wins

Building trust makes future grooming much easier.

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🌟 Summary

Grooming is more than brushing — it’s bonding, health-checking, and caring for your rabbit in a way that keeps them safe and comfortable. With regular grooming, your bunny will shed less, feel better, and enjoy the hands-on attention from their favorite human.