Funny story and Hair Ball questions

[Aspen and Misty]

Omg this is the funnest thing he has ever done! I was sitting here writing the thing about hairballs below and Julian is of course shaking the bars of his play pen when all the sudden a lop eared grey ball of fluff goes zooming behind me and runs into his room! Julian has figured out that if he shakes the cage door the latch comes loose and he can get out, LOL. Silly bunny!

Julian is shedding out the wazoo. I can honestly pull a small ziploc baggy of fur out of him everyday! I've been pulling large clumps/brushing him for about 3 days and seem to be getting no where. I'm so afreid of him getting a hair ball. I always make sure he has fresh hay in his cage because I heard that helps with hair balls. Any one have any suggestions on how I can get ride of all this fur??

Ash

[Aspen and Misty]

~~Bump~~

[zippy-kat]

Are you giving him papaya or pineapple? Both have enzymes that help to break down hairballs/pass 'em through.

Piper doesn't like pineapple so he gets one papaya tablet twice a week. (The vet said it's one tablet per 5lbs of bunny.) Those are found in the vitamin section.

Soph didn't like papaya so I bought her Dole pineapple juice. (You can either buy fresh pineapple or canned. If it's canned, make sure there's no added sugar/sweetner.) I *think* the weekly dose on that is 2 tblsp per 5lbs of bunny -- I just set some out and let her drink all she wanted in a 4-5 min period.

Also, pina colada yogurt is good to use as a healthy treat. Again, it's a weekly thing of 1-2 tblsp per 5lbs of bunny. (And don't get the non-fat kind, get the "regular.")

Try a small curry comb (aka zoom groom) or a shedding blade to help w/ the loose hair.

I sometimes get disapproving looks/comments because I bathe my rabbits but it's also an option. I wouldn't recommend doing it regularly because they can get dry skin EASILY. If you go this route, make sure the shampoo is bunny safe (I use Bunny Bath).

[Aspen and Misty]

Thank you for all the ideas! I had given up on getting a response, lol.

Will a shedding blade made for dogs work? Or course it would have to be used gently on his little baby bunny skin. or do they make bunny shedding blades?

I'll have to try the curry comb idea, again, do they have "bunny" curry comds or can I just use ones made for dogs or cats or what ever type of animal they are made for. LOL


Thanx, myu dad bought me some of the stuff you mentioned like canned Pineapples and stuff.

Thanx a bunch!

Ash

[Daisylover]

We just had this question come up at the sanctuary and our rabbit vet said papaya and pineapple in all their assorted forms, pills, fresh, dried...is a myth for helping dissolve hairballs.....the best thing she said is to brush, brush, brush......

The brush should NOT be one of those with the thin metal tines (even though the is a picture of a bunny on the package)..... a rabbits skin is fragile and tears easily.....a flea comb works great as does dampening your hands or a glove or a cloth with water....the water keeps the hair from flying all around.