Rabbit Shedding Patterns and How to Deal With All The Fur, how to make a fur coat stop shedding, and 6 awesome ways to stop this
Rabbits shed a lot.There is always a lot of fur.This is an unexpected part of rabbit care for many people.Is it normal that there is so much fur?Should a rabbit be losing so much weight?
Is it normal for rabbits to have a lot of shed?Rabbits shed their coats in two big seasons every year.Many rabbits will have two small shed seasons during the year, and indoor rabbits who don't get as much natural sunlight may seem to shed all year round.
Rabbits don't really worry about excessive shed.When your rabbit is going through a big shed season, you want to make sure you care for them so they don't have a hair build-up.
What is not normal shed behavior in rabbits will be something you want to be aware of.Rabbits can have parasites that cause them to lose fur.If you know what signs to look out for, you can tell the difference between normal hair loss and a health problem.
Spring is when most rabbits have seasonal shed.They shed their coats to adjust to cooler temperatures.rabbits grow a nice, thick fur coat to keep warm in the winter and then shed it for a thinner coat during the summerIt means the rabbit can regulate their body temperature.
rabbits have two smaller molting seasons in between the two larger onesA rabbit will have a big season followed by a small season.Many times the smaller seasons are less noticeable than the big ones, which will inevitably result in a tornado of rabbit fur making its way around your house.
The rabbit season lasts anywhere from 3-6 weeks.On the shorter end of the spectrum, you will be dealing with a lot of fluff as your rabbit sheds their coat in a short period of time.You are more likely to be dealing with a steady stream of fur if the season lasts for 6 weeks.It will start slowly and ramp up around the middle of the period.The last couple of weeks will see a decrease in fur as the rabbit loses its coat.
Depending on where you live, the exact timing of the shed seasons will vary a lot.Many factors, such as temperature and amount of sunlight, can let a rabbit know when it is time to shed their coat.
Think about the weather if you want to know which months are normal for your rabbit to shed.Do you know when it starts to warm up in your area?
When the temperature starts to get warmer in my area, I can expect my rabbit to start getting rid of her coat.October to November is when the weather starts to cool.I would expect my bun to get rid of her coat at that time.
While most of the time rabbits have a nice, shiny and sleek coat, they can start to look shaggy during the shed season.There will be fur flying with tufts of fur sticking out of the rabbit's coat.You might wonder if your rabbit is having a health problem if they are raggedy.
You start to notice a pattern in your rabbit's shed after a while.It starts along their forehead and jaw.Your hand won't have a lot of fur on it.There is a fur line on their forehead that shows the difference between the old and new coats.
The shed line will continue down their back as the season goes on.You will see the most fur in the room at this time.There are clumps of fur that fall away from your hands when you pet your rabbit.
The cycle can get stuck at this point.The rabbit's butt and sides will still have thick tufts of fur even though their face and back have changed to a new coat.If this happens, you should use a flea brush or a fine-toothed comb to help your rabbit get rid of their coat.
Some rabbits don't like being brushed, so you may have to use "butt-plucked" to help them finish their coat.
For more information on which tools are best to use when brushing your rabbit, check out my article.
rabbits don't lose their coats in a predictable line down their body, instead they lose it all at once.This is called a coat blow.It happens often enough that it is worth mentioning.
If a rabbit is losing their coat, they will shed a lot of fur at the same time.rabbits have temporary bald patches in their coats.If the fur in the bald patches starts to grow again within a few days, it's fine, and your rabbit will grow back their coat.
If the bald patch doesn't start to grow fur or looks red, it's probably a sign of illness in your rabbit.Contact your vet to make sure your rabbit doesn't have any underlying health conditions.
It is important to remember that shedding in rabbits is a natural process and cannot be stopped.
It is possible to keep the fur in your home under control by brushing your rabbit.This will make it easier for your rabbit to lose their coat.There is a short haired rabbit that can be adopted.The fur from other rabbits will be more disruptive than the shed rabbits.
Young rabbits have not grown their adult coats yet, so they have a slightly different shed pattern.A transitional coat will be put on the baby rabbits when they are around 6 months old.The bunnies are still growing and won't need to completely shed their baby coat to grow their transitional coat.
The transitional coat will become an adult coat during the next six months to a year.The rabbit will have their normal seasonal moltings after this point.
Rabbit caretakers can often be surprised by how much fur is lost.They did not experience the full extent of the rabbit fur storm until their rabbit had a full adult coat.
Female rabbits that have not been sterized may exhibit behaviors.They will take fur from their body so that they can line their nest.If you notice bald patches, it's likely that you're pregnant.
This behavior is normal in female rabbits, but should not be seen in rabbits who have been neutered.It's best to get your rabbits fixed.A number of behavioral and health problems will be solved by this.Female rabbits have a high chance of developing a reproductive cancer if they are not neutered.
Some rabbits seem to shed all year round.Sometimes this happens because of too much artificial light or not enough natural sunlight.If you keep a fluorescent room light on until late in the night or a room that doesn't get a lot of natural sunlight, it can confuse your rabbit's sense of what time of year it is.A constant indoor temperature results in a rabbit being shed a lot.
Genetics is one of the reasons rabbits might shed all year.Too much inbreeding can cause rabbits to have a problem with their ability to sense light.The rabbit can't sense when the right time of year is, so they shed all year round.
Shedding all the time is not a significant health risk to rabbits, but it may be a little more frustrating for you.There will always be fur around your rabbit.If you place your rabbit in a room that gets natural light and reduces the amount of artificial light they receive, you may be able to help them regain a natural seasonal molting.
Some fur loss is not caused by a rabbit that has shed its fur.Sometimes it is the result of a bigger health concern.Bald patches are involved in many health problems.Bald patches are not the most accurate symptom to look out for since rabbits can lose fur in clumps.
There are parasites and infections that can cause fur loss in rabbits.The good news is that most of them can be treated with simple drugs.If you want to use a medication that is safe for rabbits, talk to your vet.
There are different types of mites that can affect a rabbit.Ear mites and mange can cause fur loss and painful skin around the rabbits eyes.The skin will be more prone to infections.
Fur mites have a more subtle effect.There will be a condition on the skin caused by these.It can cause bald patches in rabbits.
Fleas and mites are not the same problem.Fleas are hard to detect in small amounts.A flea infection will cause itching and scratching, which will eventually lead to fur loss in the rabbit.
Many different species of rabbits are affected by ringworm.It looks like a bald patch in the fur.Small red bumps can be caused by ringworm in rabbits.To get a medication for your rabbit, you need to talk to your vet.The ringworm creams that humans can use are not safe for rabbits.
It may be the result of saliva burn, if your rabbit is losing fur only on their chin and chest.The area under the rabbit's chin is wet all the time when they are drooling.A lot of irritation and itchiness can be caused by wet fur and skin.
Dental problems in rabbits cause saliva burn.Normally, healthy rabbits don't poop.The rabbit will not be able to close their mouth correctly if they have health problems.This leads to a lot of drooling, which irritates the skin under their chin.
A change in eating habits is one of the symptoms of saliva burn.The rabbit is having dental issues that will make it difficult to eat.Your rabbit may refuse to eat hay or drop food out of their mouth.
When rabbit pee collects on the fur and skin, it causes Urine scald.Similar to saliva burn, this will cause irritation on the skin in that area.This is usually caused by a urinary tract infections that cause the rabbit to dribble urine down their legs.
Rabbits who are unable to clean themselves can cause urine scalding.Rabbits who are disabled, obese or elderly may not be able to clean their backside after urinating.
This condition can be caused by a rabbit spending too long in an unsanitary environment.Rabbits who live in enclosures that are never cleaned will end up being forced to sit in their own waste, which will cause pain on their underside.A lot of rabbits end up at an animal shelter after months of neglect.
Rabbits can contract a skin disease that will cause fur loss.In rabbits that live in humid climates, excess water on a rabbit's fur can lead to irritation and infections.It's best to keep an eye on the damaged skin to make sure there isn't any more health problems.
Overgrooming can be the cause of fur loss.This can be a rabbit grooming their partner too much.Overgrooming is not a normal behavior.It is a sign of stress in rabbits.Unless you can watch your rabbit very closely, it may be hard to diagnose fur loss.
If you believe your rabbit is stressed out, try moving them to a calm environment so they won't be scared all the time.If your rabbit is bored, try to give them more time to explore and exercise.Many rabbit cages sold in pet stores are too small for rabbits, so you need to make sure their enclosure is big.
A variety of toys will help keep your rabbit occupied during the day.Try your hand at making your own rabbit toys.
Rabbits can fight each other.Even rabbits that used to get along can fight.Fur will fly when that happens.You can only see the bald patch on one of the rabbits if you are not looking.
If you think your rabbits got into a fight, check them for any injuries.As young rabbits get older, in-fighting can occur.If you want to prevent violent behavior in the future, you need to have your rabbit neutered.
Rabbits lick themselves to stay clean.During a heavy shed season, your rabbit will inevitably be eating a lot of fur.The fur will be able to make its way all the way through the rabbit's stomach.
If your rabbit is ill or doesn't have a good diet, all that fur could cause a problem in their stomach or bicyle.Since rabbits can't vomit to get the hairball out of their system, it can quickly become a very dangerous condition for the rabbit.
You will need to brush your rabbit more often during the heavy shed period.If your rabbit is getting a lot of fur, you will probably need to brush them on a daily basis.It is possible that rabbits that are longer or lighter in weight only need to be brushed once a week.
To know how often you should brush your rabbit, pay attention to its appearance.They probably need to be brushed more frequently if they have a ragged coat with fur sticking out everywhere.
Many rabbits hate being brushed.You will need to experiment with different brushing tools to find one that your rabbit will like.I have tried some tools.
If you can't find something that works, then you'll have to get rid of the fur on your rabbit.Since you won't be able to get a lot of the loose fur, it's a possibility for those rabbits who wont put up with anything else.
The fur of a rabbit will get everywhere when it is shed.It can be hard to keep a clean house.The fur will make its way into the nooks.You can find it on your clothes.During a big shed season, I take a number of steps to keep my place as clean as possible.
Amy is a rabbit owner who works at the Humane Rescue Alliance.She helps to educate volunteers on how to care for rabbits.
It can happen like a switch is turned on.One day, your rabbit is friendly and the next, they are a complete menace.They will charge and growl at you.They might try to bite you.
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My name is Amy and I am the Bunny Lady.I specialize in rabbits at my local animal shelter.I am here to make sure you have everything you need to care for your bunny.
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