In more and more homes we find rabbits as pets. To guarantee their well-being, it is important that the caregivers, before the adoption, find out what are the basic needs that they must cover. For example, brushing is essential, especially in long-haired rabbits.
To help you choose between the types of rabbit brushes that are on sale, in this article on our site we review the essential.
The importance of brushing rabbits
Rabbits are very clean animals, capable of cleaning themselves, just like cats do. That is why their regular hygiene does not have to include bathing, as it usually does with dogs, but it is essential that we spend time brushing. If they have any localized dirt in an area, we can clean them with baby wipes. Only if they are really dirty and in very large areas can we think of a bathroom, no more than once or twice a year.
So forgetting about water, regular brushing is what helps the rabbit to remove dead hair This way you won't swallow so much during your grooming and thus prevent the formation of the dreaded hairballs that can cause serious, even potentially fatal, changes to your he alth.
Furthermore, especially in long-haired rabbits, hair that is not brushed ends up accumulating dirt, becoming tangled and forming knots. But not only is regular brushing important, but also knowing how to choose between the types of brushes for rabbits which is the most suitable for our specimen. In some cases we can also decide on a comb.
Brushing is recommended 2-3 times a week, at least once if our rabbit is short-haired, and once a day in those specimens with long fur, such as angora rabbits. Special emphasis must be placed on brushing during the moulting season, when the hair will shed in greater quantity. Therefore, if you want to live with a rabbit, keep in mind that its fur, especially if it is long, requires time. We review the brushes and combs to choose from in the following sections.
Brushing technique
But in addition to selecting a type of brush for rabbits that is suitable for the characteristics of our rabbit's coat, it is important to know how to brush properly, so that we can remove a large amount of hair. To do this, the chosen brush has to be passed over the entire body, both in favor of the hairline and against the hairline, of course, with very careful, above all in the most sensitive parts.
It is possible that, if it is not used to it, the animal becomes nervous. That is why you have to try to get used to it from a young age and, in any case, be patient, talk to it with affection, do not force it or make sudden movements and gradually increase the brushing time to get him to accept it willingly. Every time he leaves or stays calm we can reward him with a prize, such as some food that he especially likes, to reinforce the behavior that we want him to repeat. You have to be very careful because its skin is very thin and, with a strong tug on the hair, we could hurt it.
Metal-toothed comb
In addition to knowing the types of brushes for rabbits, you should also find out about combs, as they are very useful and suitable for long-haired rabbits. These are combs with straight and hard teeth, more or less close together and with the rounded tipso as not to hurt the animal. They are valid for use throughout the year and help undo tangles and knots. You can pass the comb as a first step and then use another type of brush. Of course, you always have to use them very carefully to avoid damage.
Shedding comb
These brushes also have straight, hard bristles with a rounded tip, but they differ in that these have various lengths, allowing brushing at different heights. As its name suggests, it stands out among the types of brushes for rabbits because it is very useful for the shedding seasons.
Card
The brush is a well-known type of brush for rabbits. It is usually used to give a few finishing touches and gives the hair a plumping effect, while removing dead hair. It is used in long-haired rabbits. Therefore, first it will be necessary to pass a comb to remove any possible tangles and, later, with the coat prepared, it is when it is carded.
Soft brush
This name refers to a type of brush for rabbits with natural bristlesPrecisely its more delicate touch allows this brush to pass through more sensitive areas of the body, such as the ears or face. These brushes can also be found with one side with metal spikes and the other with soft bristles. In this case, the comb would be passed first to clean and then the brush to finish.
The handles are usually ergonomic and non-slip to facilitate grip and handling. In addition, especially for rabbits with shorter hair, we can opt for a mitten brush in which we only have to insert our hand. It allows brushing the whole body in a very simple way, like giving a massage.
Scarpidor
Finally, a valid type of brush for rabbits is also the escarpidor, perhaps better known by the Furminator brand, which helps to remove all the dead hair, for this reason it can be very useful during the moult, especially if our specimen is long-haired. In fact, it is usually so effective that we run the risk of causing bald spots if we exceed the passes. It is characterized by the presence of some very fine, hard and tight bristles