Keeping pets is fun, soothing, and grounding. However, keeping a pet comes bearing its responsibilities. Similarly, as babies, these voiceless creatures depend on us and our ability to decipher their needs through observing their behavior and bodies.
When it comes to bunnies, lionhead rabbits are the furriest of them all, hence the cuddliest. As they have an extra coating of fur, they need a little more grooming than their other furry brethren. So, can you shave a lionhead rabbit?
Shaving a lionhead rabbit is a big no. However, you can and should give it a trim once in a while. Lionhead rabbits have fur that can get longer than other breeds. Ungroomed fur can cause your bunny health and skin issues. It is better to groom and trim it once in a while to ensure your bunny’s optimal health.
Taking care of a lionhead rabbit’s fur has strict instructions and caution. Bunnies have sensitive skin and even sensitive immune systems. Keep in mind all aspects of your bunny before starting to chop that gorgeous mane. Keep reading to know more!
Also Check Out: How To Stop A Rabbit From Eating Her Babies?
Why Does A Lionhead Rabbit Need Help With Grooming?
All bunnies are self-groomers, including the lionhead rabbits. As these long-furred bunnies have an extra coat, they need an extra hand for grooming. Rabbits use their tongues and paws to groom their fur. In this process, they remove extra fur, eat some of it and detangle their coats. Lionheads are the same, but there are a few issues:
- Lionhead rabbit’s fur is too thick to detangle alone with its tongue.
- It can swallow too much loose hair and build a hazardous furball in its intestines that can harm your bunny.
- It can leave your furry baby’s mane matted and prone to skin irritation and disorders.
How Often Should You Groom Or Trim Your Lionhead Bunny’s Mane?
There are different breeds of lionhead bunnies. The trimming would depend on the individual differences that come with these breeds. Some lionehead rabbits require more frequent trimming than others. However, there is no rule of thumb here.
You can give your bunny a trim whenever you observe the fur getting too long. There could be many reasons:
- The fur is obstructing your furry baby’s vision
- It is getting matted
- Your bunny’s efforts are not doing a sufficient job
- The lionhead rabbit looks messy and unclean
Once you trim your bunny’s fur, notice the length. Whenever it grows back in length, you can trim it back to size. Do not trim it too much so that it exposes the skin. Rabbits stay protected by their fur.
Brushing Is More Vital Than Trimming
Giving your lionhead rabbit a good brush is more important than trimming its fur once in a while. It will reduce its chances of getting too mangled, which may require a close cut. Plus, it will take away excessive hair and prevent a furball hazard.
When you get a pet lionhead rabbit, go to your vet and learn all the grooming tips on hand. Here are a few things you need to know about brushing a lionhead bunny’s mane:
- Brush your lionhead bunny once a week.
- Brush its fur daily during the shedding season.
- Place your bunny in your lap over a mat. This way, you both are comfortable.
- Gently start brushing your bunny’s fur from tip to root. This method will ease the detangling of its fur and reduce the chance of your bunny getting hurt.
- Use a wide-tooth comb, and be sure not to touch the bunny’s skin.
- Give your bunny a 10 to 15 minutes break in the middle to drink, eat and ply. It will make the process less stressful for your furry friend.
Also Check Out: Can Two Unneutered Male Rabbits Live Together
When Is Shaving A Lionhead Rabbit Necessary?
Under no circumstances should you shave the whole fur of your bunny. It is dangerous for them. However, there are conditions where shaving your bunny is the only option.
Protection From Overheating
Bunnies are warm-blooded creatures. It means that they will always have an increased temperature than their surroundings. If you live in an area where summers are hot, it will be crucial for your lionhead rabbit.
In this case, you should trim or shave your bunny to protect it from overheating. The excessive heat trapped in its fur will make your bunny uncomfortable and sick. Be sure to trim or shave carefully and to a certain length. Never remove all the fur of any rabbit due to its fragile nature.
Extremely Mangled Fur
Another reason to shave your lionhead bunny is if it has unruly fur. You can only detangle so much matted fur but not the worst kind. It has hard to note a lionhead rabbit’s coat because of its thickness.
The trick is to observe the eyes. If you see the fur matting around the eyes, your bunny’s fur has become too uncontrollable. In that case, you should shave your bunny and groom it on a schedule to avoid shaving again.
How Should You Shave Your Lionhead Bunny?
The shaving process is pretty simple. However, due to the rabbit’s skin’s sensitivity, you should ensure the rabbit’s fur is ready to be trimmed or shaved. There are a few steps to make the shaving process calmer, easier, and more comfortable for your lionhead bunny.
Bathe Your Bunny
Yes, bathing your bunny is not required and is highly disliked by our furry friends because they do not like being in the water. However, when it comes to shaving or trimming, make an exception. Bathing will help you clean your lionhead rabbit’s fur and soften its coat. It will make the shave smoother for your pet baby.
Dry Your Furry Friend
Dry your bunny by dabbing gently with a soft towel. After removing the excess water, use a blow dryer on mild settings and a warm throw to lightly dry the inner fur of your lionhead rabbit’s coat. Remember to give your bunny any breaks it needs through the process.
Comb it Out
Use a wide-teethed comb to do this job. Start at the tip and move toward the root of your bunny’s fur, giving one direction to your lionhead rabbit’s fur. It will give an idea of your furry baby’s fur length and give you a heads up on which direction to trim/shave.
Trim The Fur
Use good quality clippers or scissors to trim your lionhead rabbit’s fur. Do it ever so gently because bunnies startle easily. The clipping sounds can create panic for them. Hold them fast and give your bunny breaks. If, after trimming, you think there is no need to shave, skip it.
Otherwise, shave your bunny where needed. Mostly the groin area or teet area needs a little shaving at times, be extra slow and gentle with these parts. However, do not shave all the fur to reveal bare skin.
Also Check Out: How Much Does Bunny Food Cost?
Tools To Use While Grooming Your Lionhead Bunny
For a fragile pet, you need the perfect tools. Here is what you would need for the grooming and trimming of your lion-looking furry baby:
Wide-teeth Comb
Detangle your lionhead bunny’s thick fur with a wide-teeth comb. It is essential to brush to reduce tangled and matt fur as much as possible for your precious bunny.
Curved Scissors
Use sharp but curved scissors to remove hair where needed. It should have a blunt tip to reduce your lionhead bunny’s chances of getting a cut. Ensure the scissors are sharp. So the fur does not get pulled. It is used to cut unruly matt fur. Be gentle around sensitive areas like the groin.
Clippers
A good set of clippers will come in handy for your lionhead furry friend’s thick coat. Bunnies have sensitive hearing. You will need to ease your furry baby with the loud noise of the clipper before trimming it.
Clipper blades
It will benefit your bunny if you have more than one blade for the clipper. The blades tend to catch heat during trimming. If you have multiple, you can switch. Otherwise, give the bunny a break while the blade cools down to not burn its skin.
Final Word
Shaving any rabbit is highly discouraged due to its sensitive skin. The best alternative is to trim your bunny. It will allow it to keep a short lengthed fur for protection. You should only shave your bunny if it is a health matter. Do so after consulting with your vet.
Use good tools and take as much time as you need to avoid injuries. Ease your lionhead rabbit into the process, and never start trimming without preparation. Your fragile friends would need extra care and love through this process. Be sure to give them all the pets and smooches!