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8.5.07
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GROOMING
Netherlands don't require a lot of grooming as a rule. Their short sleek fur will
generally keep itself. There are some things you'll need to do regularly, and some tools
to do them.
Your hands. One of the best grooming tools. Petting keeps
the fur sleek, and helps remove dead loose hair. You can dampen your hands to catch
more. The natural oils on your skin will add gloss. Molting bunnies will have tufts of
loose wool sticking out all over. Just pull the tufts out with your fingers.
Slicker brush. This type of brush has fine wire bristles
with an angle at the end. This is useful for molting bunnies. It pulls out loose wool
very easily. It can also loosen gunk on soiled fur. Be careful. The bristles are
sharp. Don't dig too deeply against the bunny's skin.
Softer brush. A small human hairbrush is good for light
grooming.
Nail clippers. There are many different types of animal
nail clippers. In a pinch, you can use your own fingernail clippers. I like the kind
made for small dogs and shaped like scissors. It can be hard to tell where the quick
(the blood vein) is on dark colored nails. It takes some practice. As a rule, trimming
the nail to the fur length on the toes is safe. For small jrs, just snip off the sharp
points as it can be very hard to see such small nails. If you do draw blood, don't
worry. The bunny won't bleed to death. A steptic pencil is handy, but I just apply
pressure with a clean tissue until the bleeding stops.
Cleaning. Rabbits generally keep themselves clean, but
caged bunnies are subject to conditions they can't always keep up with. Bucks spray, and
this nasty stuff can be reflected off their cage walls onto themselves or their
neighbors. It's especially frustrating for white fur. It can stain and be nearly
impossible to remove. Clean stained fur as soon as it's noticed. Once it's set in, it
probably won't come out until they molt. Another issue may be dirty tail. I see this
most with bunnies that tend to be fat. It's as if they are too pudgey to reach the tail,
or that they eliminate to close to the wire or cage wall. It could be caused by a bout
of diarrhea. Loose wool from molting can be a cause as well. I also see it on kits that
spend too much time in the nestbox. Baby bunnies have woolier fur and it tends to hold
stuff. This is a reason I remove the nestbox at about 3 weeks of age. Manure and urine
can become stuck to the fur and will continue to build up if not removed. It can cause
infection. Dry "dingle balls" can be pulled out with your fingers. I keep a small pair
of scissors handy for the balls that just won't come out. It may take a more aggressive
approach to remove a messy build-up. I hold a rabbit's tail under warm running water,
and work the mess out with my fingers. This will usually get most of it. A safe shampoo
can help get the rest. Make sure the rabbit is as dry as possible before you take it
back outside to cooler temps. If it's very cold, you may want to keep it inside until
dry. I have a few does who are just terrible for this. They've become used to the bowl
bath routine.
Shampoos and fur conditioners. "Classic Coat" is a solution
recommended for cleaning rabbit fur, and available through rabbit supply dealers. It's
safe, and may help brighten stained fur. It also adds a nice gloss for the show table.
I use it full strength for stained fur. I carry a small spray bottle of Classic Coat
diluted by half with water to shows. I spray a bit on my hands and rub onto the coat.
Then brush the fur both forward and backwards to get it well distributed. Then brush
with the soft brush, and finish with a good petting.
Tattoo Tool and Ink. A rabbit that is to be shown will need
an permanent ear number tattoo in its left ear. The number identifies the rabbit. It can
be numbers, letters, or a series of both. NDs ears are small, and it's best to keep the
number short. You can tat a name in a longer ear. Ear numbers are helpful for keeping
track of rabbits that are all the same color such as BEW or REW. Ink is usually black,
and made by several manfacturers. India Ink is a recommended type. There are 3 types of
tattoo tools.
..... Clamp. This is a heavy
plyer style of clamp. A clamp kit usually comes with a set of letters and/or numbers.
The digits are made up of sharp pins, and slide into the clamp. The clamp is quickly and
firmly pressed on the ear to create small holes in the shape of the digits. Ink is then
rubbed into the holes to create the tattoo. The tat will appear as a series of dots.
Painful for the rabbit.
..... Battery Operated. This is
a pen shaped tool that runs on batteries. The needle is moved quickly up and down by the
small motor. The needle is dipped in ink and the tat is written as with a pen. The tat
will look like it was written in magic marker. Less painful.
..... Touch-up Pen A simple pen
or dowel with a needle inserted in one end. The needle is dipped in ink. An entire tat
can be made by making dots in the shape of the digits. Most often used to touch-up a
faded tat. Also useful for a small temporary mark to identify kits. The mark can
be later tattooed over with the permanent ear number.
Related Info: Shows ; Training ; Glossary
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