My bunny has matted tail fur. Can a vet shave it to prevent flystrike?

I am sorry to hear about Miles. Depending on how soiled he is, this may require taking him to the vet to remove the soiled hair by clipping. I wouldn't recommend doing this at home because rabbit skin is very thin and easy to cut. If the soiled area is not large then soaking his bottom in warm water and a mild shampoo like puppy shamoo then using a comb to comb the soiled area out and being sure to dry the area well may work.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Little Bit. I recommend having her shaved down by a veterinarian or groomer. A veterinarian is a good choice in case in sedation is needed. I hope this information helps!

Hi there, Sorry your bunny is having trouble. There are two main concerns that cause this. One is that an incorrect diet with too many carbs, treats, pellets and not enough hay, fiber, good veggies make for excess cecal pellets or loose stool. I suggest follow the www.rabbit.org guidelines. This is the House Rabbit Society, which is a good source of info. Parasites would be another possilbity and a fecal check is a good idea. Last, if your bunny has some arthritis with his age, he may be able to clean his self as well or get down to eat his cecal pellets (the soft night droppings) as well. I suggest a good exam by a vet to rule out arthritis and health problems and making sure diet is optimal.

With the majority of the changes to the skin occurring around the back legs, this could have started with some kind of a urinary issue. Urine that gets onto the skin can be very irritating, can smell badly, and the hair can fall out. You didn't mention what the skin under the fur looked like, but often the skin can become painful, red, and infected. I would recommend that you take Willie in for evaluation by a veterinarian. They can evaluate the skin and may take a few samples to evaluate under the microscope. If your veterinarian suspects that there may be a urinary issue, they may recommend collecting a urine sample to evaluate (a urinalysis), and blood work to evaluate systemic health. Depending on the veterinary clinic, they may also be able to bathe Willie for you, as this can be stressful for rabbits. Please don't give Willie any human medications, or apply any medications to his skin, as these can be harmful for our rabbit friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

Poor Fluffy, Rabbits can have a molt where they will shed the hair almost like a dog would. However, if the coat appears abnormal or you feel like she is painful I would recommend taking her to a vet for a good exam. Rabbits can also get parasites, fungal disease and bacterial disease of the skin that can affect how the coat grows and might be causing some pain when the hair is removed. hope that helps

Thanks for reaching out about Fluffy. Loose fur is an indication of a molt but if ingested by the rabbit can cause gastrointestinal irritation or blockages. Using your hand or a glove to gently pet her and remove hair could help. Plucking small quantities of loose fur slowly might be less painful. Brushing can work with a softContinuing to assist grooming is advised. It is also noted that she is an un-spayed female, which needs to be rectified. Rabbits have a very high incidence of uterine cancer if left un-spayed. Good luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an infection for example. For this reason, I recommend that you have your bunny evaluated by a veterinarian who can examine this and determine what it may be so that therapy can be recommended more specifically. Best of luck!