Hello,
I don't think it's anything serious, but it's the first time I have to face this problem: Tybalt, my new 7 months old rabbit is seriously lazy, especially in washing himself. I caught him several time washing himself while laying down (not because he can't get up to do it, he had a vet check up and is in perfect health, but because he couldn't be bothered to get up). He also washes his back paws very quickly... when he does it. He is mostly kept clean because my other rabbit washes him (I caught her washing under his feet too the other day, it was the first time I saw her doing that to another rabbit... Tybalt kept laying down, looking rather pleased with himself), but the under side of his feet are pretty yellow despite him being a free range rabbit with a daily cleaned litter tray. I am worried his sloppy cleaning might lead to pododermatitis or something. I am not much keen on washing him because I know you are not really supposed to wash rabbits and I am afraid it might be unsettling for him.
As I said, he is in perfect health otherwise. He is young and not at all overweight. He's also got plenty of energy when it comes to make mischief, run around or steal food.
Have someone else been faced with the same problem? What can I do to encourage him to wash himself better? Seems to me like he just isn't really interested in doing that kind of stuff (boys will be boys... my girl is a neat freak and I suspect she is washing him a lot because the smell bothers her, because she is otherwise pretty dominant XD).
Thank you!
I don't think it's anything serious, but it's the first time I have to face this problem: Tybalt, my new 7 months old rabbit is seriously lazy, especially in washing himself. I caught him several time washing himself while laying down (not because he can't get up to do it, he had a vet check up and is in perfect health, but because he couldn't be bothered to get up). He also washes his back paws very quickly... when he does it. He is mostly kept clean because my other rabbit washes him (I caught her washing under his feet too the other day, it was the first time I saw her doing that to another rabbit... Tybalt kept laying down, looking rather pleased with himself), but the under side of his feet are pretty yellow despite him being a free range rabbit with a daily cleaned litter tray. I am worried his sloppy cleaning might lead to pododermatitis or something. I am not much keen on washing him because I know you are not really supposed to wash rabbits and I am afraid it might be unsettling for him.
As I said, he is in perfect health otherwise. He is young and not at all overweight. He's also got plenty of energy when it comes to make mischief, run around or steal food.
Have someone else been faced with the same problem? What can I do to encourage him to wash himself better? Seems to me like he just isn't really interested in doing that kind of stuff (boys will be boys... my girl is a neat freak and I suspect she is washing him a lot because the smell bothers her, because she is otherwise pretty dominant XD).
Thank you!
