Shaving a rabbit

[tnelsonfla]

While I was a the show this weekend a lady who had the same breed as I, asked if she could shave her rabbit down. She said "your rabbits have such nice coats how do you do that?". I keep mine indoors and at around 40% humidity. She keeps hers outdoors and in Florida that humidity is normally 80% or higher. Now I know the coat seems to be better in the cooler months regardless of where you live. My rabbitry is around 73-80 degrees(same as house) and is between 37-41% humidity, year around. I told her I would advise not shaving. Her rabbits where between 2-3 years old she got this year from a prominent Havana breeder in Florida. Even her Jr's where stained and sun shaded. Is there anything she could do for her rabbits?

 

[LindseysWoolies]

The only thing you can do I think is wait for a molt and put them in more shade! Mine are in pretty good shade and don't get sun burned at all through the summer.

 

[tnelsonfla]

Her concern was all her rabbits where like that and some had been like that for over a year. She has moved them inside to an old horse barn. She has shaved dogs, sheep and feels comfortable with the rabbits thinned skin. I just didin't know if it would help or how quickly it would grow back.

 

[LindseysWoolies]

The hair would not "grow back" it has to molt out. Shaving it will just make a bald rabbit until the rabbit molts and grows the hair back. I really don't know what the problem can be unless her rabbits just have bad color?

 

[tnelsonfla]

Yeah it was a random question that I had never heard of and she seemed put off by the judges comments, even thou they all looked the same. It was even hard to tell the Blue was a Blue and the Chocolate's looked almost Orange. I had told her they should molt it out this coming winter. She seemed to want a quick fix and I had no answer for her. I told her it would not effect her rabbits if she bred them. She said she has moved them out of direct sun, and hopefully that helps.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Shaving animals often changes the texture of the fur, so I wouldn't recommend it.

There are supplements sold for horses to deepen the coat color on dark animals. Here is a link to one:

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html ... 41b625168c

 

[3mina]

She going to have to wait for moulting. My only suggestion would be BOSS to help things along