How to Prevent Hairballs in Rabbits

Cats and rabbits groom heavily and, as a result, ingest fur that accumulates inside their stomachs. Unlike cats, however, rabbits do not have the ability to vomit. This makes hairballs in rabbits a potentially fatal problem. Fortunately, there are easy ways to help prevent and treat mild hairballs in rabbits.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fresh pineapple
• Timothy hay
• Hay bin
• Safe play area
• Experienced veterinarian

1. Know the difference between a mild hairball and a medical emergency. Symptoms of a mild and easily treatable hairball are a small and brief decrease in appetite, smaller droppings or fur in the droppings. Any behavior changes such as lethargy and refusal to eat for more than 4 to 6 hours should be considered a medical emergency and your rabbit could die in less than 24 hours if not seen by a veterinarian.

2. Feed your rabbit hay, all day, everyday. Every rabbit should have a diet that consists of “free choice” Timothy hay, especially when the rabbit is molting. Timothy hay consumption helps keep hairballs to a minimum because the hay entangles with ingested fur and helps push it out of the digestive system before the fur develops into a hairball.

3. Remember to keep the hay clean. Feed your rabbit hay through a hay bin, not off the floor of its cage or in its food bowl. Pet stores offer hay bins in many shapes and sizes and they are usually less than $5. Purchase only the hay bins that attach to the outside of the bunny’s cage. Hay bins that attach inside the cage pose a safety risk to the bunny who loves to hop into and sit in such fun places.

4. Offer fresh pineapple. The acid in the pineapple may help destroy hairballs, making them easier to pass through the digestive system. Don’t be discouraged if your rabbit is offended by the smell, as most bunnies are. Some rabbits will solve the “stinky” problem by begrudgingly eating the pineapple. Others are more stubborn and may have to be force-fed the pineapple. Remove any uneaten pineapple from the rabbit’s cage after 5 minutes.

5. Make your bunny exercise it out. Take your bunny to an area of your home that has been bunny-proofed and allow it to play for an hour. This activity encourages your rabbit to pass droppings, helping ingested fur move through the digestive tract. This is also a good opportunity to see if your rabbit is exhibiting more serious symptoms, such as lethargy, which should be considered an emergency.

Tips & Warnings

• The best hay to feed your pet rabbit is Timothy hay, not alfalfa, and not grass.
• Veterinarians consider Western Timothy hay by Oxbow to be the highest quality hay available on the market.
• Hay is an integral part of a healthy rabbit’s diet and promotes healthy teeth. It can adequately sustain your rabbit in lieu of rabbit pellets.
• Rabbits molt every 3 months and should be given extra amounts of hay and preventative pineapple during this period of increased shedding.
• If you need your veterinarian to check out your bunny’s suspected hairball, your vet may recommend Cat-Lax, a laxative for cats that is designed to remove hairballs. Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions when using this product for a rabbit.
• If you suspect your rabbit has a hairball and the rabbit has not eaten or refuses to eat for more than 4 to 6 hours, take your bunny to an emergency veterinarian immediately. Your bunny may be suffering from a severely impacted digestive system and can die in less than 24 hours if not treated immediately.
• Try these home remedies only if you notice that your rabbit’s droppings have decreased in size during the course of the day, your rabbit is molting, or you notice fur in your bunny’s droppings.
• Note that any audible noises coming from your rabbit’s stomach is abnormal and should be considered an emergency.

[kat716]

on 3/20/2009 This article is titled how to PREVENT hairballs in rabbits, but failed to mention the #1 most important thing you can do. BRUSH YOUR BUNNY!! Brush, comb, use those grooming gloves or a blower if you have a wooly breed. Every hair that you remove is one that your rabbit doesn't swallow. The rest of the advice is pretty good, but the first line of defense against hairballs is good grooming.