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You've
heard about cats and hairballs, but did you know
that rabbits can get them, too? Because both species
are meticulous groomers, they tend to ingest a lot
of loose fur. Unlike cats, however, rabbits are
not able to vomit up ingested hair. If a tangled
mass of hair is allowed to form, it could cause
an obstruction in the stomach or small intestine--and
potentially serious illness. With a few simple precautions
and preventive measures, however, you and your pet
can win the fight against the dreaded hairball.
Got a Rabbit Hairball?
If
you've got a bunny, be prepared for the fur to fly--and
it'll fly about four times a year. Rabbits shed
every three months, alternating relatively light
sheddings with majorly heavy molts. Some individuals
may take a few weeks to lose their old coats, while
others seem to accomplish this task in one day;
either way, you can help to lessen the chance of
a hairball developing. Sometimes you'll be able
to literally pull out clumps of hair with your hands,
or you can try wetting your pet down with a fine
mist of water and then rubbing him all over. (Yes,
the fur is going to stick to your hands, but it
will easily ball up and roll off.) It's also important
that you regularly brush and comb your bunny--at
least once daily during periods of heavy shedding,
and once a week during the off season.
Hay for Dealing with Hairballs
If
you've read our topic on "Nutritional Needs,"
you know that hay is an important component of your
pet's diet. It's also a crucial weapon in the fight
against hairballs. Fresh hay promotes gastrointestinal
health, and provides fiber that'll help move ingested
hair through your rabbit's digestive system. Unlimited
fresh timothy, grass or oat hay should be available
to your rabbit at all times, so be sure to fill
your pet's hay rack every morning so he can nibble
throughout the day.
In
addition to regular grooming and daily hay, feline
remedies like Petromalt and Laxatone are effective
hairball blockers, too. There are several brands
available at pet supply stores. Experts suggest
giving the hairball remedy once weekly when your
pet is not shedding, and even more frequently during
shedding season. Adequate daily exercise, too, is
an important factor in preventing hairballs; it'll
keep your bun--and his digestion--moving right along!
Hairballs May Complicate Digestion
When
a rabbit's gastrointestinal tract is not functioning
properly, however, tangled hair and food can form
into a huge mass, and the resulting hairball can
become impacted and cause an entire stomach blockage.
Rabbits who suffer from this condition will gradually
stop eating; their feces will become smaller, until
production stops completely. In such a case, immediate
medical attention is required. A veterinarian can
detect the blockage by simply feeling the animal's
abdomen, but radiographs may also be necessary.
In some cases, emergency surgery is the only way
to remove the mass--and save the animal.
But
you can stop this from happening to your pet--simply
by being diligent about taking all of the precautions
above. As you can see, when it comes to hairballs
and rabbits, prevention is much easier than cure!
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