How to Stop a Rabbit From Eating its Fur

Keeping rabbits as pets or livestock comes with the responsibility of ensuring those rabbits are healthy. At times, rabbits will eat their own fur, which can cause problems with digestion as well as overall health. Fortunately, the causes of fur eating can be easily remedied, and your rabbit should return to its normal self.

Things You'll Need

  • Veterinarian
  • Soft brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Talk with your veterinarian about your rabbit's behavior. Is it the time of year when your rabbit should be molting? Molting (or shedding) is natural in all rabbits and can happen once or twice a year depending on whether the rabbit lives indoors or outdoors. Most rabbits molt at the end of winter, as they don't need that extra layer of fur.

    • 2

      Groom your rabbit with the soft brush regularly, and especially if you have determined it is molting. Rabbits will often ingest their fur during their molting times, and this can cause serious digestive problems.

    • 3

      Find out if your rabbit is pregnant. Female rabbits will nest if they are pregnant. The nesting behavior consists of them pulling their fur out to make a comfortable home for their babies. Sometimes the rabbits can exhibit nesting behavior even when they are not pregnant. This is called a fake pregnancy.

    • 4

      Spay or neuter your rabbit. Spaying female rabbits should eliminate the fur-eating problem within a few weeks.