How to Give a Rabbit a Bath

Most of the time, pet rabbits bathe themselves by licking their fur the way a cat would. Occasionally, they end up sitting in their litter boxes and getting a bit of a mess on their fur in hard-to-reach places. Try to remove what you can, but be aware that sometimes their waste can get caked onto their bottoms or paws and can become almost impossible for you or the rabbit to get rid of without water to soften it up. At that point, you'll need to give the rabbit a bath, but only as a last resort.

Things You'll Need

  • Bathtub
  • Water
  • Washcloth or small, soft brush
  • Old towel
  • Hair dryer (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the bathtub with 1 inch of lukewarm water and place the rabbit in the tub. Test the water before you put him in to make sure the water is not scorching. Do not leave the rabbit unattended, as he may try to jump out of the tub and potentially hurt himself.

    • 2

      Bathe the rabbit with a partner if possible. One person should hold the bunny in place so he doesn't slip and slide around and hurt himself, while the other person uses an old washcloth or soft brush to bathe the rabbit. Just use plain water, do not use soap that may not fully get rinsed off and end up ingested by the rabbit.

    • 3

      Remove the rabbit from the tub carefully, with the help of your friend or family member. Be sure to secure his hind legs so he doesn't kick wildly and break his back. You can also pick him up by the scruff behind his head.

    • 4

      Pat your bunny with an old towel to get excess water off and then wrap him up in the towel to keep him from getting chilled. Rotate between patting and wrapping him in the towel until he is dry. This may take up to an hour because of all his fur. You can also use a hair dryer on low heat/slow speed, to dry your bunny. However, consider your bunny's personality first. If he is very skittish, the noise may scare him, in which case you'll want to avoid that option.

    • 5

      Brush your bunny after he is dry to smooth his fur and make it fluffy again, rather than matted down. Expect your rabbit to lick himself a lot afterward in an effort to straighten out his fur, too.