Should I be worring about a lot of shedding. Thumper seems to be really shedding especially on her snout and between her shoulder blades. I know it\'s summer and all so I expect some shedding but it just flies off her when it didn\'t before. Is anyone else having this problem? Thanks Lisa
Its normal for a rabbit to shed like that.
You should take x-tra care in grooming your rabbit while it is shedding. Also feed lots of Hay to help prevent wool-block or hairball. You can also give a pea sized dose of petr-molt.
I heard that petrolium based hairball treatments coat the intestinal lining and prevent the body from absorbing needed nutrients and should only be used as needed, not as a preventitive. Digestable oils (corn, flaxseed, sunflower) lubricate the digestive trac because they breakdown more slowly in the body, and so they help prevent hairballs, but petrolium or mineral oil base products need to be used to remove a hairball that is present in the body. I wish I could remember where I read this. I am not in the medical business and so I don\'t know if this is true.
Petromalt works great to get rid of an existing fur block condition (if it is not too far advanced), but regularly providing a good grass-type hay as a preventative is your best bet.
Just like treating flea and fur mite infestations, it is best to treat active conditions rather than prophylactically. Yes, continued use of Petromalt (or any oily substance designed to clear the digestive tract) does inhibit absorption of nutrients, however, fur block will make your rabbit stop eating altogether and the digestive system to go dormant, which is life-threatening, so Petromalt is great for getting things going before a serious situation develops. I just wouldn\'t use it on a daily basis.
Provide hay free-choice and groom your rabbit 2 to 3 daily while in molt to remove loose hair. Your rabbit should get through his molt with flying colors.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com