brentr
Ridin' The Range
Update - 6/23: I moved the doe to an all-wire bottom cage and my wife and I washed her bottom and combed out the matted hair as best we could. She seems fine. A few days later (today), I checked her again. It is as if we never did anything; the fur all around her genitalia and under her tail is dark brown and damp. Her genitalia appears fine. I can't find any injury, wound, etc., that would seem to be the cause. Her health is all good - she still nurses her bunnies, eats and drinks well, and has no bowel problems (based on what I see under her cage).
Her diet is 15% protein pellet, and alfalfa to nibble on. She gets the odd carrot and lawn clippings from my son.
My new question: could this be a gland, or hormone response of some sort? She does have a very strong rabbit odor, but it does not seem to be foul or putrid. Are there glands in/around her bottom that could be causing this? I just can't figure out what it is. I'm about ready to just declare "that is the way she is" and let it be. I'm going to breed her this weekend, so time will tell if this is affecting her reproductive abilities.
Anybody have ANY opinion on what this might be? I'd really be grateful for any insight.
*original post*
I noticed today that one of my does has a very dirty bottom. Some of the fur on the underside of her tail and around her genitalia is matted and quite stained. Her cage bottom is half wood, half wire. I'm sure that it is from her cage, even though I try to keep it very clean and give her fresh shavings on the wood every other day.
Question: how can I (and should I) try to clean her up? Can you bathe a rabbit? I imagine I'd have to subdue her and bundle her in a towel or something to clean her up. Or if I move her to a cage with an all-wire bottom, will it "wear off" in a little while? I do plan to move her to an all-wire bottom cage, regardless.
I feel badly that I didn't notice before. Doesn't seem to be any infection or anything super serious. No indication of diarrhea or the like in the cage, but I am concerned about breeding her in this condition. No other signs of health concerns.
Any and all advice is appreciated.
Her diet is 15% protein pellet, and alfalfa to nibble on. She gets the odd carrot and lawn clippings from my son.
My new question: could this be a gland, or hormone response of some sort? She does have a very strong rabbit odor, but it does not seem to be foul or putrid. Are there glands in/around her bottom that could be causing this? I just can't figure out what it is. I'm about ready to just declare "that is the way she is" and let it be. I'm going to breed her this weekend, so time will tell if this is affecting her reproductive abilities.
Anybody have ANY opinion on what this might be? I'd really be grateful for any insight.
*original post*
I noticed today that one of my does has a very dirty bottom. Some of the fur on the underside of her tail and around her genitalia is matted and quite stained. Her cage bottom is half wood, half wire. I'm sure that it is from her cage, even though I try to keep it very clean and give her fresh shavings on the wood every other day.
Question: how can I (and should I) try to clean her up? Can you bathe a rabbit? I imagine I'd have to subdue her and bundle her in a towel or something to clean her up. Or if I move her to a cage with an all-wire bottom, will it "wear off" in a little while? I do plan to move her to an all-wire bottom cage, regardless.
I feel badly that I didn't notice before. Doesn't seem to be any infection or anything super serious. No indication of diarrhea or the like in the cage, but I am concerned about breeding her in this condition. No other signs of health concerns.
Any and all advice is appreciated.
