rabbit has soiled herself

Question
My rabbit had surgery 3 weeks ago for a broken femur. She is a Flemish Giant. She keeps her tail underneath her and so is urinating and deficating it sticks to her underside and tail. I have washed her off with mild handsoap and wonder if there is something else I should use. Do you think peroxide would be okay or is that to strong for her skin. Unfortunately she doesn't move and try to keep herself clean.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks.


Answer
Poor baby; it must be tough to deal with a broken leg. I had the same messy issues with my lop, Peanut, when she had a head tilt. Corn starch is a real miracle worker when it comes to messy butts, it was one of the only things that kept Peanut clean and dry. Check it out here: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

Shaving the fur around her bottom may be another solution. We did keep Peanut's fur clipped to reduce the amount of poo sticking to her. You can have the vet do it, or you can try to do it as carefully as possible at home with a pair of clippers.

Finally, I'm not sure what kind of bedding she is on, but faux sheepskin is a wonderful product that wicks the moisture away from your bunny and can help to prevent painful urine scald. When Peanut was sick, she was confined to an exercise pen and her bedding was layered: first puppy pads (for easy clean up), then fleece and then sheepskin (both fabrics bought from Wal-Mart very inexpensively). It kept her relatively dry and made clean-up a lot easier.

Good luck, and I hope your bunny recovers quickly!