Bunny Stress

Question
Hi,
  My daughter bathed our rabbit and now I think it is WAY stressed. The rabbit doesnt want to do much of anything but lay with all 4 legs spread outward. If she is indeed in stress, what can I do to help her. When my daughter bathed her, she towel dried her but didnt get her completly dry. The rabbit was very cold when I got home last night and so I warmed her up using bags of warm water wrapped in towels. The rabbit did eat and drink a little for me last night.

Thank you
Karen

Answer
Dear Karen,

This is why we recommend that a rabbit never, never be bathed.  I have known rabbits to die from the stress of a bath, which is completely unnatural for them.  By now, I hope the bunny is dry.  But if not, then please get a blow dryer and make sure to blow dry bunny (on low/medium, so it's not too hot) and use a comb to be sure to part the undercoat and get everything thoroughly dry.  A wet bunny is susceptible to hypothermia, which can kill.

If the bunny is still not eating, or if she's not producing fecal pellets, please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

and go here to find a good vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Not eating/pooping in a rabbit is a sign of a potentially life-threatening problem, and you should waste no time in getting the bunny to the vet.

But please never bathe the rabbit again.  Rabbits are fastidiously clean, and they groom themselves constantly. They don't need human help with their hygiene.

Hope this helps. Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana