matted angora rabbit! Please Help!

[Sylverfly]

So I just got three rabbits last night and was told that the angora had been badly matted I knew he had a few matts on his side but when I examined him closer his entire front, side, and belly are a solid matt. So obviously I must de-matt him what is the best method. I cut a few on his side and chest with fabric scissors but its impossible to tell where his skin is and I'm afraid to get to close and cut him. I'm worried that electric clippers will terrify him, should I just clip quick and let him stress? Will clippers even work on his fur or wool or what ever? I need advice.

Also these are solid matts that look like felt and I cannot comb them out, even with a dematting brush and pet conditioner.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I've had good luck taking the blades off my electric clippers and using those manually to smooth out (and chop out if needed) the mats. It's takes time, and I'd often only work for a few minutes a day, because the rabbit's skin can get irritated.

 

[debilorrah]

Start from the top of the mat and trim it down until it is at a point that you can comb it out. Sometimes they are very loose to start with. A rabbits skin is very sensitive, so I would not shear the bunny just to avoid any irritation.

 

[Sylverfly]

Ok its good to know that rabbits have very sensitive skin, he'd probably get all cut up if I tried to shave him. I know in other animals matts really hurt, they must be even worse for a rabbit then, right. And all it takes is just a few minutes of your day or even a good brushing a week and he wouldn't be in this situation. People, sometimes I just wanna smack em.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
You may actually be able to use a mat comb and pull them out. Angoras have a base coat and the top coat is often easy to pull out. That is how I harvest my wool, just pull on it and it gives some then continue.

 

[CYGChickies]

Debi's right. I just bought a pair of French Angoras and the buck was covered in matted fur clumps and if you use the comb it's slow work but they can be combed out. We cut one that was a bit bigger than a golf ball in half just to make it easier to comb out but we're too scared to shave or cut the matted fur off because of the sensitive skin.

CYG

 

[punk-a-doodle]

One trick is taking one of those thin, plastic combs for people that have close together teeth. Work the comb into the base of each matt, with it lying flush with the skin (flat against it, as close to the skin as you can get). Then, you can use scissors (non-bulky scissors that can get closest to the comb) to cut away without hitting any skin. It only works if the matts are loose enough at the base to work a comb in though.

 

[oesdog]

If all else fails - snip the ends off best you can leave for a few days so the fur grows out again from the skin. Then get your comb in the gap between the skin and the tat. Tease it out gently then get your two fingers and hold the fur up as tight to the skin as you can so that your fingers protect the skin. Then cut just above your fingers - the side away from the skin of course. Yeap your rabit will look a bit daft but the Tat will tug at the skin and cause your rabbit sores otherwise. Believe me I have had many hours of cutting straight down a tat and all that - look at my Dog!!!!!!!!!! - good thing is IT IS ONLY HAIR AND WILL GROW BACK!!!!!!

Oesdog - good luck! Your Rabbit is very much smaller than my problem!

 

[redpoodlesrus]

I groom poodles all the time and I groom dogs, cats and bunnies for the local Humane Soc. Yesterday I was presented with a woman who had an angora bunny that in her words was "badly matted". I was in SHOCK when I saw the bunny. She is a teacher and asked if I would groom it in front of the children, which I never do. I was unable to find my #10 blade and that is what I needed, but since I was in front of a whole class expecting something from me. I desperately tried a skip tooth 7 blade and that did not work well at all. Then I tried a 30 blade and that was too chaffing. Finally, I just told the woman I had to take the rabbit home to finish and picked up a brand new 10 blade on the way. I called the local vet that specializes in bunnies and he told me that is what they use on the bunnies they have to shave. So a 10 blade is the way to go. I had no chafing or any problems after that. But if I had it to do again I would have focused on the bottom half and then gave the rabbit a break for a day or two. First let me tell you I have NEVER come across an animal so severely matted with so much poop also matted all over its bottom. It had blunt toenails that we about 3-4 inches long, just a MESS. I had to soak the bunnies bottom for about 15-20 minutes just to loosen up the poop in order to get it off. I had been telling this woman I would groom her bunny for a whole year for no charge. Why she took so long blows my mind. I was about 1/2-3/4 of the way don and I could see the bunny seemed a bit stressed, so I would give him 5 min breaks to eat and drink and relax. I wanted to finish the job because who knows how long it would be till I had a chance to see and groom this bunny again and this bunny was miserable. If you know anything about bunnies they have to be able to reach their bottom every day. They poop a special poop that they must eat daily for their gut. This bunny probably was unable to do that for well over a month. Any way with the sad condition that this little dwarf was in and the stress of a full day of grooming he died last nigh. So my point is please people do not wait so long for your bunny to get this bad and if you already have they spend the money and get the bunny to a bunny vet specialist who can check its condition out and put the bunny to sleep for the hair cut so there is no stress involved. Also, make sure you have a heat lamp available for the bunny who gets shaved. I did purchase a small dog sweater for this bunny but I think it was still cold due to the owner having air conditioning. If you are looking into purchasing an angora bunny please educate yourself on the care and grooming first. I feel so bad for that bunny. And angry at the owner.