Photo by Janan Lagerwall
Getting a rabbit is also about preparing yourself for their shedding season. It will be a lot of work and the fur will be all over the place if you miss a grooming session daily or weekly. Shedding is essential for bunnies to adjust to different temperatures throughout the year.
Let's get into it and learn more about rabbit shedding!
What is the purpose of bunny fur?
Aside from protecting the bunnies from different kinds of weather, fur is used mainly for making clothes like hats or coats. They can also be used in making blankets by adding fur to other fibers to make the material softer and warmer. Bunnies used for this industry are not indoors but are raised for rabbit farming to produce more fur.
On the other hand, domestic bunnies are groomed to make them more comfortable and not ingest so much fur. This helps bunnies to have a beautiful coat, away from skin diseases. Grooming is a part of their routine, especially when it's shedding season.
How often do bunnies shed?
Molting or shedding is where a bunny slowly loses its old fur and is replaced by a new one. Rabbits shed their fur twice a year; spring and autumn. These are the seasons when they shed heavily to prepare for the next season but it still depends on the bunny.
There will be a lighter replacement of fur after spring to prepare bunnies for summer; a thicker replacement of fur after fall to prepare them for the winter season. Some bunnies shed lightly and some shed a lot, lasting up to 2-6 weeks.
Some bunnies shed with patterns from their head down to their back and their sides. While other bunnies start shedding anywhere in their body like patches. You will know your bunny's shedding patterns as soon as you start grooming and caring for it in the first 1 or 2 years of bunny parenting.
What if a bunny sheds excessively?
It's alright if a bunny sheds a lot. You will be surprised by the amount of fur left in your damp hands if you stroke your bunny's back. There is nothing wrong with it as long as you are sure there are no scars or itchy parts on its skin.
A bunny can shed excessively because it could be a female bunny, as it's almost time to deliver kits. They pluck their fur to make a nest for their offspring.
If a bunny sheds excessively and you see flakiness on the skin, that could be a serious problem. Some bald parts may have scratches or even a bite, so check for these signs.
Disclaimer: We are not professional veterinarians or medical doctors. We created this blog based on our experiences with pet rabbits, volunteered hours in the rabbit shelter, extensive pet product research, and experienced peers. The purpose of this blog is to provide information about properly taking care of rabbits. Please know that it is still best to visit the vet regularly. For medical emergencies, contact a rabbit-savvy vet. Always observe your rabbits around new products or environmental changes.
Bunnies that Moult Four Times Annually
Bunnies shed two to four times a year. Twice heavy shedding and then lighter shedding in between. Young rabbits will shed at weeks and then at five months when they grow their transitional coats; from there, the shedding each year will start.
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