For you and your rabbits’ sake, grooming is necessary. Petsmart is one of the leading stores in the U.S that offers solutions and services for pets. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of grooming your rabbit, as it requires patience and the utmost care, and are wondering if Petsmart offers grooming services for your little fur friend, let’s find out below and learn about ‘Does PetSmart Groom Rabbits?’.
Does PetSmart Groom Rabbits?
No, Petsmart does not groom rabbits. Although they offer grooming services, but only for cats and dogs. Notwithstanding, they sell grooming products that will help you get it done at home, or better yet, you can visit a vet clinic or special pet groomers to groom your little fur friend.
Why does PetSmart not groom rabbits?
Rabbits groom themselves naturally but often require soft and easy brushing now and then. Since they have delicate and thin skin, their grooming process requires much care that only professionally trained pet groomers who work with rabbits regularly can handle. Petsmart does not have staff with such training and experience; hence why they don’t offer grooming services for rabbits and other small animals.
Nevertheless, they offer commendable grooming services for bigger pets like cats and dogs.
Does PetSmart trim rabbit’s nails?
Like grooming, Petsmart does not offer nail trimming services for rabbits or other small animals. In some cases, some of their staff representatives may offer home services to help trim your rabbit’s nails for extra income.
However, I believe that this may be against Petsmart’s policy. So, you can either take your rabbit to a vet clinic or professional pet groomer to trim its nails or do it yourself with the right nail trimmer, which you can buy from Petsmart.
What does it mean to groom a rabbit?
Like human hygiene, grooming ensures your pet stays clean, fresh, and healthy. Rabbit grooming involves different activities such as;
- Removing mat (if necessary)
- Brushing the fur
- Trimming nails
- Cleaning ears and eyes
- Cleaning scent glands
- Sanitary cleaning of the bottom side
What tools do I need to groom my rabbit?
Grooming a rabbit is beyond brushing its furs. Here are the tools to help you groom your rabbit effectively at home.
Wide-tooth and fine-tooth combs
Use a wide tooth comb first and follow with a fine-tooth comb to remove matted furs.
Soft brush
While most other tools may not be necessary for the frequent grooming process, a soft brush is your go-to tool for your daily or bi-weekly grooming.
Thinning scissors
In a situation where your rabbit’s fur is seriously matted, and your combs and brushes aren’t doing the trick, use a thinning scissor to cut out the matt.
Nail clippers
It has a rounded edge that makes it safe and less painful to trim down your rabbit’s nails. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to use a human clipper on your rabbit to avoid injuries.
Rubber brush or mitt’
A rubber brush has flexible bristles that wouldn’t be hard on your rabbit’s skin. A mitt is a glove with soft bristles that let you pet your rabbit while brushing away matted hair and de-shedding its furs.
Cotton balls and swabs
Use cotton balls to spot clean dirty areas on your rabbit or its ear, while the swabs will come in handy for cleaning the scent glands.
Furminator
This is like a brush, but works by de-shedding or removing excess fur from your pet’s undercoat without shedding the fur on the topcoat.
Wash cloth and paper towel
If you notice any part of your rabbit that requires a wash, use a damp cloth with shampoo to spot clean it, and use a paper towel to dry it off.
Styptic powder
In case you trim your rabbit’s nail too deep and it starts to bleed, the styptic powder will help to stop bleeding fast.
How do I brush my rabbit at home?
Grooming your rabbit at home would be easier once you can get your pet to cooperate. Here are some tips on how to groom your rabbit at home.
- Interact with your rabbit to make it feel safe and calm. You can do so by placing it on your lap on a soft cloth or allowing it to stay on the floor while you lie to get down to its level and give it a calming massage.
- Once it is calm, work your mitt or brush in the direction of the furs’ growth, and don’t press hard against its skin. If you have to use a comb, place it flat against the rabbit and comb softly.
- If you are dealing with severely matted hair, trim it off with a thinning scissor.
Bottom line
Unfortunately, Petsmart does not offer grooming services for rabbits because of how delicate these creatures are. As such you can either opt for professional grooming services by taking your rabbit to a vet clinic, pet salon, or other pet stores like Petco, where you will be charged about $40 to $60 for the service. Otherwise, you can buy a rabbit’s grooming kit from Petsmart and give your little fur friend the groom it needs in the comfort of your home.
FAQs
- How often should I brush my rabbits’ fur?
Brush the fur twice weekly for short hair rabbits and every day for long-hair rabbits to remove loose hair. If your rabbit is in its shedding season, you will have to brush more frequently than usual to prevent matting.
- Can I bathe my rabbit?
Rabbits do not need a water bath because submerging them in water can cause anxiety and even lead to shock or heart attack. The best way to clean your rabbit is by using a damp cloth and shampoo to clean areas of their body that seem dirty and dry them with a paper towel.
