If your rabbit is ill, under severe stress, pregnant, or nursing, it is incredibly important to provide him with vitamin and mineral supplements.  Consult a veterinarian to find out the exact dosage your rabbit will require in each of these situations.  Especially in pregnant rabbits, it is very important to see your veterinarian so he or she can suggest the proper diet and supplements your rabbit will require to have healthy babies.

Giving your rabbit the vitamins and minerals he needs through supplements is much easier than you may think.  Most vitamin and mineral supplements come in liquid form or chewable form.  With the liquid form you can easily add the proper dosage to your rabbit’s water.  The chewable form usually comes in yummy flavors that your rabbit will love.  A great brand of liquid rabbit supplements are the Sundrops Rabbit and Guinea Pig 4 oz., pictured above.  It gives your rabbit a balanced amount of vitamins and minerals, and contains plenty of healthy vitamin D!  You can also purchase rabbit supplements in powder form.  The Vionate Pet Mineral Power 8 oz. is specially formulated for young rabbits as it promotes healthy body growth.

Besides supplements that provide your rabbit with vitamins and minerals, there are also supplements with essential fatty acids that promote healthy skin and coat in rabbits!  The Skin and Coat Supplement – Rabbits and Guinea Pigs 4 oz., is a popular brand of supplements that contain these healthy fatty acids!

There are ways to keep your rabbit clean without giving him a bath.  If your indoor rabbit gets dirty,  you will usually be able to just do spot cleaning.  Using a waterless shampoo, you can spray directly onto the area that is dirty.  This is much less traumatizing for rabbits than putting them into a bath full of water!  A great waterless shampoo is the Peters Waterless Shampoo Spray for Rabbits and Small Animals.  You do not need to wet the area before spraying, nor do you need to rinse it off afterward!  All you need to do is rub the spray into your rabbit’s coat, towel it off, and then brush their fur out.

Use a brush like the Pro Slicker Brush for Small Animals to de-tangle your rabbit’s fur after using the waterless shampoo.  You can use this brush often because it is useful for keeping your rabbit’s fur in good condition and to prevent tangles.  The teeth of the brush is plastic, and there are round plastic tips so it is gentle on your rabbit’s skin.  This is the best brush you can buy for your rabbit because unlike other brushes, it will not irritate his skin.

Because of how difficult it is to bathe your rabbit, I would recommend buying a cologne spray to keep your rabbit smelling nice and fresh!  TropiClean Pet Cologne, shown above, is perfect to use on any any small animals, and even dogs and cats!  It keeps their coat conditioned while giving them a long lasting fresh smell.  It comes in 4 different scents – Baby Powder, Berry Fresh, Papaya Mist, and Peach Kava.  Try them all and see which one you and your rabbit like the best!

If you notice a foul odor, you can use a treatment like Dr. Golds Ear Therapy for Pets.  It disinfects any fungal or yeast infections that could be producing an odd smell.  The medication is given through a dropper, and it contains no alcohol so it will not irritate your rabbit’s ears.  Be sure to massage product into ears for at least one minute, and then wipe off the remaining formula.

If you find general debris in your rabbit’s ears, you can wipe it out with a cotton ball.  Never ever put a cotton swab in your bunny’s ear canal as it can do major damage.  Wax in a rabbit’s ear is normal, and it is actually beneficial because it serves as a protective layer.  However, if you notice excess wax, you may use a treatment like the Ear Wash Anti Itch Cleaner for Pets.  This is a non-irritating formula, and will easily wash away excess ear wax.  You should only use this product once a month, as using it too often can remove too much wax.

While it is easy to clean up debris and wax, much worse problems can occur in your bunny’s ears.  For example, one common problem is that ear mites may infest your rabbit’s inner ear canals.  If your rabbit is suffering from ear mites you will notice ear scratching and head shaking.  It is very important that you take your rabbit to the vet if you suspect they have ear mites, because untreated ear mites can lead to hearing loss. Your vet will look at discharge from the ear under a microscope to diagnose whether or not your bunny has ear mites.

You can help treat the symptoms of ear mites Adams Pene-Mite Ear Mite Treatment, shown above.  You will use the treatment for 12 days, with the adverse symptoms lessening within 4-6 days.  Using an eye dropper, you will drip the solution into the ear canal, and massage the ear to distribute the medication.

Being that ringworm is a skin fungal infection, symptoms of rabbits who are infected with ringworm will have dry, crusty, and flaky skin.  These spots will be itchy and bothersome to your rabbit.  Another common symptom is fur loss, which will appear as round bald patches.  You will see these bald patches particularly on the head, feet, and legs.

If you notice any symptoms of ringworm, take your rabbit to the vet immediately.  While some rabbits will recover from ringworm on their own, the infection can still spread to other animals, even humans.  For a cleanly environment, having your vet treat your rabbit is the best idea.  Luckily, there are many effective treatments for ringworm.  Your vet can prescribe topical creams or oral medications.  A medicated shampoo may also be prescribed.  Never use ringworm medication designed for humans or other animals.  Since rabbit ringworm can be transferred to humans through skin contact, be sure to wear gloves when handling your sick rabbit.

For prevention of ringworm, consistently disinfect your rabbit’s cage with bleach and water.  Do not forget to clean water bowls and food bowls.  It is also a good idea to use a cleaner such as Advanced Stain & Odor Formula.  Not only does this cleaner kill odors, it also prevents bacteria and germs from thriving in your rabbit’s cage.  Also, be sure to consistently change your rabbit’s bedding, as ringworm spores can thrive in the bedding.

Be sure to remove any hair and dander in your rabbit’s cage, as hair can contain the ringworm spores.  Natures Miracle Pet Wipes – 70 pack, shown above, should be used to clean your rabbit.  These wipes will collect loose hair and dander on the rabbit, as well as moisturize rabbit’s fur and paws.  This is incredibly important if you have more than one rabbit living in the same cage, as this will prevent the transference of ringworm from one rabbit to another.

Get your rabbit’s digestion and stool consistency back on track.

Peter’s Rabbit ProBiotic Digestive Tract Conditioner, with Lactobacillus acidophilus, helps recondition the digestive tract of rabbits and small animals. It enhances your rabbit’s ability to efficiently absorb nutrients. It is a natural supplement that is used by many rabbit owners for their rabbit’s digestive disorders. Also improves overall skin and coat appearance.

In addition – make sure that your rabbit’s home is clean to ensure optimal health. On a daily basis clean up spills, stale food, shed fur, and messes inside the cage. If your rabbit is litter trained, change the litter in the litter pan. Placing the litter box in a corner of the cage will help prevent urine and feces from spreading to places where your rabbit eats or sleeps.

NEVER–unless your veterinarian advises it to bring down a fever–should you give a sick rabbit a bath. Because seemingly healthy rabbits can have undiagnosed problems, it’s best not to subject them to the stress of a bath. If your rabbit is very badly infested with fleas, there’s a good chance that he is already compromised and may go into shock when bathed.

There are many safe alternatives to flea control. Also, a thoroughly wet rabbit takes a very long time to dry, so spot cleaning the dirty area with an application of baby cornstarch or a waterless rabbit shampoo as pictured to the right and then gently combing out the dirt with a fine flea comb is better than a wet bath.

A wet rabbit can quickly become hypothermic. If your rabbit is wet to the skin for any reason, be sure to thoroughly dry the bunny until even the undercoat is dry and fluffy. Normal rabbit body temperature ranges from 101F – 103F.

• The Super Pet Pro Nail Trimmer is the perfect size for clipping your rabbit’s nails.  It has a scissor style that makes cutting quick and a sure -grip to give you a good hold on the clippers.  The blades are made of stainless steel and sharp enough to cleanly clip your rabbit’s nails without much effort.
• Another scissor-style nail clippers for use on your rabbit’s nails is the Super Nail Clipper by Four Paws.  These nail clippers have sturdy handles that give you a sure grip.  The blades are sharp and make clipping quick and easy.
• To help remind you of the need to clip your rabbit’s nails on a regular basis, the Clip & Trim Bunny Nail Trimmers by Super Pet includes scissor-style rabbit nail clipper in an attractive, bunny-inspired magnetic case that clips to the outside of your rabbit’s cage.  The clipper blades are made of stainless steel to help prevent them from rusting and are sharp for smooth, easy cutting.

• The Bunny Bath Shampoo by Four Paws is made especially for use on your bunny coat and is gentle on the skin.  This gentle formula is great for cleaning and conditioning your bunny’s coat and makes your bunny smell great.   Your bunny will feel fresh and smell clean! 
• The Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo by Super Pet is another great shampoo for use on your bunny.  It is ideal for cleaning your bunny’s coat and smells great after your bunny has been dried off because it leaves a fresh, baby powder scent.
• For really dirty bunnies, try using the Naturals Deodorizing Pet Shampooby Durvet to get your bunny smelling fresh.  This shampoo may be used on a variety of animals, including bunnies, and perfect for taking away stinking odors.
• For a quick freshening of your bunny, the Smellin Good Spray Fragrance  by Super Pet is great for bunny owner on the go.  It a has a pleasant scent and makes your bunny smell fresh in-between baths.  Keep one handy in your bunny carrier for times when you are traveling and your bunny needs a freshening.

• Get your grooming tools ready.  If you use a brush, like the Super Pet Pro Slicker Brush, make sure to clean it out and have it ready to go.  Another grooming tool that is beneficial for your rabbit’s coat is the Adjustable 2 In 1 Pet Comb.  This comb is great for getting tangles out of long rabbit hair and may also be used to clean out your rabbit’s slicker brush.
• Make your rabbit comfortable by talking to your rabbit in a soothing voice and choose a place that is comfortable for both you and your rabbit.  Your living room floor or a place with a comfortable rug.
• Hold your rabbit firmly in your lap, but not too tight.  Keeping your rabbit occupied is a great idea to help your rabbit pass the time.  Use your rabbit’s favorite chew or treat to help keep your rabbit busy while you brush your rabbit.
• When your rabbit seems content to sit in your lap, start brushing your rabbit with gentle strokes.  If your rabbit tends to get nervous easily, keep the brush moving and keep away from areas that might make your rabbit more nervous.  The face, ear and tail area tend to be areas that rabbit’s do not like to be brushed and should be avoided if possible.  If you have to brush these areas, brush them quickly brush and make sure to be gentle at all times.
• Praise your rabbit and play with your rabbit after a good brushing session to help encourage good rabbit behavior.