Rabbit hairballs

You've heard about cats and hairballs, but did you know that rabbits can get them, too? Because both species are meticulous groomers, they tend to ingest a lot of loose fur. Unlike cats, however, rabbits are not able to vomit up ingested hair. If a tangled mass of hair is allowed to form, it could cause an obstruction in the stomach or small intestine – and potentially lead to serious illness. With a few simple precautions and preventive measures, however, you and your pet can win the fight against the dreaded hairball.

Shedding can accelerate the formation of rabbit hairballs

If you've got a bunny, be prepared for the fur to fly – and it'll fly about four times a year. Rabbits shed every three months, alternating relatively light sheddings with heavy molts. Some individuals may take a few weeks to lose their old coats, while others seem to accomplish this task in one day; either way, you can help to lessen the chance of a hairball developing.

Sometimes you'll be able to literally pull out clumps of hair with your hands, or you can try wetting your pet down with a fine mist of water and then rubbing him all over. (Yes, the fur is going to stick to your hands, but it will easily ball up and roll off.) It's also important that you regularly brush and comb your bunny – at least once daily during periods of heavy shedding, and once a week during the off season.

Hay deals with hairballs

Hay is an important component of your pet's diet. It's also a crucial weapon in the fight against hairballs. Fresh hay promotes gastrointestinal health, and provides fiber that will help move ingested hair through your rabbit's digestive system. Unlimited fresh timothy, grass or oat hay should be available to your rabbit at all times, so be sure to fill your pet's hay rack every morning so he can nibble throughout the day.

In addition to regular grooming and daily hay, feline remedies like Petromalt and Laxatone are effective hairball blockers, too. There are several brands available at pet supply stores. Experts suggest giving the hairball remedy once weekly when your pet is not shedding, and even more frequently during shedding season.

Adequate daily exercise, too, is an important factor in preventing hairballs; it'll keep your bunny (and his digestion!) moving right along!

Hairballs may complicate digestion

When a rabbit's gastrointestinal tract is not functioning properly, however, tangled hair and food can form into a huge mass, and the resulting hairball can become impacted and cause an entire stomach blockage. Rabbits who suffer from this condition will gradually stop eating; their feces will become smaller, until production stops completely. In such a case, immediate medical attention is required. A veterinarian can detect the blockage by simply feeling the animal's abdomen, but radiographs may also be necessary. In some cases, emergency surgery is the only way to remove the mass and save the animal.

But you can stop this from happening to your pet, simply by being diligent about taking all of the precautions above. As you can see, when it comes to hairballs and rabbits, prevention is much easier than cure!