Caring for the Coat of a English Angora Rabbit: Specific Care Information

The English Angora Rabbit is a wonderful and beautiful rabbit to have around the house as a pet or a great breed for the fairs and shows because of their beautiful wool and appearance; however, grooming and caring for the English Angora Rabbit is not as easy as one may think.

For one, one of the most important aspect one must consider before purchasing or deciding to care for an English Angora Rabbit is whether they have the time to care for them. The English Angora requires more grooming than regular rabbit breeds because of their long wooly coat all over. If the English Angora Rabbits are not groomed regularly, their wooly coats will be severely tangled or be matte in appearance. When grooming their coat, it is important to groom the whole strand, and not just the tips; otherwise, while the tips will look perfect, their coats are actually not healthy. If the rabbit becomes severely matted, they will need to be clipped, and sometimes even sedated by the veterinarians so that the mats can be removed. While grooming is important, it is also important not to over groom as it can cause complete loss of wool.

While their fluffy woolly appearance is what makes them popular, their wooly, long coat also causes a lot of complications. English Angora Rabbits are most susceptible to wool blocks. Wool block happens when a rabbit grooms himself, and the ingested wool builds up in the stomach and mixes in with the food. This will cause a decrease in appetite. If this condition is left untreated, it can also be fatal for the rabbit. The "strings of pearls" type of stool indicates that the rabbit's digestive system may have wool blockage; in this case, colace is very effective, and should be given three or four times a day at a cc dosage.

English Angora Rabbits are also prone to wool mites; a common sign of wool mites would probably be chewing. However, chewing does not always indicate wool mites as there are other possibilities for chewing. For example, boredom, protein deficiency, and urine of other rabbits (as males will sometimes spray females) can cause chewing.

Caring for the English Angora Rabbit is definitely quite a hassle and one of the aspects one will have to look closely into when deciding to get an English Angora Rabbit. While their long, wooly coats are one of their most treasured assets, it is also what causes them the most trouble and problems at times if not cared for properly.