Rabbits are very clean animals.
They are naturally excellent at grooming themselves and keeping their fur clean. In fact, rabbits are so meticulous in their grooming that they don’t need to take a bath (nor do they like to bathe!)
Many pet and animal experts say that rabbits are among the cleanest animals on the planet.
However, some hygiene related circumstances are beyond your bunny’s control. One of the rabbit’s hardest areas to keep clean is their feet.
Sometimes, a rabbit’s feet are dirty due to general dirt and grime. Dirty rabbit feet due to dirt and grime is a pretty easy problem to solve. Other times, a rabbit’s feet are dirty due to yellow urine stains. Rabbit fur that is stained yellow by rabbit urine is a bit tougher to get clean.
Read on to learn how to clean yellow rabbit feet and how to get yellow stains off rabbit feet.
The easiest way to remove yellow urine stains from your rabbit’s fur is to rub in some corn starch and then gently comb it out. Rabbit fur that is smelly and urine soaked will require a wet bath. If the wet bath is just for feet, then you can do this at home! But if the wet bath is for back legs and belly, then your rabbit probably has a larger urinary problem and you should consult your veterinarian directly.
Bottom Line: If you’ve wondered how to clean rabbit feet,
you’ll find out all you need to know in this post!
How To Clean Dirty Rabbit Feet
Dirty rabbit feet can be cleaned with a damp towel. Holding your rabbit, gently as always, and wiping its feet with a damp towel will usually clean regular dirt and grime from your rabbit’s feet.
Alternatively, you can put about half an inch (just over 1cm) of warm or tepid water in the drain end of your tub and at the other end of the tub, which is dry, place a towel.
Then place your bunny with the dirty feet in the wet end of the tub and let it move around. Half an inch of tepid water will not stress most bunnies. As your bunny moves around in the wet part of the tub, its feet (and perhaps its bottom as well) will get washed clean.
Then, you can let the water out and spread the towel so that the rabbit is moving around on the towel. This will dry the rabbit’s feet (and bottom). This is a great way to clean the bottom of the rabbit’s feet and the fur on top of the rabbit’s feet.
Tip: Place a waterproof toy in the tub with the bunny, this will motivate the bunny to move around a bit and the movement will help clean the bunny’s feet (and bottom).
Here is a video that shows this process!
How To Clean Yellow Rabbit Feet
The yellow on your rabbit’s feet or fur is not due to straw or hay; the yellow rabbit fur is due to urine staining.
Cleaning these urine stains can be a bit of a challenge, but persistence in gentle cleaning and patience with your rabbit is necessary.
How To Clean Rabbit Feet: Urine Stained Rabbit Fur and Feet
Rabbit Dry Bath – This dry bath method works well; you’ll need corn starch and a rabbit comb or brush.
- Gently but thoroughly rub corn starch into the fur that is stained yellow by urine.
- Let it sit for 3 minutes.
- Brush or comb it out of the rabbit’s fur.
- As you patiently and gently repeat this process you will see the yellow urine stain begin to fade.
- It may take several days of dry baths, but eventually you will see the yellow urine stains fade.
- Some rabbits will let their owners do this for quite a while and others will not.
Tip: If your rabbit is not very agreeable to this dry bath process, then you may choose to space the cleanings throughout the day, in lieu of trying to clean the rabbit’s feet in one cleaning session. No need to stress your rabbit.
Rabbit Wet Bath – This wet bath method also works well. Note that it’s not a full bath, we’re only treating the rabbit’s feet; you’ll need rabbit shampoo, and a soft towel.
- Place about a half inch (just over 1 cm) of warm water in a tub, sink, or foot bath basin.
- Apply a small amount of rabbit shampoo to the urine stained fur on the feet and gently shampoo your rabbit’s feet.
- Allow the shampoo to sit for several minutes.
- Wash out the shampoo with water (a water bottle or small cup may be helpful) .
- Try your best not to soak the whole rabbit, just the feet and other areas that are urine stained.
- Gently and thoroughly dry the bunny’s feet with the soft towel.
How To Prevent Rabbit Feet Urine Stains
The most often recommended way to prevent urine stains is to Neuter your rabbit. A neutered rabbit is less likely to spray urine.
A neutered rabbit is a much cleaner rabbit and so usually its cage , hutch or nest is much cleaner. Bucks, in particular, can begin to spray urine when they are young. A dominant male may spray another male.
When done repeatedly, this may start to turn the rabbit’s fur yellowish; and create other health and stress issues for the rabbit getting sprayed.
How To Remove Rabbit Urine Smell
Rabbit urine has a strong ammonia smell. When the urine dries it forms urine crystals.
Over time and with repeated urine spraying, the urine crystals will grow and begin to aggravate your rabbit’s sensitive skin. This is also what results in urine scalding. Here are some ways to remove urine smell in your rabbit’s cage or hutch.
- Absorbent Litter – You can help reduce the urine smell by using an absorbent litter, or trying different types of litter. Changing the litter more often will also help manage odors.
At Hobby Farm Heaven, we use straw in our outdoor hutches. We do not have a litter box.
- Wash with White Vinegar Solution – Remove your rabbit to a holding pen or cage and give the rabbit’s home a good, thorough washing and scrubbing with a white vinegar and hot water solution.
The vinegar helps dissolve urine crystals and remove ammonia smell. Note that urine smell may be a bit harder to remove from wooden nesting boxes and wooden hutches. If the wood is not sealed, then it tends to absorb urine.
We’ve discussed how to clean rabbit feet, so now you know how to keep bunny feet clean!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To How To Clean Rabbits Feet
Do Yellow Rabbit Feet Mean Pododermatitis?
Pododermatitis, or bumblefoot, is an illness in the skin on the rabbit’s feet and the part of the rabbit’s hind legs that touch the ground as the rabbit sits.
This affliction is also known as Sore Hocks.
The illness is usually caused my a bacterial infection and if allowed to worsen, can become ulcerative, and progress to degrade bone, reduce mobility, and significantly weaken the immune system. If allowed to progress, then Sore Hocks can become very debilitating and require extensive antibiotics and even surgery to help the rabbit regain health.
Yes, yellow feet can be a symptom of pododermatitis. Many times, improving your rabbit’s home hygiene, as described earlier in the article, will clear up any risk of pododermatitis.
Do Rabbits Have Pads On Their Feet/Paws?
No rabbits do not have pads. Instead, they have fur on the bottom of their feet.
Do Rabbits Have Toes?
Yes, rabbits have 4 toes on their back feet; these toes are webbed, which keeps them from spreading apart too far as the rabbit jumps.
The rabbit’s front feet then have 5 toes, for a total of 18 toes!
Do Rabbits Have Toe Beans?
Yes rabbits do have cute little toe beans. You have to gently push aside the fur, but the back feet each have 4 toe beans and the front feet each have 5 toe beans.
Final Thoughts For How To Clean Bunnies Feet
Rabbit Feet need to be kept clean and dry. Moisture creates an environment that promotes bacteria and infection.
Remember that rabbits that sit in their litter boxes are more prone to urine stained fur on their feet and at risk for developing infections that lead to pododermatitis or sore hocks.
Fortunately, repeated corn starch dry baths can remove yellow urine stains on rabbit feet fur. And wet baths, using rabbit shampoo, can help remove more stubborn urine staining on feet.
Using a very absorbent litter and changing the litter more often can also help with both rabbit hygiene and urine odor and cleaning your rabbit’s hutch or home with a mixture of white vinegar and water will help reduce urine smell.
Without doubt, tending to your bunny’s needs and providing them a clean home will greatly help keep them, and their living areas, clean and smelling fresh!