The silver fox rabbit is a relatively uncommon domesticated rabbit breed. Although these rabbits come in gray, black and blue varieties, only the gray ones are recognized under the breed standard. Their coats typically stand straight up when not brushed regularly, and silver fox rabbits can look greasy and unkempt without proper fur care. The breed tends to be shy and anxious, which can make grooming challenging. Rabbits often are calmed by being wrapped in a towel with their heads exposed during grooming.
Calming Your Rabbit
Before you groom a rabbit, it's important that it is unafraid of you and that you've established a basic level of trust. Rabbits become ill and even die when they experience extreme fear, so prioritize the rabbit's emotional well-being over grooming it. When you first acquire your rabbit, give it a day or two to become acclimated to its surrounding. Place its cage in a quiet area of your home away from dogs, cats and children. Then begin giving it daily rabbit treats and speaking calmly to it, encouraging it to enter your hand and sniff you. After the rabbit has begun willingly allowing you to pet it, you can attempt grooming it.
Nail Care
Silver fox rabbits, like other mammals, have nails on their paws that can grow quite long if left untrimmed. Some people allow their rabbits to run on concrete driveways several times a week. This files the nails down naturally, and works well with fearful rabbits. Use an outdoor rabbit pen to ensure the rabbit does not escape. To cut the rabbit's nails, use rabbit nail clippers to trim only the very tip of the nail, then file the nail with a nail file.
Fur Care
To groom a rabbit's hair, use a small wooden brush to brush the fur from the tail to the head. The hair should stick up. If you prefer the rabbit's hair to lay flat, then simply smooth it flat with your hand. Every few weeks, comb the fur from head to tail to gently remove mats and prevent mites from developing.
Bathing
Rabbits do not require baths, and bathing can cause several health problems, including pneumonia. Silver fox rabbits, however, do require regular ear cleanings. Check inside the rabbit's ears once a week for waxy buildups. Gently use a cotton swab or tissue to wipe the outer portion of the inside of the ear. Never insert anything into the ear canal. If the rabbit's ear canals appear to be clogged, or if it regularly scratches it ears, it may have ear mites and will need to be taken to a veterinarian.
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