Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits are unable to throw up. Therefore, they cannot spit up a hairball. In order to prevent hairballs in your rabbit, you should brush your rabbit often, especially when they are shedding (which is every three months.) Preventing hairballs is also one reason unlimited hay is necessary to your bunny's diet as it helps to move the hair/fur through the digestive tract.
Many people give their rabbits Petromalt or Laxatone, an ointment that is designed to help prevent hairballs. During shedding season, you can give the ointment once a day then once a week when your bunny is not shedding.
Some rabbits will simply stick their noses up in the air at the Petromalt or Laxatone. A surefire way to get your rabbit to ingest the treatment is to squeeze a little bit from the bottle onto her one of her paws or her nose. Either way, she's going to want to clean it off, and the only way to clean it off is to lick the treatment.
Supplies to Prevent Rabbit Hairballs
* Laxatone Hairball Treatment (2.5 oz.)
(Ingredients: white petrolatum USP, light mineral oil NF, corn syrup, malt syrup, soybean oil, cane molasses, water, gelatin by-products, sodium benzoate (preservative), iron proteinate, artificial flavor.)
Price: Around $5.99
* Tender Touch Slicker Wire Rabbit Brush
(Groom and remove all dead un-wanted hair and mats when used daily.)
Price: Around $3.99
* Petromalt Hairball Remedy
(malt)
Price: Around $5.99
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