NO. You shouldn't have to bathe a rabbit. Rabbits groom themselves. It isn't very good for the rabbit to bathe them: they can get injured or sick. It's better if you let a rabbit be a rabbit :)
If there is something wrong and your rabbit does need a bath, there are careful precautions you have to take. There's a lot of websites online that can help you - refer to Related Questions below for more info.
Generally, you should never bathe a rabbit because it can be dangerous, causing skin rashes among other things.
Healthy rabbits groom themselves. You shouldn't have to bathe your rabbit unless something is wrong.
If your rabbit needs a bath because it got into something it shouldn't have, make sure that doesn't happen again. You should control your rabbit's environment to protect it from dangers. There are many resources online that can help you do this.
If your rabbit is messy for another reason, it's important to visit a rabbit-savvy vet who can find out why it's messy and treat the underlying problem.
In the meantime, if you need to clean your rabbit (and a brush alone isn't enough), there are two methods: the dry bath and the wet bath.
Dry bath methodThis method is less risky, so you should try it first. It involves pouring some unscented baby cornstarch powder (NOT baby powder or anything containing talc) on the messy area, and working it around the clumps and messes with your fingers and a soft brush. The mess should slide away. Remove loose powder. (See Related Links below for more info.)
Wet bath methodIf you need to give your rabbit a wet bath, be very careful. Some risks include:
There are resources online that can explain how to give a rabbit a wet bath (see Related Links below for an example).
Baths can be dangerous for rabbits. Healthy rabbits, including outside ones, keep themselves clean and don't require baths. If your rabbit needs a bath, something is wrong -- either the rabbit is sick and needs a vet, or you should improve the rabbit's living conditions. If you need to bathe a rabbit, follow certain precautions to keep the rabbit safe. See the related question below about bathing rabbits for details and link -- it applies to outside rabbits as well.
You should not bathe baby rabbits, or bunnies - especially if they're new born. Their mothers will take care of that. If they have grown their hair and teeth, then you should bathe them 4 times a year. Rabbits really have no need to be bathed unless they have had grooming issues (diarrhea) or have been loose and rolled in the dirt or you suspect fleas (then a flea bath is in order). Never bathe a rabbit under 2 months old.
If a rabbit's head gets wet, it could get an ear infection. Baths are not usually necessary for rabbits. Healthy rabbits bathe themselves, and as a matter of course you should keep them away from very messy areas. If your rabbit is messy, something is wrong! Baths can be very dangerous for rabbits, whether their head stays dry or not. See the related question below for details and links.
It's not a good idea to bathe a rabbit with fur loss. Whatever is causing the fur loss, a bath could make it worse and really irritate the skin. If your rabbit is suffering from fur loss, something is very wrong! This is not at all normal for rabbits. Bring your rabbit to a special knowledgeable vet as soon as possible!
Healthy rabbits clean themselves and do not need baths. Baths can be dangerous for rabbits. Unless necessary, do not bathe your rabbit. If a bath is necessary, this means something is wrong and probably the rabbit needs to see a vet. If you need to bathe a rabbit, take certain precautions to make ensure you keep the rabbit safe. See the related question below for details and links. Are you sure you're taking proper care of the rabbit? The classroom is not the ideal setting for a rabbit.
No! You should never bathe your rabbit. If you notice that they tend to clean themselves. If you bathe a rabbit it could make them sick or die.
You don't want to bathe any rabbit
You dont bathe a rabbit, they clean themselves. If your rabbit needs cleaning, something is wrong! You need to clean the rabbit, but you shouldn't ignore the cause of the problem -- probably, you should bring the rabbit to a vet. If you need to clean your rabbit, you must be VERY careful, because baths can be very dangerous for rabbits. See the related question below for more details and helpful links.
Rabbits mostly clean themselves. You should groom your rabbit regularly (see the related link below for more details), but you shouldn't have to bathe her or seriously clean her. If your rabbit is dirty, something is wrong! If you need to bathe your rabbit, not only should you follow specific procedures so that you don't hurt the rabbit, but you must also find out what's wrong -- probably, this means you need to see a vet. See the related questions below for more details.
Baths can be dangerous for rabbits. Healthy rabbits, including outside ones, keep themselves clean and don't require baths. If your rabbit needs a bath, something is wrong -- either the rabbit is sick and needs a vet, or you should improve the rabbit's living conditions. If you need to bathe a rabbit, follow certain precautions to keep the rabbit safe. See the related question below about bathing rabbits for details and link -- it applies to outside rabbits as well.
You should not bathe baby rabbits, or bunnies - especially if they're new born. Their mothers will take care of that. If they have grown their hair and teeth, then you should bathe them 4 times a year. Rabbits really have no need to be bathed unless they have had grooming issues (diarrhea) or have been loose and rolled in the dirt or you suspect fleas (then a flea bath is in order). Never bathe a rabbit under 2 months old.
u should bathe it outside
If a rabbit's head gets wet, it could get an ear infection. Baths are not usually necessary for rabbits. Healthy rabbits bathe themselves, and as a matter of course you should keep them away from very messy areas. If your rabbit is messy, something is wrong! Baths can be very dangerous for rabbits, whether their head stays dry or not. See the related question below for details and links.
It's not a good idea to bathe a rabbit with fur loss. Whatever is causing the fur loss, a bath could make it worse and really irritate the skin. If your rabbit is suffering from fur loss, something is very wrong! This is not at all normal for rabbits. Bring your rabbit to a special knowledgeable vet as soon as possible!
an adult should bathe everything he or she feels dirty or stinks
Healthy rabbits clean themselves and do not need baths. Baths can be dangerous for rabbits. Unless necessary, do not bathe your rabbit. If a bath is necessary, this means something is wrong and probably the rabbit needs to see a vet. If you need to bathe a rabbit, take certain precautions to make ensure you keep the rabbit safe. See the related question below for details and links. Are you sure you're taking proper care of the rabbit? The classroom is not the ideal setting for a rabbit.
Rabbits should never be given baths. Getting a rabbits coat completely wet will ruin its fur. Rabbits are much like cats in that they bathe themselves.