Question:

Hi BudgetBunny!

Can bunnies have dust baths? I got a rabbit care sheet from a pet store that had a shopping list attached and one of the supplies it recommends is a dust/sand bath.

Thanks!

A.

Answer:

Hi A!

Rabbits are fastidious groomers and are constantly washing themselves. They do not require dust or a bath given by humans to keep clean. In fact giving a bath to your rabbit can be extremely stressful so I wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s absolutely necessary. Generally it is small rodents and chinchillas that use dust or sand to aid in their bathing ritual. Many pet stores add unnecessary items to their shopping lists so you will purchase more from them. The fact that dust is on the list may suggest they are also wrongly classifying rabbits as a rodent. Unfortunately many pet stores sell products that do not actually have the intended pet’s well-being in mind.

Alternatively, some rabbits do enjoy digging in sand. You can purchase play sand from your local hardware store which is perfectly safe for rabbits. Many people create a digging box for their rabbit by filling a container with this sand. Some owners have reported that their rabbit enjoyed a good roll in the sand as well but sand is definitely not a requirement for owning a bunny.

Interesting question!