The dwarf rabbit is a booming companion animal, but if we want to share life with one of these small animals, we cannot limit them to putting them in a cage and giving them carrots. Therefore, before adopting a rabbit, in this article, we explain what the care of a dwarf rabbit is to ensure that we offer it a good life.
We recommend looking for a good veterinarian with knowledge about so-called exotic animals to always have a reliable reference to go to.
Characteristics of a dwarf rabbit
As its name already indicates, we are facing a small rabbit. This trait is due to a deficiency in the production of growth hormone. In addition to their small size, dwarf rabbit breeds stand out for the following:
- Weight between 800 g and 2.5 kg.
- Short and rounded ears.
- Flat snout.
- Soft fur.
He can be an excellent company at home, although we must get him used to our presence little by little, offering him prizes and spending time each day interacting with him through the game.
If there are other animals in the home, adaptation should also be done progressively. Of course, they are territorial, so they tend to be aggressive with their peers. They are generally of good character and, well used and cared for, they will be friendly company. It should be borne in mind that by three months of life they already mature sexually. In the following sections, we specify the care of a dwarf rabbit at home.
Feeding the dwarf rabbit
Among the care of a dwarf rabbit, food stands out. Taking care of your diet is always a guarantee of health. Dwarf rabbits are herbivorous animals and have a delicate digestive system. For all these reasons, it is very important to offer them a balanced diet and in the amount necessary to avoid overweight and obesity.
About 80% of the menu has to be hay, which it is recommended that they keep on hand permanently. The remaining percentage of the daily ration is covered with special feed for rabbits and fresh vegetables. Fruit can also be offered, albeit in small quantities, almost as prizes. Of course, everything we give it has to be well washed. The amount will depend on your weight and the life stage you are going through. Of course, you should always have clean water at your free disposal.
The housing of the dwarf rabbit
It is very important to provide a safe environment, as rabbits tend to bite everything in their reach. Therefore, it is common to use a cage for the dwarf rabbit. This has to be located in a quiet place, away from excessive movements or noise, since it is not strange that rabbits are skittish. It must also be protected from direct sun or heat sources, as well as from air currents, since they are sensitive to high and low temperatures.
The cage for a dwarf rabbit
Now, you may wonder how your cage should be to cover all the needs of your pet. Whether you are thinking of buying it or making a homemade rabbit cage, keep the following in mind:
- Size: the cage has to be as big as possible, since the rabbit is an active and nervous animal, more than the big rabbits that needs to be able to enjoy space to move and jump. The minimum is 1 meter in length and about 60 cm in width.
- Base of the cage: the floor cannot be made of bars, as the legs could be damaged. For the same reason, a flat base should be covered with shavings, wood or paper pellets, sawdust, etc.
- Corner back: it is advisable to put a corner back in his cage, since we can get used to peeing only in one corner of the cage, as well as the feces, although in the case of poop it is more difficult for him to do them all in the corner back.
- Drinker: of course, it is also necessary that your cage has a drinker. Some owners choose to put a bowl of water in them, although in general this measure is totally discouraged, especially if your rabbit has never drunk water in this way, since it could drown.
- House: on the other hand, inside the cage you also have to put different accessories, such as a house, where your pet can take shelter and feel safe.
Dwarf rabbit care
To care for a dwarf rabbit, it is important to also consider the following.
Dwarf rabbit vaccination
For the correct care of a dwarf rabbit it is essential that we look for a veterinarian specialized in these animals. It will be this professional who will tell us the dwarf rabbit vaccines that we should administer according to our circumstances. Sterilization is recommended.
Handling the dwarf rabbit
At home we need to pay attention to handling. The handling of this rabbit must be delicate, since, if we are abrupt and it moves quickly and unexpectedly, it could suffer a fracture.
Brushing the dwarf rabbit
In terms of hygiene, the coat should be brushed frequently in long-haired rabbits. For those with short hair, it is recommended to brush them at least during the shedding season. The objective is to remove as much hair as possible to prevent the rabbit from swallowing hair and it ends up forming balls that impede intestinal transit.
Bathing a dwarf rabbit
For the rest, it is an animal that is kept clean, so it will not be necessary to bathe it. If it occasionally gets dirty in any part of the body, we can clean it locally with a cloth moistened with warm water.
Dwarf rabbit tooth and nail growth
Another point of attention is the nails and incisors, which must be monitored and, if they grow too large, go to the vet to trim them.
Behavior of the dwarf rabbit
Regarding the psychological aspect, we must be attentive to possible destructive or aggressive behaviors, since they may be indicating stress in the rabbit, in which case we must review the conditions in which we are keeping it and correct them.
