Dwarf rabbit: rules for care and maintenance at home

Dwarf (decorative) rabbits - a set of breeds of rabbits bred for indoor keeping. Animals are distinguished by their docile nature and small size, which allows you to create comfortable conditions for keeping, both in your own home and in a city apartment. Rabbits are trainable, litter box trained and capable of becoming full-fledged members of a loving and caring family.

Popular breeds of dwarf rabbits

Dwarf varieties of rabbits include all decorative representatives bred for keeping in apartments and houses. Such animals are distinguished by their low weight (up to 2.5 kilograms), the length of the coat may vary.

The most popular breeds include:

1. Lop-eared ram.
2. Pygmy rex.
3. Fox pygmy rabbit.
4. Angora pygmy rabbit.
5. Dwarf Hotot.
6. Japanese pygmy rabbit.
7. Minilop.
8. Pygmy hare.
9. Hermelin.
10. Dutch (Danish or Dutch) pygmy rabbit.
11. Lionhead Rabbit.

At present, when buying a decorative rabbit, a person can get acquainted with representatives of more than 60 breeds that differ in the length of the ears (from 5 to 20 centimeters), body size (from 700 grams to 3 kilograms) and others parameters.

Lifespan

The average lifespan of a toy rabbit can vary from 6 to 11 years, depending on conditions and heredity.

How to increase the lifespan of a rabbit:

1. Before buying, read the animal's pedigree and reviews from other buyers. Frequent inbreeding or non-compliance with breeding standards can lead to severe hereditary diseases and rapid death of the ward.
2. Protect from physical injury and infectious diseases, consult a veterinarian in a timely manner.
3. Observe the norms of maintenance, monitor the diet and condition of the rabbit.
4. Do not restrict activity.
5. Communicate, do not leave the animal alone for a long time.
6. Timely vaccinate and sterilize.

Containment in a small cage, malnutrition and lack of communication lead to an early death, as well as infectious diseases.

Important! Rabbits are group animals, being alone for which is unnatural and has a bad effect on the psychological state.Experienced rabbit breeders recommend not only communicating with the animal often, but also making a friend for him - another rabbit. With company, an adult rabbit will feel much more comfortable.

Features of choice

Choosing your first rabbit, like any other animal, can be difficult. However, there are certain rules that increase the guarantee of acquiring a he althy animal. Rules for purchasing a rabbit:

1. Choose a cattery with good reviews and extensive experience in breeding animals. From a responsible seller, you can get acquainted with the pedigree, veterinary passport and certificates of medical procedures performed (sterilization, vaccinations, flea and helminth treatment).
2. Do not take rabbits in the markets or from the announcement.
3. Exclude the purchase of rabbits that are less than six months old.
4. The eyes of the animal must be clean, breathing - no wheezing, wool - dense, no bald spots, ears - clean, no signs of tick infestation.
5. Determine the gender and breed in advance, familiarize yourself with the characteristics.

When purchasing an animal "from hand" the purchase of an ordinary rabbit becomes the least problem. Buying from pet stores is also not recommended due to the risk of getting a sick, old animal or pregnant female.

Rules of care and maintenance at home

Rabbits are clean animals, easily accustomed to the house and tray. In order to provide the animal with decent conditions, it is important to pay attention to the size of the enclosure, good nutrition and protection from diseases.

Building a house

Preparation of the house and the aviary is carried out in advance, before buying an animal. This is necessary for the comfortable movement of the animal to a new territory and providing everything necessary in the apartment. Aviary Features:

1. The size of the cage must be 5 times the size of the rabbit or more.
2. Plastic pallet.
3. Rods unpainted.
4. The aviary should have a covered house, a tray, drinkers, feeders for different types of food, a hay nursery, toys, changeable bedding (replacement after 1 day).
5. The cage should be away from direct sunlight and drafts.
6. When the room temperature is above +19 degrees Celsius, ice bottles should be placed in the aviary, and the ears of the ward should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth.

In the case of keeping same-sex, unsterilized rabbits, it is better to separate animals, as they will actively mark the territory.

What to feed

Like other herbivores, pygmy rabbits are prone to constant chewing and frequent eating. For the full development and good he alth of the animal, a well-formed diet with all the necessary substances is required.

The rabbit's daily menu consists of:

• 150-200 grams of hay (8% fresh grass and cereals);
• 200-250 grams of fresh, mashed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, rutabagas, cauliflower, cucumbers, radishes);
• fruit in the amount of 1 tablespoon for 2 days (bananas, apples, pears, raisins, dried apricots);
• ready food in the amount of 3% of the mass of the rabbit;
• s alt in an amount of 0.5% of the total mass of food (you can spray hay with a brackish solution);
• vitamin supplements after checking the dosage with the veterinarian.

Don't forget about the importance of timely replacement of water and monitoring its quality. The drinker must be kept perfectly clean.

Important! In no case should potatoes, white and red cabbage, plums, citrus fruits, confectionery and milk be added to the feed (adults).

Hygiene and bathing

Rabbits are very clean and when paired, they can look after each other.

Hygiene procedures include:

• bathing in cases of severe pollution (diarrhea);
• nail clipping up to 2 times a month;
• combing fur;
• Checking teeth and adding solid food in case of insufficient wear.

Important! Bathing rabbits is carried out only in extreme cases. After the procedure, the animal must be wiped and allowed to dry in a place protected from drafts to avoid blowing and colds.

Training and games

Decorative rabbits are very mobile and lend themselves well to training, perceiving tasks as a game. To train the animal, you need to use encouragement methods, in no case frightening or harming the pet.Training begins 2 months after the purchase, when the rabbit gets used to the new place. For keeping in an apartment, it is best to start with accustoming to the tray.

Diseases and treatment

Dwarf rabbits are demanding care, the violation of which can lead to illness or death of the pet. Decorative breeds have weak immunity and need attention and care.

Possible signs of illness:

• bloating, vomiting;
• constipation;
• liquid stool;
• bad breath;
• burp;
• stomach growling;
• retardation, fatigue, lethargy;
• blood in urine;
• tearing, pus in the eyes;
• bald spots in the coat, skin irritation;
• sneezing, coughing;
• temperature.

A rabbit breeder should have on hand the number of a good veterinary clinic, whose specialists are experienced in working with rabbits. If one or more symptoms appear, the animal should be examined as soon as possible.

Vaccination

Vaccination allows you to protect your pet from the development of diseases that can lead to death or irreversible consequences for the rabbit's he alth. First of all, rollers are vaccinated against:

• rabies;
• salmonellosis;
• listeriosis;
• myxomatosis;
• VHD (viral hemorrhagic disease).

Procedures are carried out already at the 6th week of a rabbit's life in a veterinary clinic. Before vaccination, a weekly preparation of the animal is necessary, including the prevention of helminth infection, monitoring of the general condition and the absence of bathing.

Sterilization and castration

Sterilization and castration of rabbits is an important procedure for dwarf breeds of rabbits bought for living in an apartment. The operation has a positive effect on the duration and quality of life of the rabbit.

Advantages and disadvantages of sterilization:

Increase in life expectancy.Hormonal failure.Eliminate the risk of unwanted female pregnancy (if the owner has several pets of different sexes).Stress. Eliminate the risk of intermittent endocrine disruption and false pregnancy.Need for extra care.Decrease the risk of developing cancer.Financial costs and the search for a specialist.Reducing aggression.Rabbits (both male and female) do not mark territory.

Advantages	Disadvantages

Sterilization of rabbits is carried out when the animals reach six months of age.

How to handle a rabbit properly

A rabbit is a living creature, which, like a person, can be hurt or uncomfortable.

Correct position on hands:

1. One hand gently grabs the chest, the second supports under the hind legs.
2. The front half of the body and the head is higher than the back (otherwise the animal will break out).
3. Let the shy rabbit hide his face under his armpit.
4. To transfer to another person, the rabbit must be lowered to a horizontal surface and held until it is gently picked up. Transmission in the air poses a risk of the animal falling and causing injury.

The animal should feel confident and comfortable. If the rabbit is afraid or nervous, it is better to let the animal go or squat down, waiting for it to calm down.

Important! After meeting the owner, the rabbit needs time to get used to and trust the person. To speed up this process, you need to regularly take the animal in your arms for a short time and let it go if the animal starts to get nervous. After each workout, the rabbit is en titled to a treat.

Breeding dwarf rabbits

Dwarf rabbits with a good pedigree participate in exhibitions and are a good investment for breeding and establishing your own nursery. It is important to remember that breeding animals is a big responsibility that requires experience and patience on the part of the owner.

Features of rabbit breeding:

• age of puberty - from 6-9 months;
• number of rabbits in a litter - up to 7 individuals;
• gestation period - 31 days;
• after giving birth, the female needs rest, frequent births have a bad effect on her he alth and the condition of the offspring;
• during pregnancy and lactation, the female needs more food than usual;
• A rabbit with offspring should have a warm, protected nest.

If breeding rabbits is not the purpose of acquiring an animal, it is better to resort to sterilization. The animal does not experience discomfort, and existence together with a person becomes much calmer.

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