Dwarf (decorative) rabbits are a set of rabbit breeds bred for indoor keeping. Animals are distinguished by their docile nature and small size, which allows you to create comfortable living conditions both in your own home and in a city apartment. Rabbits are trainable, are trained to use the tray and are able to become 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 lightweight (up to 2.5 kilograms), and the length of their coat can vary.
The most popular breeds include:
- Lop-eared ram.
- Dwarf rex.
- Foxy dwarf rabbit.
- Angora dwarf rabbit.
- Dwarf hotot.
- Japanese dwarf rabbit.
- Minilop.
- Dwarf hare.
- Hermelin.
- Dutch (Danish or Dutch) dwarf rabbit.
- Lion-headed rabbit.
Currently, when purchasing a decorative rabbit, a person can get acquainted with representatives of more than 60 breeds, differing in ear length (from 5 to 20 centimeters), body size (from 700 grams to 3 kilograms) and other parameters.
Lifespan
The average life expectancy of a decorative rabbit can vary from 6 to 11 years, depending on the conditions of detention and heredity.
How to increase lifespan of a rabbit:
- Before purchasing, read the animal’s pedigree and reviews from other buyers. Frequent inbreeding or non-compliance with breeding standards can lead to the appearance of severe hereditary diseases and the rapid death of the ward.
- Protect from physical injury and infectious diseases, contact a veterinarian in a timely manner.
- Observe maintenance standards, monitor the diet and condition of the rabbit.
- Do not limit activity.
- Communicate, do not leave the animal alone for a long time.
- Conduct vaccination and sterilization in a timely manner.
Confinement in a small cage, poor nutrition and lack of communication lead to rapid death, as do infectious diseases.
Features of choice
Choosing your first rabbit, like any other animal, can seem daunting. However, there are certain rules that increase the guarantee of purchasing a healthy animal. Rules for purchasing a rabbit:
- Choose a nursery with good reviews and extensive experience in breeding animals. From the responsible seller you can view the pedigree, veterinary passport and certificates of medical procedures performed (sterilization, vaccinations, treatment for fleas and helminths).
- Do not take rabbits from markets or through advertisements.
- Avoid purchasing rabbits that are less than six months old.
- The animal's eyes should be clean, breathing should be without wheezing, the coat should be dense, without bald spots, the ears should be clean, without signs of tick infestation.
- Decide on the gender and breed in advance, familiarize yourself with the characteristics.
When purchasing an animal from someone else, the least problem is buying an ordinary rabbit. Purchasing from pet stores is also not recommended due to the risk of getting a sick, old animal or a pregnant female.
Rules for care and maintenance at home
Rabbits are clean animals that are easily house and litter trained. 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.
Arrangement of the house
Preparation of the house and enclosure is carried out in advance, before purchasing the animal.This is necessary to comfortably move the animal to a new territory and provide everything necessary in the apartment. Features of the aviary:
- The size of the cage should be 5 times or more larger than the rabbit.
- Plastic pallet.
- The rods are unpainted.
- The enclosure should have a covered house, a tray, drinking bowls, feeders for different types of food, a manger for hay, toys, and replaceable bedding (replacement after 1 day).
- The cage should be away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- When the room temperature is above +19 degrees Celsius, bottles with ice should be placed in the enclosure, 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 the animals, as they will actively mark the territory.
What to feed
Like other herbivores, dwarf rabbits tend to chew and eat frequently. For full development and good health, the animal requires a well-formed diet with all the necessary substances.
The rabbit's daily menu consists of:
- 150-200 grams of hay (8% fresh grass and cereals);
- 200-250 grams of fresh, crushed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, rutabaga, cauliflower, cucumbers, radishes);
- fruits in the amount of 1 tablespoon for 2 days (bananas, apples, pears, raisins, dried apricots);
- ready-made food in an amount of 3% of the rabbit’s weight;
- salt in an amount of 0.5% of the total weight of food (you can spray the hay with a brackish solution);
- vitamin supplements after checking the dosage with a veterinarian.
Do not forget about the importance of timely replacement of water and monitoring its quality. The drinking bowl must be kept perfectly clean.
Important! In no case should you add potatoes, white and red cabbage, plums, citrus fruits, confectionery and milk (for adults) to the food.
Hygiene and bathing
Rabbits are very clean and, when paired, can look after each other.
Hygiene procedures include:
- bathing in cases of severe pollution (diarrhea);
- cutting nails up to 2 times a month;
- combing fur;
- examination of teeth and addition of solid food in case of insufficient grinding.
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 active and amenable to training, perceiving tasks as a game. To train an animal, you need to use reward methods, without in any way frightening or harming the pet. Training begins 2 months after purchase, when the rabbit gets used to the new place. For keeping in an apartment, it is best to start with litter box training.
Diseases and treatment
Dwarf rabbits are demanding in terms of 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;
- loose stools;
- bad breath;
- belching;
- rumbling in the stomach;
- lethargy, fatigue, lethargy;
- blood in urine;
- tearing, pus in the eyes;
- bald spots in fur, skin irritation;
- sneezing, coughing;
- temperature.
The rabbit breeder should have at hand the number of a good veterinary clinic whose specialists have experience working with rabbits. If one or more symptoms appear, the animal must be examined as soon as possible.
Vaccination
Vaccination helps protect your pet from developing diseases that can lead to death or irreversible consequences for the rabbit’s health. First of all, rollers are vaccinated against:
- rabies;
- salmonellosis;
- listeriosis;
- myxomatosis;
- VHBK (viral hemorrhagic disease).
The procedures are carried out already at the 6th week of a rabbit’s life in a veterinary clinic. Before vaccination, a week's preparation of the animal is necessary, including prevention of helminth infection, monitoring of general condition and no bathing.
Sterilization and castration
Sterilization and rabbit castration – an important procedure for dwarf breeds of rabbits purchased for living in an apartment. The operation has a beneficial effect on the length and quality of life of the rabbit.
Advantages and disadvantages of sterilization:
| Advantages | Flaws |
| Increased life expectancy. | Hormonal disbalance. |
| Eliminating the risk of unwanted pregnancy in females (if the owner has several pets of different sexes). | Stress. |
| Eliminating the risk of periodic failure of the endocrine system and the state of “false pregnancy”. | Need for additional care. |
| Reducing the risk of developing cancer. | Financial costs and search for a specialist. |
| Reduced aggression. | |
| Rabbits (both males and females) do not mark territory. |
Sterilization of rabbits is carried out when the animal reaches six months of age.
How to properly pick up a rabbit
A rabbit is a living creature, which, like a person, can be painful or uncomfortable.
Correct hand position:
- One hand gently clasps the chest, the other supports under the hind legs.
- The front half of the body and the head are higher than the back (otherwise the animal will break out).
- Allow the timid rabbit to hide his face under his armpit.
- To hand it over to another person, the rabbit must be lowered onto a horizontal surface and held until it is carefully picked up. When transmitted in the air, there is a risk of the animal falling and resulting 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 and wait 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 pick up the animal for a short time and let it go if the animal starts to get nervous. After each training session, the rabbit is given a treat.
Breeding dwarf rabbits
Dwarf rabbits with 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;
- the number of rabbits in a litter is up to 7 individuals;
- gestational age – 31 days;
- after giving birth, the female needs rest; frequent childbirth has a bad effect on her health and the condition of the offspring;
- during pregnancy and lactation, the female needs more nutrition than usual;
- The female rabbit and her offspring should have a warm, protected nest.
If breeding rabbits is not the purpose of purchasing an animal, it is better to resort to sterilization. The animal does not experience discomfort, and existence together with a person becomes much calmer.
