The lop or lop rabbit is distinguished from other rabbits mainly by its drooping ears, which makes it a unique and different specimen. Its scientific name is Oryctolagus Cuniculus.
There are two theories on the origin of this rabbit, some say they are descendants of rabbits from Flanders although others point to a French origin because of mentions in cuniculture books of the Nineteenth century. If you want more information on rabbits, continue reading, on PlanèteAnimal we tell you everything about the ram rabbit!
Origin
- Europe
- France
Physical appearance of the ram rabbit
The lop-eared rabbit has a bulky, broad head that is distinguished by its long ears that hang down on both sides of the head. At the beginning of its life, these are erect and gradually they fall as it grows. He is of medium height and weighs between 5 and 7 kilograms.
Females, in addition to being slightly smaller, have a dewlap that does not exist in males.
There is a wide range of lop rabbit colors, including white, gray or brown for example. In addition, and depending on the country of breeding, they may have slight distinctive physical characteristics. We have different types of lop rabbits:
- French lop rabbit - It is distinguished by its great weight and wingspan, its ears are particularly large.
- English Lop Rabbit - The ears of this type of rabbit are very large in relation to its body and can measure between 55 and 64 cm.
- Dutch Lop Rabbit - It is quite small, usually not exceeding 2 kg in weight.
- Lop Rabbit or German Lop - A bit larger than the Dutch Lop but still a bit smaller.
- Lop rabbit or cashmere lope - Its hair is particularly soft, a little long.
- Lion-headed lop or lop rabbit - Very hairy and exotic.
Aries Rabbit Behavior
In general, the ram rabbit is a docile and calm lagomorph; unlike other breeds of rabbits, it is a particularly gentle and tame specimen. It is indicated for homes where tranquility and harmony are rewarded and where the rabbit loves rest and comfort or even living in an apartment or house.
If you have other animals at home, you must be careful to avoid conflicts between them.
How to take care of a ram rabbit?
The care given to the rabbit is fundamental for its proper development. The ram rabbit must have a large cage as well as a lot of space for him to play and run and it is very important that he can exercise his muscles. Remember that you must always be careful when he is on the ground, he could bite an electrical cable or other dangerous object.
Place wood shavings or sawdust in his cage, materials that absorb urine well. He must also have something to gnaw on to prevent abnormal growth of his teeth, a feeder and waterer, and a small nest to hide in at night. Provide a temperate environment without sudden temperature changes.
Although the frequency depends on the breed, the Lop rabbit needs regular brushing which will keep their coat free of tangles, dirt and loose hair.There is no need to wash it, bunnies groom themselves, if you see dirt you can rub a baby wipe on the area in question.
If your rabbit doesn't get enough exercise, he will suffer from the growth of his nails which will need to be trimmed from time to time. If you don't know how to do it, go to your veterinarian and he will show you how to do it.
Finally, you should know that it is very important to clean the rabbit's cage because if the animal is too long near the urine, it risks catching infections or fungi.
Lop rabbit food
Aries rabbits like to eat, that's why and to avoid obesity, we advise you to correctly calculate their daily amount of food (you can do this by looking at the indications on the packaging of their food) as well as dividing the food into two or three meals a day.In addition, the division of food facilitates the digestion of the rabbit.
It is obvious that the rabbit must have a large quantity of clean and fresh water at hand, available throughout the day. We recommend the typical caged drinkers for rodents or large lagomorphs, as the bowls are easy to knock over and get dirty more quickly.
Learn more about the diet of the lop rabbit so you know what it needs at each specific stage of its life.
Lop rabbit he alth
The lop rabbit usually lives 8 or 10 years on average, although the life expectancy of a rabbit is a subject that depends on certain factors such as feeding, care or the absence of diseases .
We recommend that you prevent any type of illness by going to the vet regularly and giving your rabbit the relevant vaccines that make it immune to certain viruses.Even if your rabbit lives at home, it can be infected by bacteria or residues present in our clothes for example. Here are the most common diseases that can affect your lop rabbit:
- Scabies: it's a mite that attacks our pet's skin directly. It's hard for our rabbit to get infected if he lives inside the house and doesn't go outside much. Go quickly to the vet to have him dewormed.
- Red urine: it is usually due to a lack of nutrients in food. Observe if he eats fruits and vegetables, if so, it could be a urinary tract infection.
- Coccidiosis: it is caused by microorganisms called coccidiosis, a parasite that spreads easily through infected feces. It causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Consult your veterinarian as they can cure your pet if you act quickly.
- Pneumonia: it usually occurs during cold periods of the year or if our animal is exposed to drafts. If we don't take better care of our rabbit, the situation could get worse.
- Cal: this is due to the physical inactivity of the rabbit. If he spends too much time in his cage or if he is obese, this can happen, especially in the hind legs.
- Abnormal teeth growth: This phenomenon is common when we don't provide our pet with fodder or elements so that they can bite and wear down their teeth, as they would in the wild.
Remember that if you have decided to adopt a rabbit, it is very important that you find a good name for it!
Pictures of Lop Rabbit
