✅ DWARF RABBIT - Characteristics and Photos

The dwarf rabbit has long been a very popular pet. Its small size, adorable appearance and friendly character make it the ideal pet for apartment dwellers. It was designed in Holland at the beginning of the 20th century from a small wild rabbit crossed with domestic breeds until it arrived in England where breeders managed to standardize its colors and appearance.

Origin

Europe

Physical appearance

The dwarf rabbit is really tiny! It is about 33 or 50 centimeters long and weighs between 0.8 and 1.5 kg when fully grown.

The appearance of the dwarf rabbit is very sweet, because we are dealing with a very small rabbit. He has short, rounded ears and a small, flat nose, which makes him totally unique.

The coat of the dwarf rabbit is soft and short, and comes in a variety of very different colors, including white, brown, gray or black.

Dwarf Rabbit Behavior

Unlike other rabbits, the dwarf rabbit is somewhat independent because it is a particularly nervous and fearful breed. To avoid this isolated behavior of the rabbit, it is practical to accustom him to us by offering him daily games and offering him treats when he responds as we want, in this way we will have a soft and friendly rabbit.

Dwarf rabbits particularly appreciate the caresses of those they trust, especially on the ears and back, always with the appropriate gentleness.

He is generally afraid of other pets such as dogs and cats, although with time and by following some adequate guidelines, we can forge a good cohabitation between cat and rabbit.

How to take care of a dwarf rabbit?

Dwarf rabbits have a series of general care and also have some specific care to follow. For example, it is important that the dwarf rabbit has a calm and quiet place to rest when you leave it in its cage. Isolate it from drafts, sunlight or excessive noise. Try not to let other pets near him until he gets used to their presence.

We have to be very careful when handling it, a sudden move or a wrong grip can easily result in a fracture.

Another type of care to give him will be brushing, which must be frequent, especially during the moulting period.It is impractical to bathe it and we do not recommend it as rabbits are already grooming themselves. In case of pronounced dirt, we can use a damp cloth or towel to gently clean his coat.

Give him toys so he can still have fun when he's bored. This point is important because not all toys are suitable for this mammal which likes to chew on everything.

Despite its size, the dwarf rabbit must have a spacious cage with a bed of wood shavings, several feeders for hay and vegetables, a water trough and something to use as a nest to feel at ease easy. You can also prepare a small space or enclosure for him to exercise. Remember that if you let him run around the house, he must always be under your supervision because he could accidentally gnaw on an electrical wire.

In addition to all this, we must also pay attention to the diet of the dwarf rabbit, which must be varied and appropriate according to its age.

Dwarf rabbit he alth

Below is a list of the most common diseases that dwarf rabbits can suffer from:

Myxomatosis: it is a virus transmitted by insects such as ticks, mosquitoes or horseflies. We can detect it by the inflammation of the vulva of the females and by the appearance of pustules around the mucous membranes of the rabbit. Finally, this disease can cause blindness in our little pet. We have to go to the vet, who will try to stop the symptoms of this disease with intensive care because it has no treatment.

Tularemia: This is a bacterial disease transmitted by dust mites and fleas. We can identify this disease because the rabbit stops eating. Go to the vet if your rabbit suddenly stops eating.

Rabies: Just like cats or dogs, although very rarely, rabbits can also have rabies.

Pneumonia: it usually occurs during cold times of the year or if we leave our pet exposed to drafts. If we don't take care of it, our rabbit's condition may get worse.