Buzz
Dwarf rabbits are irresistibly cute, but caring for them as pets can be demanding. Like any pet, the effort you put into their care will bring you great rewards. When raising dwarf rabbits, it's essential to provide them with a comfortable home and the right food. You’ll also need to train them to use a litter box, handle them properly, groom them regularly, and find ways to entertain them. Additionally, your bunny will require spaying or neutering and regular veterinary care.
Steps
Provide Housing and Food for the Rabbit
Purchase a rabbit cage for indoor or outdoor use. Some people enjoy allowing their rabbits to roam freely around the house, but this might not be the ideal option for everyone. Regardless, your bunny will need a cage. The cage should be placed in a safe, undisturbed area and must have a minimum size of 0.6m x 1.2m. The floor should be made of plastic or wood (avoid metal mesh as it can injure the rabbit’s feet). A 5 cm thick bedding layer should be placed at the bottom of the cage.
- Each rabbit needs its own litter box, hiding box, food bowl, hay rack, and water bottle inside the cage. It's essential to have more than one of each item to avoid competition between rabbits. The cage should always be stocked with Timothy hay and fresh water.
- Feed your rabbit Timothy hay pellets and vegetables once a day, depending on their size, age, and weight.
Build an exercise pen for your rabbit. You can set up an outdoor playpen on grass that hasn't been fertilized and is free of other animals. Alternatively, you can create a designated indoor play area for your rabbit. If using an indoor pen, it’s recommended to learn how to safely modify the space to protect both your rabbit and your household items.
- If you allow your rabbit to play outside, never leave them unsupervised. Many predators can easily capture a rabbit.
- Some sun exposure is beneficial for rabbits as it helps their bodies produce vitamin D, which is essential for strong bones. However, don’t leave your rabbit outside for too long in hot weather, as they can easily overheat.
Place a litter box in your rabbit’s cage. Rabbits have a habit of using the same spot for their bathroom needs. Position the litter box in the area of the cage where you notice the most droppings and urine. This will help keep the cage cleaner and make it easier for you to clean.
- Use organic bedding made of alfalfa, oats, or paper in the litter box.
- Avoid softwood shavings as they can harm your rabbit’s liver.
- Clean the litter box with vinegar.
- Your rabbit will be more willing to use the litter box if it is spayed or neutered, and if the box is placed in a quiet, secure location.
Consistently provide fresh hay for your rabbit. Hay is the main component of any rabbit's diet. Your rabbit should always have access to unlimited fresh hay. Avoid using alfalfa hay as it isn’t suitable for rabbits. Opt for Timothy hay or other appropriate types of dried grass for your rabbit’s diet.
Feed your rabbit pellet food every day. Choose high-quality rabbit pellets without added seeds or sugars. Avoid mixed pellet food that includes various ingredients, as your rabbit may only eat the parts it prefers, leading to nutrient imbalances. Feed your rabbit ¼ cup (15 g) of pellets for every 2.3 kg of body weight. Timothy hay is suitable for rabbits over 7 weeks old.
- Change your rabbit's food twice daily to ensure freshness.
Provide fresh fruits and vegetables to your rabbit. You should offer your rabbit 2 cups (70 g) of leafy greens daily. A small piece of carrot, apple (without seeds), banana, or strawberries make excellent treats for your dwarf rabbit. Be sure to check which fruits and vegetables are safe for rabbits, as some can be toxic.
Training Your Rabbit to Use the Litter Box
Use rabbit-friendly litter materials. These are typically made from grains or paper and come in pellet form. Not only do these materials absorb your rabbit's urine and feces, but your rabbit can also occasionally nibble on them.
- You can purchase these products at pet stores or online.
Tip: Rabbits may play with the litter box and scatter its contents. While this can be annoying, remember that your bunny is just having fun.
Place the litter box in the area where your rabbit urinates. Rabbits instinctively choose a spot to relieve themselves, so place the litter box there. Usually, this spot is a corner of the cage, away from the food area. If you place the box in the spot your rabbit has already chosen, it will likely use it.
- It's a good idea to have a litter box both in the cage and in the rabbit's play area to encourage consistent use.
- If your rabbit doesn't use the litter box, observe where it’s going and move the box to that location.
Place a small amount of your rabbit's waste in the litter box. Scoop some of your rabbit's droppings and urine and place them in the litter box. Your rabbit will recognize the scent and associate the box with the bathroom.
- A small amount of waste is all you need to guide your rabbit.
Picking Up a Rabbit
Approach the rabbit slowly and lower yourself down. In the wild, rabbits are prey animals, so they tend to get easily frightened. Avoid startling them or looming over them. Instead, crouch down to their level and move toward them calmly. While approaching, speak in a soft tone to let the rabbit know you're coming.
- You can say, 'Hello little bunny, don't be afraid.'
Avoid picking the rabbit up too often. Rabbits generally don't enjoy being lifted, hugged, or petted, so try to minimize this as much as possible. Your rabbit may jump away initially, but over time, if it learns to trust you, it may sit calmly in your lap. When you do pick up your rabbit, ensure it feels secure by supporting its back legs with one hand while the other gently holds it to your chest.
- Never pick up a rabbit by grabbing its ears.
Place your hand under the rabbit's belly and hindquarters when lifting it. Always support the rabbit's bottom to prevent it from struggling. Rabbits instinctively kick their back legs when picked up, but this action could cause spinal injury, potentially leading to serious harm.
- Always place one hand under the rabbit's bottom when lifting it.
Hold the rabbit close to your body to make it feel safe. Keep in mind that your rabbit is small and timid. It will likely be frightened when lifted off the ground. Hold it close to your body so that it feels secure and is less likely to squirm or struggle.
Advice: Never attempt to pick up a rabbit until you are certain that it trusts you. If the rabbit gets scared, its instincts will drive it to try anything to escape, even at the risk of injury.
Crouch down when putting the rabbit down. Avoid dropping your arm down abruptly, as this may startle your rabbit. Instead, gently hold the rabbit close to your body, crouch down to the ground, and slowly lower your arm to place the rabbit safely on the floor.
- Avoid letting the rabbit jump out of your arms, even when you're low to the ground, as this increases the risk of injury.
Grooming the Rabbit
Inspect the rabbit's tail area daily. Check for any urine or feces stuck to its fur, as flies can lay eggs in these areas, which may hatch into maggots, especially in warm weather. Use a damp cloth to clean the area if necessary, and also check if the rabbit's litter box needs changing.
- If you notice soft or runny stool, take your rabbit to the vet.
Brush the rabbit 2-3 times a week with a soft brush. Each breed of rabbit has different fur types, so grooming requirements will vary. For long-haired rabbits, it's essential to regularly comb out tangles and keep them clean to avoid health problems. Even for short-haired rabbits, brushing is a good way to keep them comfortable and build a bond.
- Brush your rabbit a few times a week to remove shedding fur and prevent it from ingesting it.
- Use a comb to untangle any knotted areas.
Clean the rabbit's ears weekly by removing debris and wiping them down. Check the rabbit’s ears for bits of hay or bedding material. Gently remove any debris with your fingers or a fine-toothed comb, then use a damp cloth to clean both the inside and outside of the ears. Finally, dry the ears thoroughly with a soft, clean cloth.
- Make sure to clear any debris in the rabbit's ears whenever you notice it.
Trim the rabbit's nails. Use specialized rabbit nail clippers to trim the nails when they grow too long. Wrap the rabbit in a towel while clipping to hold it still if it tries to wriggle. If you're unsure about how to trim the nails correctly, it's best to take the rabbit to the vet.
- Trimming the nails incorrectly can seriously harm your rabbit. Consult a vet for proper guidance before attempting it yourself.
- Never attempt to file a rabbit’s teeth if they grow too long. Doing so incorrectly can cause serious injury. Take your rabbit to the vet for proper dental care using the right equipment.
Provide entertainment for your rabbit
Give your rabbit toys made for rabbits, birds, or durable baby toys. Rabbits are intelligent creatures and can easily get bored. Keep them entertained with fun toys such as rattles, plastic keychains, and balls. Opt for toys that can roll inside their cage or hang from the top or sides of the enclosure.
- Rotate the toys weekly to keep things fresh and exciting for your rabbit, so you don’t have to keep buying new ones.
Provide wooden chew toys for your rabbit. Rabbit teeth grow continuously, and their natural instinct is to gnaw on something to help wear them down. Non-toxic wooden toys are a great solution, as they give your rabbit something to chew on while also taking care of its dental needs.
- Look for wooden toys at pet stores or online. Choose those labeled safe for small animals to ensure your rabbit's safety.
Provide cardboard tubes and boxes for your rabbit to shred. Rabbits love tearing up cardboard, so you can keep them entertained for hours with items like toilet paper rolls and cardboard boxes. Stuff hay into the toilet paper rolls or simply place the rolls in the cage for the rabbit to play with. You can also make a hideout for your rabbit by cutting the bottom off a cardboard box and adding doors and windows.
- Be sure to clean up the bits of cardboard when they get dirty.
Make a rice-filled egg toy. Fill a plastic egg with rice, seal it with hot glue, and give it to your rabbit. It will enjoy rolling the egg around to make noise. However, you might want to take this toy away at night, as the rattling could keep you up all night as your rabbit plays with it.
Spaying or neutering your rabbit
Understand the benefits of spaying or neutering your rabbit. Even if you only have one rabbit, it’s a good idea to have it spayed or neutered for better health and behavior. If you have more than one rabbit, each should be spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering your rabbit offers several benefits:
- Reduces the risk of certain cancers, especially reproductive cancers.
- Decreases aggression in rabbits.
- Encourages stronger bonds with humans.
- Makes it easier to litter train your rabbit.
- Prevents male rabbits from spraying urine.
- Ensures a safer environment for rabbits living together.
- Prevents unwanted litters of baby rabbits.
Tip: Unless you plan on breeding your rabbits, it’s best to have them spayed or neutered. Neutered rabbits are calmer and less likely to develop several health issues. The biggest benefit of spaying female rabbits is the prevention of uterine cancer, a common and serious condition.
Neuter male dwarf rabbits when they are 8-12 weeks old. A male rabbit's testicles begin to drop when they are around 2-3 months old. At this point, you can take your rabbit to the vet for neutering. Early neutering helps prevent aggressive behavior and territorial actions such as biting, growling, or spraying urine.
- Separate male and female rabbits when the male's testicles start to drop. Do not allow them to be together again until the male's neuter wound has healed.
Spay female rabbits when they are 4-8 months old. Female rabbits reach sexual maturity at around 4 months old. However, your vet may recommend waiting until the rabbit is 6 months old for a safer surgery. Discuss the best course of action with your veterinarian for the well-being of your pet.
Veterinary Care
Find a vet who specializes in small animals. Your rabbit has different needs from dogs and cats, so it’s important to find a vet experienced in caring for rabbits. Look for a veterinarian who specializes in small animal care, as they possess the specialized skills required for rabbit care. It’s also wise to inquire about the vet's qualifications and experience to ensure they can properly treat your rabbit.
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Vets love animals too, and they’ll understand that you want the best care for your pet.
Get your rabbit vaccinated. The virus that causes rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a deadly virus that has been introduced in various areas to help control rabbit populations. To protect your rabbit from this virus, you need to have it vaccinated starting at 4 weeks of age, with booster shots every 6 months throughout its life.
Remove parasites. Rabbits are often infected with parasites like fleas and ticks. Over-the-counter flea medications such as Advantage or Revolution are effective and easy to use, and you can buy them to treat fleas on your rabbit. If your rabbit scratches its ears or the skin around its neck feels dry, it may have ticks. Take your rabbit to the vet to treat the ticks.
- Consult a veterinarian before administering any medication to your rabbit to ensure proper dosage. Overdosing could cause serious harm to your rabbit.
- Your rabbit may be at a higher risk of fleas if you have other pets (like dogs or cats) that have been infested with fleas.
Warning
- Children under 9 years old should be supervised when playing with a rabbit.
- Avoid loud noises when near your rabbit. They have very sensitive ears.
- Keep your rabbit away from small holes or under furniture to prevent it from getting stuck or running away.
- Be cautious of household items that could pose a danger to your dwarf rabbit, such as electrical cords and small gaps where it could get trapped.
Things you will need
- A spacious rabbit cage
- Beddings for the cage
- Playpen or enclosed area for the rabbit
- Litter box
- Hay
- Rabbit pellets
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Rabbit toys
- Claw clippers for rabbits
- Soft brush
