Caring for Netherland Dwarf hare is like to the care you ’d furnish for any rabbit . However , such a small breed is ordinarily a act more delicate , so it ’s important to take special care of your Netherland Dwarf to keep them as healthy as possible .
Proper Housing for Your Netherland Dwarf Bunny
There are a lot of points to consider when setting up an appropriate habitat for a Netherlands Dwarf rabbit . Size and positioning are two prime concerns in gnome rabbit tending , but sticking to a cleaning docket is also highly important .
Cage Size
AlthoughNetherland Dwarf rabbitsare one of the smallest breeds of rabbits , they still need mickle of elbow room to live . Manypet expertsrecommend a minimum of 18 by 24 column inch with 14 inches high , though manyrabbit enthusiastssuggest alarger cagesize of 4 by 2 by 2 feet ( or more ) , which volunteer more way for exercise .
Type of Cage Bottom
You may choose a batting cage with a wire or firm bottom , just as long as you make trusted there ’s an region where the rabbit can be off the wire to rest their feet . The spacing on a wire bottom should be no more than 1/4 inch between bars . Outdoor hutchestypically provide a completely introduce area where the rabbit can enjoy the grass , as well as a raised house where the rabbit can go inside for more shelter .
Keep the Cage Clean
If you choose a satisfying bottom coop , your Netherland should belitter box trainedto keep their cage cleaner . you’re able to use straw , hay , or aspen shavings as bedding . Never employ pine or cedar shavings because these litter release toxic chemicals that can demonstrate fatal for rabbit . Remove droppings as often as necessary to keep the environment tidy and give the John Milton Cage Jr. a thorough scrubbing once a week .
Use an Appropriate Feeder and Waterer
The good feeder is one that bind to the coop wall so the food wo n’t be tipped over into the bedding . body of water bottles are preferable to unfold crock because they forestall the water from becoming disgorge or befouled with bedding or muck .
Cage Location
The rabbit ’s cage should be keep in an field of the house that is n’t susceptible to draft . If your pet is die to be continue outside , which is n’t the best choice for this small breed , they ’ll postulate an enclosed shack to protect them from the elements , as well as raft of hay to nest in and stick around warm .
Offer Shade From Direct Sun
Netherlands can also succumb toheatstrokevery easily , so also plan to locate the coop in an area where it will have shade from lineal Sunday , and put a rooted two - liter bottle of water in the cage on hotter days to help chill the environment . Check and refreshen your darling ’s piss bottle several times a solar day .
Foods for Your Netherland Dwarf Rabbit
allot to theHouse Rabbit Society , a rabbit ’s diet should consist of pellet , fresh hay , clean-living piddle , and fresh vegetables . However , that dieting diverge by eld , so it ’s crucial to feed historic period - appropriate foods for avoid stressing your ducky ’s digestive system .
Feeding a Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Baby Birth to Four Months
A Netherland kit nurses from their mother for their first three weeks of life . By 4 weeks sometime , they can begin pick small measure of alfalfa pellet , as well as a minute of sluttish Medicago sativa . By about seven hebdomad of age , they will wean from their female parent and be capable to survive on pellet , slack lucerne , and water until their digestive organization has grow enough to begin enclose vegetables and greens .
Feeding From Four to Seven Months
At this eld , you could begin introducing a minuscule amount of vegetables into your dearie ’s diet , but it ’s significant to only introduce one type of veggie at a time . Only offer about a teaspoonful ’s worth so you do n’t upset their digestive system . A small Netherland ’s digestive piece of land , like all lapin , is quite delicate , and sudden changes can direct to looseness of the bowels and , in the worst - case scenario , demise .
Organic Produce Is Safest
It ’s proficient to utilize organically raise vegetable and greens , and you should lave these foods before serve them to your pet . good vegetables and greenness include , but are not define to :
Keep in mind that vegetables are not meant to replace the Netherland ’s staple diet of shot and hay .
Feeding Rabbits Seven Months to One Year
At this age , a young Netherlands Dwarf is maturing into maturity , and their dieting will need other careful adjustments .
Switch From Alfalfa to Hay
When rabbits are around 7 months quondam , the loose alfalfa portion of their dieting should be slowly replaced with hay . Oxbow Animal Healthparticularly recommends Timothy hay / grass as a sound source of fiber and nutrients , but oat hay and bromegrass are also adept choice and provide variety , as well . jaw hay gives rabbits an opportunity to grind down their tooth and keep them in good precondition . Hay ’s eminent fiber depicted object also keep hairballs from turning into bowel obstructions .
This is also the fourth dimension to switch over from alfalfa pellet to timothy pellet if they ’re uncommitted in your orbit since lucerne can be flesh out for adult .
Keep Fruits to a Minimum
Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Full-grown Adult Diet
According to theRabbit Producers Association , a Netherland Dwarf should get approximately :
Match Amount of Food to Weight
Of course , each rabbit is unique , so you’re able to increase or decrease the amount ofpellets fedaccording to whether he feels too fat or too thin . This stock ’s standard states grownup bucks and does should top out around 2 1/2 pounds , so you may use that measurement as a guideline , but essentially check that their system of weights is a serious match for their framework .
Veterinary Care for Netherland Dwarf Bunnies
Providing your Netherland with regular veterinary care can help you recognize problems before they grow out of control . Just like cats and hot dog , rabbit should incur one-year medical checkup .
Vaccinations
According toCenter Sinai Animal Hospital , best-loved rabbits do not require any vaccination in the United States . However , there are a couple of serious diseases that rabbits need to be vaccinated against in other share of the earthly concern , include Europe and the UK .
Parasite Control
Rabbits are subject to flea , mite , and other sponger , just like many other pet . Let your vet help you choose a hare - safe preventive product to protect your Netherland from these pests .
Worming
Intestinal wormscan rob your Netherland of alimentation , so it ’s wise to carry out routine worming twice a year using a coney - secure worming mathematical product as recommended by your veterinary surgeon .
Dental Care for Your Dwarf Bunny
Like all cony , Netherland Dwarf Rabbits not only like to jaw , they ask to chew because their teeth grow perpetually . If they do n’t jaw oftentimes , their teeth can grow out of control . Your pet ’s diet of pellets and hay should help keep their tooth growth in check , but they ’ll also enjoy small cuttable miniature and branches from yield trees .
There appear to be ahigher occurrenceof malocclusion in Netherland Dwarf Rabbits than other rabbit strain . Malocclusionoccurs when a young Dwarf has a growth jet , but the jaw and lower jawbone do n’t get at the same rate . The bottom incisor protrude aside from the upper incisors , which mean they wo n’t be able to work together when masticate to forestall them from grow out of ascendancy . It may be possible for the vet to trim the teeth in an cause to bring the problem under restraint .
Grooming Your Dwarf Rabbit
Netherland Dwarf Rabbits do n’t need a lot of training , because they keep themselves uninfected . However , when they ’re going through a period of peeling , they might appreciate a little aid removing spare pelt . apply a soft brush or comb and brush in the lifelike direction of the lapin ’s fur . you could also take this chance to check for leech .
The nails on a Netherland Dwarf will need to be garnish regularly . you may do this yourself using a cat claw trimming capacitor to trim just the nail hint , or your vet can perform the labor for you .
A Little Care Goes a Long Way
Aside from the high-pitched rate of malocclusion in Netherland Dwarf rabbits , they are fairly easy to care for . Spend time with your favourite each day so you could become more familiar with them . This will help you spy troubles early when they are loosely easier to treat . provide a good dieting , even John Milton Cage Jr. cleaning , and some playtime will keep your Netherland healthy and happy .