The rabbit Toy or dwarf rabbit has long been a very popular pet. Its small size, adorable appearance and affable character make it the perfect pet for those who live in a flat. It was developed in Holland at the beginning of the 20th century from a small wild rabbit crossed with domestic breeds until it reached England where breeders managed to standardize colors and appearance.
Physical appearance
The toy or dwarf rabbit is truly small, we are talking about a total length of around 33 or 50 centimeters reaching an adult weight of between 0.8 and 1.5 kg.
The appearance of the dwarf rabbit is very sweet, based only on its physiognomy, since we are dealing with a compact and short rabbit. He shows short, rounded ears and a small, flat nose that make him totally unmistakable.
They have soft, short hair that comes in a wide variety of very different colors including white, brown, gray or black.
Behaviour
Unlike other rabbits, the Toy or dwarf rabbit is somewhat independent as it is a particularly nervous and fearful breed. To avoid this isolated behavior of the rabbit, it is convenient to get him used to us on a daily basis, playing and offering him treats, in this way we will have a sweet and friendly rabbit.
They are very grateful for caresses near the ears and back of those they trust, always with the appropriate softness.
He is usually afraid of other pets such as dogs and cats, although over time and following the right guidelines we can forge a good relationship between cat and rabbit.
Care
Toy rabbits have a series of general care and also some specific care. For example, it's important that your toy rabbit has a quiet, calm place to rest when you leave it in its cage. Insulate it from drafts, direct sunlight or excessive noise. Try to keep other pets away from him until he gets used to your presence.
We must be very careful when handling him, a sudden gesture or a bad catch can easily end in a fracture.
Another type of care will be brushing, which should be frequent, especially during the time of shedding. It is not convenient for us to bathe it since the rabbits clean themselves. Except in cases of extreme dirt, we can use a damp cloth or towel to clean the hair.
Provide him with toys to enjoy whenever he is bored, search the market for suitable toys for the rabbit. This point is important because not all toys are valid for this mammal that chews everything.
You should have a spacious cage with a base of shavings, feeders for hay and vegetables, a water bowl and something that you can use as a nest for comfort. You can also prepare a small space or enclosure for him to exercise. Remember that if you let him run around the house he should always be under your supervision as he could gnaw a cable.
In addition to what was mentioned above, we must also pay attention to the rabbit's diet, which must be varied and appropriate according to its age.
He alth
Here is a list of the most common diseases that dwarf rabbits can suffer from:
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Myxomatosis: This is a virus transmitted by insects such as ticks, mosquitoes or horseflies. We can detect it through the inflammation of the vulva of the females and with the appearance of pustules around the mucous membranes of the rabbit. Finally, it can cause blindness in our little pet. We must go to the vet who will try to curb the symptoms of this disease with intensive care because there is no treatment.
- Tularemia: This is a bacterial disease spread by mites and fleas. We can identify this ailment because the rabbit stops eating. Go to the vet if you relate the parasites and that he does not eat.
- Rabies: Like cats or dogs, rabbits can also have rabies. Although it would be very strange, it could happen if we welcome a rabbit of strange origin. For this reason we advise you to consult the tips for adopting a rabbit.
- Pneumonia: It usually occurs during cold times of the year or if we leave our pet exposed to drafts. If we don't provide some extra care our rabbit could get worse.
- Abnormal growth of teeth: It is common when we do not provide our pet with forage or elements so that it can bite, just like would in nature.
- Scabies: Scabies is caused by mites, insects that lay eggs and multiply at breakneck speed. Go to the vet to apply the ivermectin vaccine.
