How to Care for a Dutch Dwarf Rabbit

Dutch dwarf rabbits, also referred to as Netherland dwarf rabbits, are sociable animals whose small size makes them an ideal pet for families with children. Caring for dwarf rabbits requires a lengthy commitment, because their average lifespan is eight years. If you don't properly care for your Dutch dwarf rabbit, it affects the animal's behavior and physical appearance: it may stop eating and lose weight, discharge may emerge from its nose and eyes and its fur may appear dull. To avoid these and other complications, feed and groom your rabbit properly and provide it with regular exercise.

Things You'll Need

  • Rabbit cage
  • Newspaper
  • Hardwood shavings
  • Cat litter pan
  • Cat litter
  • Hay
  • Drinking bottle
  • Ceramic bowl
  • Rabbit pellet food
  • Vegetables
  • Soap
  • Gnawing stone
  • Rabbit toys or empty toilet roll
  • Brush
  • Rabbit nail clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      House your rabbit in a cage that is at least four time the size of the animal. Place the cage in an area of the house that is free of drafts and offers plenty of shade. Avoid placing the cage in direct sunlight. Aim for a room temperature that never exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, because if it gets too hot, the rabbit may suffer heatstroke.

    • 2

      Make a bed for your rabbit in the cage. Lay down old newspapers on the floor of the cage and cover them with 1 inch of hardwood shavings.

    • 3

      Place a cat litter pan with non-clumping, scent-free litter in the cage to serve as your bunny's bathroom. Use hay on top of old news papers as an alternative. If your rabbit kicks the litter out of its cage, use a covered litter box.

    • 4

      Provide food and water. Hang a drinking bottle filled with clean water on your rabbit's cage. Fill a ceramic bowl with rabbit pellets according to the food label instructions. Rabbits require different amounts of pellet food, depending on their weight and age. Give your rabbit 1 cup of fresh, washed vegetables daily. This can be romaine lettuce, carrots, broccoli or parsley. Remove leftover vegetables after 24 hours. Have unlimited hay available to your rabbit because it needs the fiber to maintain a healthy digestive system.

    • 5

      Scoop soiled litter out of the litter pan every day and remove any soiled bedding. Wash the entire cage once a week with mild soap and water and lay down clean bedding.

    • 6

      Provide a gnawing stone for your Dutch dwarf bunny to nibble on. The stone keeps your rabbit's teeth from growing too long. If its teeth grow too long, it may not be able to eat until the veterinarian trims the teeth.

    • 7

      Allow your dwarf rabbit to hop around the room and play for at least an hour a day. Buy commercial rabbit toys or provide an empty toilet paper roll for your rabbit to play with. Exercise keeps aggression at bay and helps keep your bunny in shape.

    • 8

      Brush your dwarf rabbit's coat at least once a week to keep it in good condition. Because dwarf rabbits are short-haired, they don't shed a lot. However, three times a year they shed heavily. Increase brushing as needed during this time.

    • 9

      Clip your rabbit's nails every eight weeks with rabbit nail clippers. Avoid cutting through the pink vein in the nails, because this hurts your rabbit. Bring your rabbit to the veterinarian to have its nails clipped as an alternative.

    • 10

      Take your rabbit to the veterinarian every year for a general checkup and whenever you suspect a medical condition is ailing your rabbit.