How to Take Care of Lion Mane Rabbits

With their mane-like ruffs of fur, lionhead rabbits are certainly appealing, but they require a serious commitment in terms of care. Longhaired rabbits, like longhaired dogs, need a lot of grooming. There are also medical issues associated with this breed. Cute as lionhead rabbits might be, the primary caregiver should not be a child. Rabbits in general need a time and money investment comparable to that of a dog. Rabbit food is relatively cheap, but you also need to consider vet bills, rabbit-proofing your home, housing and litter pans.

  1. General Care

    • In terms of their diet, lionheads need much the same combination as any other breed of rabbit. Adults should get unlimited hay supplemented with rabbit pellets and some fresh vegetables. Limit high sugar foods, such as fruit and sweet vegetables, to an occasional treat. Always keep rabbits in pairs and always get them neutered or spayed. This is essential to avoid health and behavior problems in all rabbits. Moreover, it is especially difficult to find good homes for breeds requiring as much care as lionheads. Rabbit welfare societies recommend that you never let a longhaired rabbit breed.

    Special Considerations

    • Because longhaired breeds are prone to flystrike ̵1; infestation with maggots ̵1; and their fur easily soaks up water and mud, it is not advisable to keep them outside no matter how spacious the accommodation. Rabbits are best kept as house pets anyway. As well as a sleeping enclosure, you need to acquire litter pans ̵1; at least one per rabbit ̵1; and to housetrain your new bunnies. Because lionheads are relatively small, cat litter pans are suitable. Line them with newspaper, not cat litter. Also, protect all exposed cables in the rooms to which your rabbits have access.

    Grooming

    • Two variations of the lionhead breed exist: those with mostly short coats and a ruff and those with long coats. Both types need a lot of grooming, the ones with all-over long fur especially. Comb your rabbits daily with metal combs designed for longhaired cats or rabbits. First use a comb with widely-spaced teeth and then one with teeth close together, paying attention to all the fur, including the manes around their faces, the feet and around the tails.

    Haircuts

    • To avoid some of the worst problems associated with longhaired rabbits, you should keep your pets̵7; fur trimmed. Ask your vet to show you the procedure the first time. You can use either scissors and a comb or dog clippers to trim the fur, keeping it to a maximum length of no more than a couple of inches. If you are still uncertain about trimming yourself, find a grooming service specializing in smaller pets. The fur needs to be trimmed about once a month or once every six weeks.

    Medical Care

    • Even properly groomed lionheads can ingest excess fur, which causes serious intestinal problems. If your rabbit stops eating, eats less, shows signs of discomfort, such as lethargy, or produces very small droppings, contact a vet immediately. To find a vet who specializes in rabbits, either ask a rabbit society for a recommendation or phone several clinics asking about the vet̵7;s experience with rabbits, particularly longhaired breeds. If mats develop in the fur, ask your vet to remove them. It is easy to hurt a rabbit̵7;s delicate skin if you are inexperienced.