Features of the lion-headed rabbit
A person who is far from nature, busy with routine affairs, gets tired and needs a devoted friend who would save him from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Most of the inhabitants of megalopolises have pets, ranging from the usual cats to exotic pets. The Lionhead Rabbit has been very popular lately. The animal got its name because of its special appearance: long hair, framing the head, but short in the rest of the body, makes the animal look like a lion.
Lionhead rabbit
What kind of beast is this
The lion-headed rabbit turned out thanks to its ancestors: the Dwarf and Fox rabbit. The character of the representatives of this breed is calm. The pet is trusting, quickly gets used to the person. The dwarf rabbit loves affection and makes contact with both an adult and a child.
You should not buy an animal for children under the age of seven. The lion-headed rabbit has ears - an Achilles heel, touching them causes more than unpleasant sensations. A large number of nerve endings are located in the ears, which makes them quite sensitive to any influence, including touch, sharp loud sounds. A child, due to his age, can inadvertently hurt an eared animal.
Frequent travel is bad for a lion-headed rabbit. Changing home is stressful for the animal, which negatively affects its health.
Description of the standard
The dwarf lion-headed rabbits have become a separate breed and have found their own standard. It has the following parameters:
- before the onset of six months of age, the weight of the rabbit is 1.2 kg maximum, 0.7 kg minimum; after the animal turns 6 months old, it can add another half a kilogram;
- small ears, only 5 cm, with rounded ends, have a small edge along the entire length;
- big black eyes, have an expressive and wise look;
- round small head;
- long hair (5 cm) around the face changes sharply to short hair, starting from the neck, ending with the back of the body;
- the body is compact but muscular;
- common colors are agouti, black, fawn, red, white; in total, the breed has about 50 different colors.
In order to choose a purebred healthy Lionhead rabbit, it is enough to compare the offered product with a photo, which clearly shows the characteristics of the animal. The price of a real rabbit cannot be lower than 3000 rubles. The Lionhead Rabbit, whose fur does not comply with the standard, is subject to culling. Ears exceeding 7 cm also mean marriage. Weight over 1.7 kg is also not considered the norm.
How to properly contain
After purchasing a pet, it is extremely important to provide him with the correct care and conditions. The animal can live for more than 10 years, but for this it is necessary to take care of it. Having brought a new friend to the house, you should not torment him with excessive affection, excessive communication. The lion-headed rabbit is stressful, and unnecessary attention will only make matters worse.First, you should run the baby into a cage, inside which a shelter must be prepared, where the decorative pet can hide from prying eyes. It is also required to avoid loud sounds, which can also harm the psyche of a gentle animal.
The rabbit is a very smart pet, it can be toilet trained. A tray is placed in the place where the animal went to the toilet for the first time. The best option is to take the rabbit outside, but this is suitable for those who live in a private house where strangers will not frighten the rabbit.
If a decorative pet spends most of its time in a cage, it should be chosen in a large size so that it feels freedom and can lead a more or less active lifestyle. Nevertheless, the animal must sometimes be released, this will provide him with normal mobility. Be sure to install containers for drinking and food in the dwelling. A good attitude of a person is rewarded with exemplary behavior of a rabbit, trust. This decorative pet loves an affectionate tone of voice; when it changes, it is alarmed. An increased tone, a cry has a negative effect on the eared pet.
Proper care is the key to success
The mane is something that requires special care. Brushing should be a daily ritual. This is done not so much for aesthetic pleasure as for the safety of the animal. Untimely combing of the coat can lead to the ingress of hairs into the oral cavity, which leads to death. You can pick up a comb at the pet store.
Like any other pets, representatives of the Lion Head rabbit breed need periodic vaccinations, as well as timely therapy against worms. If an animal gets sick, an urgent need to call a veterinarian, since the animal is a rather gentle creature, the disease that struck it develops very quickly.
Temperature is an important aspect of keeping a lion's head rabbit. The temperature should not exceed 23 ° C, and also be below 16 ° C. Heatstroke if overlooked is a big threat, often causing death.
Humidity should also be within normal limits. High humidity can cause colds, low humidity can cause dehydration. About 60% humidity is ideal conditions for the normal maintenance of an eared pet. Draft is unacceptable if the Lionhead Rabbit lives in the house. Pneumonia is the first disease that an animal is able to catch due to the presence of passing winds. Direct sunlight also has a detrimental effect on the pet, so it is recommended to be selective in choosing the location of the cage.
Feeding and breeding
The lion's head rabbit's diet should include all important trace elements, nutrients and vitamins. It is also necessary to maintain the correct proportions of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. You should treat the animal with fresh food as often as possible, for example, herbs such as plantain or dandelion are useful. In winter, fresh grass is replaced by hay.
Fruits and vegetables are a must in the rabbit's diet.
Attention! Vegetables such as potatoes, beets, and cabbage should not be fed fresh. They require preliminary heat treatment and are not an independent dish; they are used only as an additive to the main feed.
It is worth remembering that the rabbit, like many rodents, constantly grows teeth. And in order to prevent possible problems, you need to treat him with solid food: cereals, branches. In pet stores, there is a large selection of proportionally selected feeds. A beginner can buy this grain mixture without fear of avitominosis, since most of the essential substances and vitamins are already included in these feeds. The water should be clean and cool. It is best to opt for an automatic drinker, which will keep the water clean. The drinking container should be washed at least once every 3 days in winter and every day in summer.
The lion-headed rabbit is only bred within its own breed. The reproductive function has been working since 8 months of age. The female can bring up to 6 rabbits in one birth. It is important to provide enhanced nutrition for the pregnant rabbit so that the amount of milk for feeding the babies is at the maximum level. Proper care of the eared ears will provide a pleasant and, most importantly, long-term relationship with your pet.