Hairless rabbit – Learn more with Healthier Pets Today! Most people have heard about hairless dogs, cats, rats, and chickens. But have you ever seen or heard of a hairless rabbit?
They are not that much different from other rabbits, but they are remarkable and unique in their own way.
They are nothing but excellent family friends. You will find them cute and lovable when you take the time to know them and study their gestures.
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The Cause of Hair Loss in Rabbits
Bunnies suffering from hair loss called Alopecia. This condition starts with tiny hairs that will out, eventually becoming bald spots spreading throughout the body.
They have a distinct physical characteristic: pink skin. As it turns out, if two rabbits with the same FF gene (hairless gene) mate, every litter will contain a hairless rabbit.
We recommend you look at the steps below to best care for your new fussy family member.
1. Recommended Diet
When choosing and deciding the right food for your hairless rabbit, be careful with the nutritional content.
Their diet should mainly consist of high-quality rabbit pellets, lucerne, and maize. You can also give your rabbit fruit or vegetables as a snack. Avoid giving the following to your rabbit: Avocados, chocolate, meat, eggs, kidney beans, rhubarb, and Iceberg lettuce.
They must continuously have distilled freshwater. Their diet needs vast amounts of fiber to help them metabolize more efficiently.
2. Optimum Habitat
A rabbit’s environment refers to any area the rabbit has access to. It includes where the rabbit eats, sleeps, exercises, and excretes.
Your rabbit needs a suitable cage with clean hay or paper bedding to keep the pen dry.
They can also be kept in an enclosure outside, provided they cannot dig out and must have shelter from the heat, rain, and cold.
Consider offering it a hanging water bottle, as rabbits tend to tip water bowls over.
3. General Care and Well-Being
Rabbit cages should be cleaned weekly to avoid the smell and the accumulation of decaying food. Fresh hay bedding should be used, and the cell should be rinsed with a weak bleach weekly.
Bathing is not recommended because these rabbits don’t tolerate water too well; they can die from shock. There is, however, special bath sand that can be used safely.
Use a soft brush to brush your rabbit to help remove dead skin cells and keep their skin healthy. Hairless rabbits enjoy regular moisturizing.
This is to prevent dryness and keep their skin supple. Use a rabbit-safe moisturizer recommended by a vet.
A good tip is to have a microchip implanted in the early stage of their life. They commonly escape from yards and are found a long distance away.
The standard lifespan of domesticated rabbits is 8 to 12 years.
4. Temperature and Humidity
Hairless rabbits prefer cooler, less humid environments, 60 -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit can cause heat-related stress or heat stroke.
On hot days, help your rabbit stay cool by turning on a fan or letting it lie on cool tiles.
5. Grooming
Rabbits are naturally clean, and they groom themselves. With no fur, there is no need for the typical frequent brushing and combing that goes along with owning a furry pet.
Rabbits’ nails can grow to be long, sharp, and uncomfortable. Owners need to have their nails trimmed every four to six weeks.
You can use a small pair of trimmers (advertised for cats). Be careful to only cut out the clearer portion of the nail. Alternatively, vets may offer nail trimming or recommend animal groomers.
6. Exercise Time
Your rabbit should get at least one to two hours outside its pen or enclosure daily.
Rabbits are healthiest when they have lots of space to run, jump, play, and interact with you.
Toys are essential to your rabbits’ health and happiness, as they encourage your pet to perform natural behaviors such as digging, jumping, and chewing.
Here are a few suitable toys for your rabbit:
- Cardboard – boxes with holes cut into them make great hiding places.
- Mirrors – if your rabbit lives independently, a mirror may offer some comfort, particularly for females.
These species are Crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.
With that, they might keep you up when you are trying to sleep if they don’t have a companion or you don’t give them enough things to keep them entertained when you are not with them.
Bunny Chew Toys
a hanging chew toy includes several different chew options to give your rabbit a variety of textures and tastes to choose from and be entertained.
7. Signs of Illness
As prey animals, rabbits do their best to hide any symptoms of illness or injury.
If your rabbit is not eating or pooping or is suffering from diarrhea. Go to the vet immediately, as this can be a life-threatening emergency.
14 other symptoms to watch out for:
- Increase or decrease in appetite or drinking
- Fecal pellets that are small or unusually shaped
- Lethargy
- Change in activity levels
- Hunching in a corner, or unusual sitting positions
- Wet chin or drooling
- Loss of balance or tilted head
- Loud tooth grinding
- Very cold or hot ears.
- Discharge from the nose
- Runny eyes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
8. Bonding with Your Rabbit
Hairless rabbits can be trained through patterns and routines like other bunnies. These rabbits will soon open their hearts to you by selecting these plans and practices.
Remember that rabbits are prey animals. This means you need to make them feel safe and at peace.
Always be down to its level when trying to communicate with your bunny. This way, they will feel more at ease and less terrified.
Rabbits are highly fragile; dropping, or allowing them to twist and kick, can cause significant trauma.
The secret to making these rabbits love you is never forcing your way with them. Slowly, let them come to you at their own pace.
Soon, you will realize that you and your bunny cannot get enough of each other.
8-Step Hairless Rabbit Care Guide for Owners…
These rabbits are not for everyone. If you are busy with plenty of responsibilities, there are better-fit options than adopting and choosing a rabbit. They are high-maintenance pets.
Caring for a hairless rabbit is one of the most amazing experiences for any pet lover. Their playful behavior makes you want to adopt another rabbit joining him the next day.
The power of these bunnies to make you happy are not open to doubt. They deserve all the love and care that they can receive.
