[The picture is from gregrichdvm, the copyright belongs to the original author]

A lot of people, especially girls, love raising lop-eared rabbits. Almost no one can resist their cuteness. Lop-eared rabbits are both cute and lively. And when they grow up, they won't get very big, usually around five catties. They're actually quite easy to raise, but since they have a weak constitution, it's not that simple to raise them well.

Lop-eared rabbits are very clean. They often lick their fur to groom themselves and prefer a clean and dry environment. They have a gentle temper and are not likely to attack people or other animals. After getting along with their owners for a long time, they'll get very close and like to be stroked. They're great family pets. They also look super cute, with their ears drooping naturally, round bodies, short and thick limbs, looking so adorable. And they're usually very quiet, not like cats and dogs that bark or meow all the time.

But they're timid and can easily get scared by sudden noises, strange environments or people. This can affect their appetite and mental state. In serious cases, it may even pose a health risk. They have a natural urge to bite things, like data cables and slippers. Lop-eared rabbits come in a wide variety of colors, like white, black, grey, brown, chocolate, and all kinds of Dutch patterns. There are plenty of choices.

There are several breeds of lop-eared rabbits:

The Dutch lop-eared rabbit, with its classic black-and-white color and long droopy ears, looks like a little art piece. It has a gentle temper and is easy to train, making it an ideal companion for the family. The French lop-eared rabbit has fur as soft as clouds. It's very gentle and loves to be stroked and held, bringing warmth and comfort to its owner. The English lop-eared rabbit is cute and friendly, which allows it to easily fit into the family. Although it's a bit lazy, it needs careful care and company from its owner. The American lop-eared rabbit is strong and full of energy. It likes to move around in a large space and is a source of joy at home.

When choosing a suitable lop-eared rabbit, you need to consider the living space. If it's a giant breed like the French lop-eared rabbit, you'll need a cage at least 1.2 meters long. For a mini breed like the Dutch lop-eared rabbit, an 80-centimeter cage is enough. For long-haired breeds like the Jersey Wooly lop-eared rabbit, you need to comb its fur every day. For short-haired breeds like the Mini Rex lop-eared rabbit, cleaning it once a week is okay. Some rabbits, like the German lop-eared rabbit and the English Mini lop-eared rabbit, love to interact, which is great for owners who like to pet rabbits. The Dutch Dwarf lop-eared rabbit is more suitable to be kept as an ornamental pet.

What should you do before and after buying a lop-eared rabbit?

Lop-eared rabbits come in various colors like white, grey, black, and two-tone, and the prices are similar. You can buy them from a physical store or online. When choosing, make sure the rabbit has bright eyes, is lively, has normal excretion, and shows no obvious signs of illness. Physical stores are convenient but a bit more expensive. When buying online, there's usually a video, and the health condition and after-sales service are more guaranteed.

After choosing a rabbit, let it rest quietly when you get home. After the rabbit arrives home, put it in the cage for 2 hours to let it get familiar with the environment. Don't give it water or food during this time. After the rest, you can give it water with a little multi-vitamin electrolyte added to replenish its energy. Feed it normally after it gets used to the new environment.

[The picture is from South Ayrshire Golf, the copyright belongs to the original author]

Things to know and prepare before raising a lop-eared rabbit:

Diet:

The main food is hay and grass. They should have access to high-quality hay or pasture at all times because these are the main parts of their diet. Give them at least a bundle of hay every day, about the same size as them. A rabbit's digestive system needs grass to work properly. Wild rabbits mostly eat grass and plants in the early morning and evening. So, just provide them with fresh grass or hay. But don't feed them the grass cut by a lawnmower, as it may make them sick.

Their food should be nutritionally balanced. You can mix in some vegetables, carrots, etc. However, don't just feed them one type of food. If vegetables accumulate in the intestines, they can easily rot, and the rabbit may get enteritis. It's best to feed them a combination of vegetables, rabbit food, and hay. Rabbits don't have a sense of fullness, so you need to control the amount of food to avoid overfeeding, which can lead to indigestion and, in severe cases, even kill the rabbit.

Rabbits will get sick without water, so make sure they always have fresh and clean water. Rabbits generally like to drink from heavy ceramic bowls, but a drip bottle is also okay. If you use a drip bottle, remember to check if the spout is blocked every day. Clean the water container every day and change the water at least twice a day, even if the rabbit doesn't finish it. In summer, pay special attention to whether there's algae in the water (the water or container may turn green). In winter, prevent the water from freezing. It's best to have a few spare water bottles at home in case you need to clean the bottle or the water freezes.

Cage:

It's best to use an iron cage to raise rabbits. Almost all ready-made cages come with a tray for easy cleaning. Although lop-eared rabbits won't grow very big, it's still better to prepare a slightly larger cage. After all, no one wants to stay in a small space. The bigger the cage, the better.

Essential equipment:

You need to prepare a food bowl, a water bottle, a foot mat, a grass nest, a rabbit toilet, a tray, odor-removing wood pellets, and a chew stick. These are the standard items. The food bowl and tray usually come with the cage. The water bottle is best a ball-bearing type because rabbits can easily get oral inflammation if they drink from a water basin. The foot mat can prevent the rabbit from standing on the iron cage for a long time and getting foot inflammation. A rabbit's teeth keep growing. To prevent their teeth from getting too long and affecting their eating, it's best to provide some hard wood for them to chew on. Put the odor-removing wood pellets in the toilet or tray to help eliminate the rabbit's urine smell because rabbits urinate a lot and the smell is quite strong.

Environment:

The most suitable temperature for lop-eared rabbits is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. Although they have thick fur to resist the cold, they don't like low temperatures and can't stand high temperatures either. Since lop-eared rabbits don't have well-developed sweat glands, they can only cool down by breathing quickly or lying on the ground when it's hot. If the room temperature is too high in summer, you can put a tile in the cage for them to rest on. The environment must be kept dry and clean. Rabbits need plenty of clean water, and their food should be balanced. You can feed them a combination of vegetables, rabbit food, and hay. Don't feed them only one type of food for a long time, or the vegetables may rot in the intestines and cause enteritis. Control the amount of food when feeding rabbits because they don't have a sense of fullness. Overfeeding can lead to indigestion and, in severe cases, even kill the rabbit.

Exercise:

Give the lop-eared rabbit at least 1 hour of exercise every day. They are quiet in the daytime. They like to be alone. But you must make them move. This stops them from getting fat. Train young rabbits when they are new. This helps them learn good habits. For example, teach them to poop in one place. Teach them to eat in one place.

[The picture is from BeChewy, the copyright belongs to the original author]

Daily care:

Rabbits like dry and clean places. Keep their home airy and neat. Rabbits need their fur brushed often. They need baths sometimes. Clean the rabbit home regularly. Make sure the lop-eared rabbit moves at least 1 hour daily. This stops fat. Train young rabbits when they are new. Teach them where to poop. Teach them where to eat. This helps them learn good habits. A healthy and comfortable home helps rabbits grow well. It lowers the chance of sickness. It makes them friendlier with people.

Medicines:

You should have some medicines ready. Have multi-vitamin electrolytes for energy. Have medicine for diarrhea. Have medicine for coccidiosis. Rabbits often get coccidiosis. This sickness kills many rabbits. So, work to prevent it. Keep coccidiosis drugs available.

A lop-eared rabbit lives about 7 to 12 years. This depends on its home. This depends on its health. This depends on its genes. Give them the right food. Give them a comfortable home. Give them doctor visits when needed. Keep them safe. These things help them live longer. Also, pick healthy parents for new rabbits. Good genes help them grow strong.

Reference：

[1]RSPCA: “A healthy diet for your pet rabbit”