Rabbit Care:
This page contains what we believe are the essentials of bunny care. There are many opinions on how to best care for rabbits and not all of them are incorrect or perfectly correct either, they are just different than what has worked for us and our rabbits. We suggest you read and practice from various sources until you find what works best for you and your bunny to help you along the way.
Indoor habitats for rabbits
Coming soon..
Exercise for rabbits
Coming soon..
Feeding your rabbit
Though you may read a lot of foods that are safe for rabbits online, nothing is better for them than hay, pellets, and water and this is all that I recommend feeding on a daily basis. Holland Lops are a very small and fragile breed that commonly can get GI stasis, bloat, as well as other digestive issues that can very quickly become fatal. Greens, fruits, and veggies are all not recommended as a part of their diet until they are at least 6 months of age for these reasons and if you wish to do so after that, do so very sparingly and never as a daily thing.
I recommend feeding a high-quality pellet not those from local pet stores with colorful treats mixed in, allow them to have access to unlimited grass hay, either timothy or orchard grass (no alfalfa) and instead you can feed a small pinch of whole oats or a few black oil sunflower seeds as a healthy alternative.
The brand of pellets I feed is Purina Complete. It is good for babies, all through adulthood so there is no need to switch as they get older. I always provide a small bag with each rabbit when they go home to either help them transition if you decide you want to switch to a different brand, or to get you by until you can get some more. It is very important that if you are switching to a new feed that you use that bag provided and transition them slowly. Begin feeding 75% of their current pellets and 25% the new kind for a few days and then gradually mix more and more of the pellets you plan on feeding and lessen the amount of the original feed until the rabbit is entirely on the new pellets.
These are some healthy alternatives that I recommend instead of the sugary, unhealthy pet store treats or fruits and veggies:
- Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS): These are great to add about 4-5 to your rabbit's food daily. These are packed with essential nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats to help improve their coat condition, add a lot of shine, aid in digestion, and provide your rabbit with energy, but be careful not over feed. Too much can cause them to become overweight or even bring on a molt.
- Whole Oats: Oats are high in fiber and a good source of vitamins and minerals. This is great to keep the gut healthy, aid in digestion, and helps to reduce diarrhea. This is especially great to feed a little bit when babies are young and around weaning time. I feed a little pinch with my rabbits pellets and they love this!
- Dried papaya or pineapple: This is great to feed for help breaking down fur and wool and eliminating hair blockage. Rabbits cannot vomit like cats or dogs can and this will help them to get it to pass. I recommend feeding a couple pieces weekly as a preventative, especially with fuzzies and during times your rabbit is molting since rabbits are constantly grooming themselves.
I recommend feeding a high-quality pellet not those from local pet stores with colorful treats mixed in, allow them to have access to unlimited grass hay, either timothy or orchard grass (no alfalfa) and instead you can feed a small pinch of whole oats or a few black oil sunflower seeds as a healthy alternative.
The brand of pellets I feed is Purina Complete. It is good for babies, all through adulthood so there is no need to switch as they get older. I always provide a small bag with each rabbit when they go home to either help them transition if you decide you want to switch to a different brand, or to get you by until you can get some more. It is very important that if you are switching to a new feed that you use that bag provided and transition them slowly. Begin feeding 75% of their current pellets and 25% the new kind for a few days and then gradually mix more and more of the pellets you plan on feeding and lessen the amount of the original feed until the rabbit is entirely on the new pellets.
These are some healthy alternatives that I recommend instead of the sugary, unhealthy pet store treats or fruits and veggies:
- Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS): These are great to add about 4-5 to your rabbit's food daily. These are packed with essential nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats to help improve their coat condition, add a lot of shine, aid in digestion, and provide your rabbit with energy, but be careful not over feed. Too much can cause them to become overweight or even bring on a molt.
- Whole Oats: Oats are high in fiber and a good source of vitamins and minerals. This is great to keep the gut healthy, aid in digestion, and helps to reduce diarrhea. This is especially great to feed a little bit when babies are young and around weaning time. I feed a little pinch with my rabbits pellets and they love this!
- Dried papaya or pineapple: This is great to feed for help breaking down fur and wool and eliminating hair blockage. Rabbits cannot vomit like cats or dogs can and this will help them to get it to pass. I recommend feeding a couple pieces weekly as a preventative, especially with fuzzies and during times your rabbit is molting since rabbits are constantly grooming themselves.
Watering your rabbit
Water is the most essential nutrient a rabbit can have and the most destructive if it’s lacking. Never let your rabbit run out of water. Your rabbit’s entire diet, digestion health, and overall well-being are driven by water intake. Rabbits should have an unlimited supply of fresh, clean water day and night. If it is half full, it is too low already. Refill its container daily and check it often just in case it has been leaking, turned over, or become contaminated with poo.
As to the question about what to use to water your rabbit, there are varying ideas about which is best, a water bottle or a bowl. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, however all of my rabbits use water bowls. I have seen much more water consumption with bowls than bottles. If you wish to switch your rabbit over to a water bottle, make sure you have a water bowl with them also until you know they have learned how to drink out of the bottle.
Always keep in mind there is more to watering your rabbit than just refilling the container. Your bunnies bowl or bottle should be cleaned and wiped or washed out thoroughly at least 1-2 times per week.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is a great thing to add to you rabbits water on a regular basis if properly diluted for several reasons; is packed with vitamins, minerals, good bacteria that helps to prevent urinary tract problems. It also boosts fertility, increases milk production, aids in nutrient absorption and overall GI health. Rabbits like the taste of it, and will drink more water and become more hydrated. It also hides the taste of foreign water if traveling to shows, repels fleas, reduces urine odor, keeps their fur softer and shinier, helps to regulate PH, and aids in curing common colds, weepy eye, mastitis, and skin infections.
As to the question about what to use to water your rabbit, there are varying ideas about which is best, a water bottle or a bowl. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, however all of my rabbits use water bowls. I have seen much more water consumption with bowls than bottles. If you wish to switch your rabbit over to a water bottle, make sure you have a water bowl with them also until you know they have learned how to drink out of the bottle.
Always keep in mind there is more to watering your rabbit than just refilling the container. Your bunnies bowl or bottle should be cleaned and wiped or washed out thoroughly at least 1-2 times per week.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is a great thing to add to you rabbits water on a regular basis if properly diluted for several reasons; is packed with vitamins, minerals, good bacteria that helps to prevent urinary tract problems. It also boosts fertility, increases milk production, aids in nutrient absorption and overall GI health. Rabbits like the taste of it, and will drink more water and become more hydrated. It also hides the taste of foreign water if traveling to shows, repels fleas, reduces urine odor, keeps their fur softer and shinier, helps to regulate PH, and aids in curing common colds, weepy eye, mastitis, and skin infections.
Grooming your rabbit
Holland Lops have a 'normal' fur type, meaning it is straight and fairly short without a Satin sheen, the rex mutation, or wool type. The only exception to this is a fuzzy holland lop which is a holland lop with wool and a much different story. The normal Holland Lop has a very low-maintenance coat for most of the year with minimal shedding that doesn't need much brushing except for when they are molting. Brushing your bunny when it is molting is very important to help get out the dead hair more quickly and your bunny's digestive health depends on it. Rabbits unlike cats who groom themselves similarly cannot throw up if they get a "hair ball" so helping to get out their loose hair is extremely important. In addition to brushing I always keep dried papaya on hand and will give a small piece regularly to those molting to help break down the hair and allow it to pass so they don't get a blockage.
Lastly, and most importantly with grooming your rabbit is clipping its nails. I do this every 3-4 weeks or as needed. It works easiest to get a small animal clipper and do the trimming with your bunny on its back in your lap. My rabbits are very used to this process. It may work easiest for you to have someone help you at home while one person holds the bunny and the other clips the nails until you get more comfortable with the process.
Lastly, and most importantly with grooming your rabbit is clipping its nails. I do this every 3-4 weeks or as needed. It works easiest to get a small animal clipper and do the trimming with your bunny on its back in your lap. My rabbits are very used to this process. It may work easiest for you to have someone help you at home while one person holds the bunny and the other clips the nails until you get more comfortable with the process.
Litterbox training your rabbit
Coming soon..
Transporting your rabbit
Before you pick up your bunny from Top Notch Lops, you should consider purchasing a pet carrier for your bunny if you don’t already have one. You will use your pet carrier not only to transport your baby bunny to his or her new home but also to and from potential future vet trips and or shows you may be attending. There are lots of types of pet carriers to choose from, and the style for general transporting usually greatly differs from those used to bring to shows. There is no right or wrong one, feel free to use what you feel will work best for you.
Rabbit Health
Coming soon..