Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key"

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A black and white Dutch rabbit

The Dutch rabbit, easily identifiable by its characteristic colour pattern, was once the most popular of all rabbit breeds. However, after dwarf rabbits were developed, the popularity of the small rabbit dwindled. Nevertheless, the Dutch rabbit remains one of the top ten most popular breeds worldwide.

It is thought that the Dutch rabbit was first developed in the lowlands of the United Kingdom with ancestors from the Netherlands and Belgium. In the beginning of the 19th century, the Dutch rabbit was imported into England where it continued to thrive as a meat breed.

Appearance

Haily is a whore

Housing and Care

Due to the size of the Dutch, it requires less space than most rabbits and is a favourite among rabbit owners.

Feeding

As with any rabbit, hay or grass should make up around 80% of the Dutch's daily intake. Unlimited hay should be available at all times. Pellets should be offered as a supplement only. Exclusively feeding a rabbit pellets can lead to life-threatening dental disease - only by chewing hay or grass can a rabbit wear down their back teeth sufficiently (their teeth grow constantly, as with rodents).

Meadow hay or Timothy hay is ideal - but Alfalfa hay should be avoided, as it is too rich in calcium for a rabbit's digestive system.

Supplement with a small cup of greens or other vegetables each day - rabbits can eat a wide variety, including flowers and herbs. Fruit can also be given as a treat, but no more than 2 teaspoonfuls a day.

Although rabbits graze throughout the day, they take most of their food at dawn and dusk, so it's best to provide 2 regular meals - one in the morning and one in the early evening.

Housing

Many rabbits do very well in the home. They can be litter box-trained and are quite fastidious groomers. Be aware that rabbits love to chew, so make sure all wires are safely hidden or in protective plastic covers and understand that some of your furniture may be nibbled. If the Rabbit nips or bites you it is probably only out of curiosity. If you choose to cage your rabbit, make sure the cage is at least 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet. If the cage has a wire bottom, make certain you give the rabbit a plank or sea grass mats to stand on so his feet won’t get damaged from being on the wire all the time. Provide a hide box or shelter and plenty of straw for bedding.

Common Diseases and Disorders

As with other rabbits, Dutch rabbits do not do well in high or low temperatures. They are prone to hairball obstructions and matted coats if not cared for properly. Rabbits need daily grooming to remove loose hair. Other health concerns include earmites, Pasteurella, respiratory disease, dental problems, urinary bladder stones and fractured backs. Be quick to notice any changes in diet or litter box habits and contact a rabbit veterinarian immediately.

The average life span of a breeding Dutch rabbit is 5 to 6 years. By spaying or neutering early in life, you can increase their life expectancy to around 10 years.

External links

American Rabbit Breeder's Association

de: Holländerkaninchen

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-:''This article concerns a particular breed of rabbit, the Netherland dwarf.  For information on domestic rabbits in general, see [[Domestic rabbit]].''
+[[Image:Random 006.jpg|thumb|250px|A black and white Dutch rabbit]]
-[[Image:Netherlanddwarfbunny.jpg|right|thumb|A pet Netherland Dwarf.]]
+The '''Dutch rabbit''', easily identifiable by its characteristic colour pattern, was once the most popular of all [[rabbit]] breeds. However, after [[dwarf rabbits]] were developed, the popularity of the small rabbit dwindled. Nevertheless, the Dutch rabbit remains one of the top ten most popular breeds worldwide.
-[[Image:Netherland Dwarf On Brick.jpg|right|thumb|A female Netherland Dwarf.]]
-The '''Dutch Dwarf''' or '''Netherland Dwarf''' is a popular [[breed]] of [[domestic rabbit]] (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'') originating in [[the Netherlands]].  Smaller than most [[List of rabbit breeds|rabbit breeds]], Netherland dwarf rabbits weigh 1 to 3 [[pound (mass)|lb]] (0.5 to 1.4 [[kilogram|kg]]) and are usually kept as [[pet]]s or exhibition animals.  They are not typically used as sources of [[meat]] or [[fur]] because of their small size.
-Most rabbits sold in [[pet store]]s are Netherland dwarfs, Netherland dwarf-[[selective breeding|derived breeds]] (often referred to simply as ''[[#Dwarf breeds|dwarf breeds]]''), or Netherland dwarf [[hybrid|crosses]].  Their popularity as pets stems from their [[baby]]ish appearance and their smaller [[cage]] space requirement compared to larger rabbit breeds.
+It is thought that the Dutch rabbit was first developed in the lowlands of the [[United Kingdom]] with ancestors from the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]]. In the beginning of the 19th century, the Dutch rabbit was imported into England where it continued to thrive as a [[meat]] breed.
-==History==
+== Appearance ==
-The Netherland dwarf breed was first produced in the [[Netherlands]] in the early [[20th century]].  Small [[List of rabbit breeds#Polish|Polish rabbits]] were bred with smaller wild [[European rabbit|rabbit]]s<ref name="ARBA book: Netherland Dwarf">
-{{cite book
-  | last = American Rabbit Breeders Association
-  | authorlink = American Rabbit Breeders' Association
-  | title = Official Guide Book: Raising Better Rabbits & Cavies
-  | publisher = American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc.
-  | date = 2000
-  | location = Bloomington, IL
-  | pages = 65 }}
-</ref>; after several generations the resulting animal was a very small domestic rabbit available in a wide variety of colors and patterns.  Netherland dwarfs were first imported into the [[United Kingdom]] in [[1948]]<ref name="ARBA book: Netherland Dwarf" />.  In the [[1960s]] and [[1970s]] the [[United States]] imported its first Netherland dwarf rabbits.  The breed was accepted by the [[American Rabbit Breeders' Association]] in [[1969]] using a modification of the British standard<ref name="ARBA book: Netherland Dwarf" />.
-Early dwarfs, even into the 1970s and [[1980s]], had fearful and sometimes aggressive [[temperament]]s.  This was a result of [[breeder]]s selecting wild [[breeder (animal)|breeding animals]] for their size.  The first dwarf rabbits behaved more like these [[wild]] rabbits than domestic animals and were not good pets.  However, through generations of [[selective breeding]], the modern Netherland dwarf has become a gentle, friendly pet rabbit, though it still retains a more energetic disposition than larger breeds.
+Haily is a whore
-==Appearance==
+==Housing and Care==
-[[Image:Netherlanddwarf-loki.jpg|thumb|right|Young Netherland dwarf in a mismarked Himalayan pattern.]]
-Netherland dwarfs' [[head]]s and [[eye]]s are disproportionately large with respect to their bodies, and their ears are tiny and carried high on the head.  Additionally, their faces are rounded and shortened.  These features, a part of the animals' [[dwarfism]], cause them to look [[infant]]ile even into [[adulthood]].
-Dwarf crosses frequently retain some of these characteristics, depending on the breed the dwarf is crossed with.  However, crosses rarely look as babyish as the [[purebred]] dwarfs and are usually somewhat larger.
+Due to the size of the Dutch, it requires less space than most rabbits and is a favourite among rabbit owners.
-[[Purebred]] Netherland dwarfs come in a wide variety of colors, including [[List of rabbit breeds#Himalayan|Himalayan]], Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Smoke Pearl, Sable Point, Tortoiseshell, Chestnut, Siamese Sable, Opal, Lynx, Squirrel, [[List of rabbit breeds#Chinchilla|Chinchilla]], Otter, Tan, Silver Marten, Sable Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Orange, Fawn, Steel, Blue-Eyed White and Ruby Eyed White<ref name="ARBA book: Netherland Dwarf" />.  Other colors (including ''mismarks'') exist in non-show-quality Netherland dwarfs and in dwarf [[mongrel]] rabbits.
+====Feeding====
-==Netherland dwarfs as pets==
+As with any rabbit, hay or grass should make up around 80% of the Dutch's daily intake. Unlimited hay should be available at all times. Pellets should be offered as a supplement only. Exclusively feeding a rabbit pellets can lead to life-threatening dental disease - only by chewing hay or grass can a rabbit wear down their back teeth sufficiently (their teeth grow constantly, as with rodents).
-:''Main article: [[Domestic rabbit#Rabbits as Pets|Domestic rabbit]]''
-===Behavior===
+Meadow hay or Timothy hay is ideal - but Alfalfa hay should be avoided, as it is too rich in calcium for a rabbit's digestive system.
-Netherland dwarf rabbits have the same basic behavioral traits as other domestic rabbits. They can be litter-trained but are generally not very good with cats or dogs.
-They tend to have [[wikt:spunky|spunkier]] and more energetic [[temperament]]s than larger breeds of rabbit and are rarely content to sit still when outside of the cage.  They are curious animals and have a tendency to nibble on nearby objects and even human beings.  However, they are extremely fragile animals and easily stressed, and as such they do not make good pets for young children.
+Supplement with a small cup of greens or other vegetables each day - rabbits can eat a wide variety, including flowers and herbs. Fruit can also be given as a treat, but no more than 2 teaspoonfuls a day.
-===Diet===
+Although rabbits graze throughout the day, they take most of their food at dawn and dusk, so it's best to provide 2 regular meals - one in the morning and one in the early evening.
-Like other domestic rabbits, dwarf rabbits consume [[grasses]], [[cereal|grains]], and other succulent [[Leaf vegetable|greens]]. Their [[digestive system]] is somewhat less hardy than their larger cousins, and many leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage can give them health problems such as diarrhea. In addition, sudden changes to a dwarf rabbit's diet can cause health problems.  Generally [[hay]] and a [[pellet]]ed feed should make up the largest portion of their diet. However, it should be noted that an excess of pellets in an older rabbit's diet can cause obesity.
-==Dwarf breeds==
+====Housing====
-Rabbit breeds derived from breeding larger rabbits with the Netherland dwarf are known as ''dwarf breeds''.  Most smaller breeds, like the Mini-Rex, the Jersey Wooly, and the Holland lop, are results of such breedings.  Generally dwarf breeds are slightly larger than the typical Netherland dwarf, not growing larger than 4 to 5 lb (1.8 to 2.3 kg).  Most have shortened faces compared to larger rabbits, and some even preserve the rounded [[head]], large [[eye]]s, or small [[ear]]s of the Netherland dwarf.
+Many rabbits do very well in the home. They can be litter box-trained and are quite fastidious groomers. Be aware that rabbits love to chew, so make sure all wires are safely hidden or in protective plastic covers and understand that some of your furniture may be nibbled. If the Rabbit nips or bites you it is probably only out of curiosity. If you choose to cage your rabbit, make sure the cage is at least 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet. If the cage has a wire bottom, make certain you give the rabbit a plank or sea grass mats to stand on so his feet won’t get damaged from being on the wire all the time. Provide a hide box or shelter and plenty of straw for bedding.
-Most dwarf breeds are intended to bring a specialized characteristic, such as a specific fur type, into a smaller rabbit.  Mini-Rex were created through the breeding of dwarfs with [[List of rabbit breeds#Rex|Rex]] rabbits, a fur breed with a short, [[plush]] coat, and retain both the dwarf's size and the Rex fur.  Jersey Woolies are a dwarf version of the [[Angora rabbit]], a [[wool]]-producing breed.  [[List of rabbit breeds#Lop|Lop]]-eared rabbit breeds, interbred with dwarfs, were used to create [[Holland Lop]] and Mini-lop rabbits.
+====Common Diseases and Disorders====
-==Notes==
+As with other rabbits, Dutch rabbits do not do well in high or low temperatures. They are prone to hairball obstructions and matted coats if not cared for properly. Rabbits need daily grooming to remove loose hair. Other health concerns include earmites, [[Pasteurella]], respiratory disease, dental problems, urinary bladder stones and fractured backs. Be quick to notice any changes in diet or litter box habits and contact a rabbit veterinarian immediately.
-<references />
+The average life span of a breeding Dutch rabbit is 5 to 6 years. By [[spaying or neutering]] early in life, you can increase their life expectancy to around 10 years.
 ==See also==
-* [[Dwarf rabbit]]
-* [[List of rabbit breeds]]
+*[[Rabbit]]
-* [[American Rabbit Breeders' Association]]
+*[[Domestic Rabbit]]
-* [[Cuteness]]
+*[[Tuxedo cat]]; sometimes the term Dutch rabbit is used to refer to bicolour cats also known by the term Jellicle cat, Blackmask cat or Tuxedo cat.
+==External links==
+*[http://www.arba.net American Rabbit Breeder's Association]
 [[Category:Pet rabbits]]
-[[Category:Leporids]]
-[[th:เนเธอร์แลนด์ดวอฟ]]
+[[de: Holländerkaninchen]]
-[[zh:荷蘭侏儒兔]]
-[[de:Farbenzwerg]]
-[[nl:Kleurdwerg]]