Taking Care of your Precious Hollands
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Holland Lop Care - Hillsboro Hollands
We are asked a lot of questions about how to care for a Holland Lop. They are not like other rabbits.
So here is some general care information for Hollands. We are not veterinarians. This advice is just
based on experience.
Feeding
Since Hollands are a dwarf rabbit you need to be careful not to feed them too much.
Pellets: Hollands should be fed between 1/4 and 1/3 cup of pellets each day. It is better to feed pellets in the evening because the heat breaks down the feed.
Hay: Hollands can have timothy hay, brome or prairie hay. But do not feed them alfalfa. It will cause digestive problems. A Holland can have all of the hay it can eat.
Water: Water is the most important part of a rabbit's diet. Always make sure that your Holland has plenty of clean, fresh water.
Snacks: It is tempting to feed your cute Holland a lot of snacks. Too many snacks can cause your Holland to become sick and possibly die. Do not ever feed a Holland lettuce. Lettuce has too much moisture and will cause a Holland to get sick. Once your Holland is 6 months old you can feed him the following snacks on a limited basis (once per week): 5 or 6 Cheerios, plain oats, a cracker, a one inch slice of banana, or a one inch slice of carrot.
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Illness or Injury
Most vets do not work with rabbits and have very limited knowledge about illnesses in rabbits. If your Holland is sick, please contact an experienced Holland breeder or a vet who works with rabbits on a regular basis.
Diarrhea: If your Holland develops diarrhea, fast action on your part is necessary. Remove all pellets from your Holland. Give him lots of hay and a small piece of banana.
Digestive Health: Hay is very important in maintaining a Holland's digestive tract. This will help prevent diarrhea which can sometimes be fatal. It also prevents hairballs.
Overheating or Dehydration: This is very hard on a Holland. Prevention is best medicine. Make sure your hutch is in a shady area. You can also put an ice bottle in your Holland's hutch. If your Holland does overheat, bring it into a cool place at once. You can tell your Holland is overheated when it is panting extra hard and its nose is wet. Once your Holland is in a cool place, wet its ears with water or a piece of ice. Rabbits sweat through their ears. This will help them cool down. Then give your Holland water.
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