One of the cutest and most searched-for breeds of rabbits is the mini lop. These are the smallest and pudgiest rabbits, with very long and furry ears and a really cute set of eyes.
They are very desirable as pets also due to their amazing personality, which makes them playful and friendly, qualities very important for a pet. But if you were to get a mini lop rabbit, how long should you expect it to live?
A mini lop rabbit will generally have a life expectancy of seven to twelve years. This is pretty long compared to other breeds of bunnies that are known to live for a lot less.
As an example, a lionhead will only live for a maximum of nine years, while the large lop will have an average lifespan of six years or less. You shouldn’t take the average of seven to twelve years as a guarantee, as some of the mini lop rabbits might only live for five years, while others might even reach the old age of fifteen.
If you’re really set on getting a mini lop bunny to keep as a pet, then the next part of the article will be really helpful, because I will give you a few very important tips regarding this breed.
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Some other common questions are whether these rabbits will have a different expected lifespan than other breeds and whether they will require any special type of care for a happy life.
To answer the first question, yes, different breeds of rabbits will have different lifespan averages, with mini lops living a pretty long life compared to other bunnies. The second question has an even shorter answer: No, you won’t have to do anything special when raising a mini lop as opposed to raising any other breed of rabbit.
Tips To Ensure Your Mini Lop Has A Long Lifespan
There are a few main factors that will impact the lifespan and well-being of any pet, including mini lop rabbits.
The most important three factors in my opinion will relate directly to your pet’s health. A pet with good health will almost always outlive one with unhealthy habits.
Lifestyle can prolong a mini lops lifespan
There is an important connection between a mini lop’s lifestyle and its lifespan. You can help your pet live longer and healthier if you provide the necessary environment and create the opportunity for it to properly exercise.
The cage of the pet should also be comfortable, always hygienic, and sized properly based on the size and number of the pets. The rabbit should also have enough space to exercise and the exercise area should be safe enough to prevent any accidents.
If you don’t want to keep taking your bunny out for walks, then get a cage that is big enough for it to both rest and exercise. The bedding should also be consistent enough so that it is comfortable enough and the pet also has enough to eat.
If you keep the cage outside then it should also come with a sheltered area, where the bunny can stay dry and warm during wetter and colder weather. Also, remember to add a toileting area for the pet.
To make sure the lops will have something to wear down their teeth on, you should also add toys to their cage.
If you live in a place with tougher weather, then you should consider taking your mini lop inside the home or building a better shelter somewhere inside a shed. You can also place a blanket on the cage to keep heat in for longer.
If you take them outside for play or exercise, keep in mind that most rabbits will be able to fit in small gaps and fencing holes, which makes them vulnerable to different types of prey or even some injuries. When they are outside of their cage, keep an eye on them to ensure they are always safe.
2. Your rabbit will live longer if you give it a balanced diet
A healthy diet helps animals live for longer just like it will help humans increase their life expectancy.
You can’t expect to have a healthy rabbit if you don’t feed it with a balanced, healthy diet and an unhealthy pet will have a smaller lifespan.
When it comes to mini lops, you will have to make sure that their diet is made of 70% high-quality hay and 30% healthy supplements and treats.
The healthy supplements and treats I`m talking about should be a balanced combination of pellets, vegetables, leafy greens, and fruits. Even if the treats you give your pet might be safe in smaller amounts, don’t give it more than it would be able to handle, to avoid any digestive issues that might arise.
Keep in mind that some fruits come with a high amount of sugar, which would make them unhealthy for your pet in increased amounts.
Always make sure you’re up to date with the list of forbidden foods for rabbits, and avoid giving your pet something that might harm it.
Diseases and illnesses
Your mini lop will be vulnerable to general health concerns but are not known to be susceptible to any particular diseases for their species. Some of the common issues are:
- Flystrike
- Excessive Tooth Growth
- Hairballs
Flystrike
This is one of the diseases that create a big discomfort to mini lops and it involves flies getting attracted to soiled regions of fur on the pet. One of the most common areas is the rear of the pet. Flies will get there and then start laying eggs on the soiled patches of hair.
Right after they hatch, the fly babies will start feeding on the rabbit, which can cause discomfort leading up to pain in some extreme cases.
Flystrike, in extreme cases, can even become lethal and this is why you should never ignore it, although it might seem like nothing at first.
Excessive Tooth Growth
You should know that the teeth of a rabbit will never stop growing. This means that they will have to keep wearing them down to avoid issues.
To help with this, you will have to give your pet rabbit high amounts of premium hay they can chew on. If they have nothing to chew on, their teeth can grow to sizes that might become dangerous to their health.
Teeth that grow too much can pierce the jaws and face of the animal, which will be so painful that it might be unable to eat properly.
Eating poorly due to pain will surely reduce the life expectancy of your pet.
Hairballs
You will notice that any rabbit, regardless of its breed will simply love to groom itself. A problem can arise in the case of rabbits mainly of their inability to vomit the excess hair. If enough amounts of hair will reach the intestines, they can get into hairballs of considerable sizes and then get stuck.
A blockage of the intestines due to hairballs can surely be life-altering. This is where you come in. If you help your rabbit with regular groomings, you might prevent it from getting hairballs in its intestines.
Conclusion
Mini lop rabbits have an impressive lifespan when compared to other breeds. This lifespan can only be achieved with proper care and a balanced diet.
Although this breed won’t need any special treatment when compared to other types of rabbits, keep in mind that a properly raised mini lop will live for 7 years or more, so this is a long-term commitment you should prepare for.
