Facts & advice

Jersey Wooly
 

jersey wooly rabbit
A perfect first pet for children, this breed loves to play and cuddle
The Jersey Wooly Rabbit is gentle and cuddly, and makes a great pet for children because it’s not known to kick or bite. The breed was created by crossing a French Angora with a Netherland Dwarf, resulting in an extra-small rabbit with a luxuriously soft, woolly coat.
Vital stats

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Size: Small, weighing around 1.36kg (3lb)
Coat: The Jersey Wooly's coat requires minimal grooming, but will need to be detangled once a week during non-shedding season and more often in the spring.
Life span: 7-10 years
Temperament: Playful and even-tempered, Jersey Woolys love cuddles and lots of attention, and will always enjoy snuggling on a lap.
Special requirements: These bunnies should be kept indoors, but still need lots of space to stretch out and play, either in a bunny-safe room or in a supervised rabbit run outside.
As a rabbit owner you will want what’s best for your pet’s health so they can live a long, happy life. Like all breeds, Jersey Woolys are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware and prepared for these potential ailments if they should arise, we have put together information on the health issues that we see the most in Jersey Woolys.

Many rabbits suffer from dental problems. Because rabbits’ teeth are constantly growing, they need a good, balanced diet with plenty of hay to help wear down teeth at an even rate. Jersey Woolys are particularly prone to dental disorders because of their smaller heads and slightly longer jaw, which can create misalignment problems.

They can suffer from mandibular prognathism, which leads to abnormal patterns of dental wear, causing elongated teeth or altered teeth positions. Symptoms include weight loss, dribbling or gut problems.

Vets can burr down teeth under anaesthetic to help improve misalignment and remove sharp spikes, which might dig into the sensitive tissues of the tongue and cheeks.

Parasites are a common problem among all breeds of rabbit. Cheyletiella mites in particular can cause itching and hair loss, but can be easily treated with anti-mite preparations in the form of an injection or spot-on treatment.

The E cuniculi parasite can be more difficult to treat. It’s spread by spores in the urine and can be passed on to other rabbits. Although some rabbits with the parasite are symptomless, others are more sensitive. Symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, cataracts, head tilt and paralysis in the back legs. Although the parasite can’t be removed entirely, symptoms can be managed with worming treatments.

In warm weather, rabbits may be prone to flystrike – where flies lay eggs in their fur, leading to a maggot infestation. Jersey Wooly Rabbits may be more at risk of flystrike, as eggs can easily stick to their long fur or any tangles. Rabbits that are already unwell and aren’t grooming themselves properly are particularly at risk. With prompt intervention, treatment can be effective, but it’s important to address the reasons why flystrike occurred in the first place. For example, an inability to groom properly due to a pre-existing condition such as dental issues, obesity, diarrhoea or prolonged periods of inactivity.

Cancer of the uterus is the most common form of cancer in female rabbits, including the Jersey Wooly Rabbit.

Symptoms include fertility problems and stillbirths, loss of appetite and blood in the urine. In some cases, the cancer can spread to the lungs and cause breathing difficulties. If caught early enough to ensure that the cancer hasn’t spread to other tissues, removal of the uterus can mean the rabbit may continue to live a healthy life. Ultimately, prevention is better than cure, so ask your vet for their recommendations on spaying female rabbits.

Most animals only take in the calcium they need from their food and expel it through their guts, whereas rabbits absorb all the calcium they eat and expel it through their bladders. This can sometimes result in an excessive build-up of calcium, known as bladder sludge. Some rabbits, including the Jersey Wooly, may develop bladder stones.

Symptoms include squealing or squeaking when passing urine, the presence of blood in the urine, or urine scald – where urine has been in contact with the rabbit’s skin for prolonged periods of time, causing a rash.

Luckily, these conditions are relatively straightforward to treat if caught early. Bladder stones can be surgically removed, while sludge can be treated with fluids to help flush out the bladder. If the rabbit also has cystitis (a bladder infection), a course of antibiotics will help to clear it up. Dietary changes, such as feeding good-quality pellets that ensure your rabbit gets just the right amount of calcium, can help prevent problems from occurring, too.

Viral infections can be spread between rabbits, either by spores in the urine, or by insects or animals contaminated by the virus. Viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD), sometimes also known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease, which has symptoms such as fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and spasms, and myxomatosis (symptoms include swelling and lesions around the rabbit’s head, face, ears, lips, anus and genitalia) are two such diseases, and can be spread by flies, fleas or mosquitoes.

While there is no known cure for these viral infections, they can be prevented with a vaccine. As the peak season for myxomatosis is between late summer and autumn, it’s advisable to vaccinate in spring or early summer. In the case of VHD, a new vaccination that targets newer strains of the virus is now widely available in the UK.,

Once your rabbit has had the initial vaccination, speak to your vet about staying up to date with boosters each year.

jersey wooly rabbit
Jersey Wooly rabbits sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan rabbit insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy & pet therapies

Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).

Dental illness & injury

Dental illness & injury

Our cover includes the cost of treating dental illnesses and injuries, you just need to make sure you keep up with your pets annual veterinary dental checks.

Cancer treatments

Cancer treatments & injury

With our cover your vet can choose the most appropriate and successful treatment for the type of cancer your pet has such as surgical removal, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation.

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic tests

We cover the cost of MRI scans, CT scans and ultrasounds so your vet can diagnose problems quickly.

Hereditary conditions

Hereditary conditions

A condition that your pet has inherited or is predisposed to such as hip dysplasia. We will cover conditions that haven't shown symptoms before the start of your policy.

Physical & online consultations

Physical & online consultations

We cover the costs of telephone/video consultations as well as face to face vet consultations to give you the flexibility to choose how your pet is treated.

Prescription medicine

Prescription medicine

We cover medicines that have been prescribed when your pet is unwell (doesn't include routine care like fleas or worming).

Behavioural conditions

Behavioural conditions

Including therapy and drugs for behavioural problems such as separation anxiety or reactivity. We don't set hidden limits so you can claim up to the vet fees maximum benefit.

Surgery & specialised care

Surgery & specialised care

When needed for an injury or illness, we cover the cost of surgery and specialist procedures, like chemotherapy.

Congenital conditions

Congenital conditions

An illness that exists since birth but doesn’t necessarily show symptoms right away. We will cover conditions that haven't shown symptoms before the start of your policy.

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