How Much Do Dwarf Hotot Rabbits Cost? 2024 Price Guide
By Misty Layne
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
Pets can be expensive, even the smaller ones, so it’s smart to have a good idea of what you’re getting into cost-wise before adopting a new one. And it’s not just the upfront cost of adopting a pet; many forget that you’ll be paying for this animal for the next 6–20+ years (depending on what animal it is). So, the total cost of owning a pet adds up over time.
If you’re considering adopting a Dwarf Hotot rabbit, you’ll be looking at paying costs for it for 7–12 years, on top of what you pay for the rabbit itself. These costs include food, healthcare, enrichment, and more. What will you need to pay for, and how much will it cost? You can expect to pay up to $40 for this rabbit plus between $179 – $434 a month to care for it. Here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll need for your Dwarf Hotot rabbit and estimates on how much it all costs.
Bringing Home a New Dwarf Hotot Rabbit: One-Time Costs
Of course, the first cost you’ll have is what you spend on bringing your new rabbit home. Dwarf Hotot rabbits are expensive for their size but not truly expensive overall. However, the prices will depend on where you find your new pet.
Free
You probably won’t find a Dwarf Hotot for free, but there’s a slight possibility. The best places to look for free rabbits would be your local classifieds or even Petfinder.1 Most likely, though, you’ll end up paying some amount for the Dwarf Hotot rabbit.
Adoption
- $5 – $20
If you adopt your Dwarf Hotot rabbit via a pet rescue center, you’ll likely only pay between $5 and $20 for it. Prices will vary somewhat depending on your geographical region and whether you adopt via a rescue organization or somewhere like your local SPCA.
Breeder
- $25 – $40
If you choose to get your rabbit from a breeder, it will be the most expensive option. You can expect to pay up to $40 for a Dwarf Hotot rabbit when purchasing from a breeder. It’s still relatively inexpensive but not nearly as affordable as adopting a rabbit. When choosing a breeder, ensure you do your research to find a reputable one!
Initial Setup and Supplies
- $421 – $735
Besides the cost of your rabbit, you’ll also need to purchase supplies to set it up. Depending on whether your rabbit will be indoors or outdoors, you’ll need either a cage or a hutch. You’ll also need items such as food, bedding, toys, treats, etc. The good news is that only some of these items will end up being replaced over the years, so some of these are also one-time costs. So, how much can you expect everything to be for a Dwarf Hotot rabbit?
List of Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Care Supplies and Costs
| Indoor cage | $35 – $100 |
| Outdoor hutch | $150 – $200 |
| Bedding | $5 |
| Litter box | $3 – $10 |
| Litter | $9 |
| Pellets | $5 – $15 |
| Water bottle | $5 |
| Exercise pen | $30 |
| Hay feeder | $50 – $100 |
| Hay | $20 |
| Brush/nail clippers/shampoo | $18 – $26 |
| Toys | $20 |
| Spay/neuter | $50 – $150 |
| Carrier | $18 – $30 |
| Harness & leash | $3 – $15 |
How Much Does a Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Cost Per Month?
- $179 – $434 per month
Now you know about how much you’ll be shelling out when adopting a Dwarf Hotot rabbit, but what about monthly costs? These costs include food, healthcare, and grooming and are ongoing. That means they can really add up, so what can you expect?
Health Care
- $35 – $200 per month
The most significant healthcare expense for your rabbit (provided it doesn’t become very sick at any point) will probably be getting it spayed or neutered. The price of this procedure will vary depending on where you live and your vet, but you can expect to pay $50–$150. It’s a considerable expense but can save you money and pain in the long run!
Besides that, you’ll need to find an exotics vet in your area for regular checkups, which will likely run $35–$65 (again, depending upon the vet and your location). Other than that, healthcare expenses will consist of any illness your pet develops, and the cost of caring for those illnesses will depend mainly on what’s wrong with your rabbit. One of the most common issues to come up in rabbits is ileus, which can cost $200 or so to treat.
Food
- $60 – $65 per month
The cost of feeding a Dwarf Hotot rabbit will partially depend on what you’re feeding it. Pellets will probably run about $5 per month, while hay will be around $20. Add in some veggies and leafy greens, which is another $40 a month or so (depending on what you purchase).
Grooming
- $17 – $40 per month
You can do some of your rabbit’s grooming yourself, such as brushing and trimming nails; for that, you’ll only need to pay the costs of a brush and nail clippers. Sometimes, though, your rabbit might need a little more care, which means seeking out a groomer. The cost of a groomer will vary depending on where you live, but most have packages that will include trims, nail clips, detangling, and more. You can typically expect these to run anywhere from $17 to $40.
Medications and Vet Visits
- $35 – $65 per month
Again, how much you pay on vet visits will depend on where you’re at and how often your Dwarf Hotot rabbit needs to visit the vet. You shouldn’t pay tons for medical bills if you’re just doing regular checkups. But if your rabbit gets sick and more vet visits (plus medication) are required, your costs will go up.
Pet Insurance
- $9+ per month
Pet insurance can definitely help with vet bills, and it’s relatively inexpensive for rabbits. However, the only company we’ve found that covers exotic pets, such as rabbits, is Nationwide, so you don’t have many options. Monthly premiums will vary depending on where you live.
Environment Maintenance
- $20 – $30 per month
A few other monthly expenses you can expect come from maintaining your Dwarf Hotot rabbit’s environment. These sorts of expenses include maintaining the litter box, litter refills, and changing out bedding. Overall, environment maintenance doesn’t cost that much, though.
| Litter box | $3 – $10/month |
| Litter | $9/month |
| Bedding | $5/month |
Entertainment
- $3–$25 per month
Toys are essential for rabbits! Not only do rabbits need plenty of mental stimulation to avoid becoming bored, but they need chew toys to trim teeth and keep them from chewing on items in your home. How much you spend a month on toys for your rabbit is entirely up to you, of course, but rabbit toys can run from $3 to $25 each. If you want to save on the cost of getting toys for your Dwarf Hotot rabbit, you could try making your own!
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Dwarf Hotot Rabbit
- $179 – $434 per month
As you can see, the monthly cost of owning a Dwarf Hotot rabbit can add up. Depending on the sort of items you purchase and how many, you could be looking at between almost $200 and $450 a month. Of course, you can find ways to save on some of these items, such as by making toys for your rabbit rather than buying them.
Additional Costs to Factor In
Believe it or not, there are even more costs you need to factor in! When you factor in healthcare, you need to keep in mind that you might have trouble finding an exotics vet near you that can treat your rabbit. So, it could cost you more to find someone able to treat your rabbit, such as money spent on gas to drive out of town to the vet.
The same goes for when you go out of town and have to leave your rabbit at home. You might have a friend capable of caring for it while you’re gone, but if not, you’ll need to look into a pet sitter or boarding.
Finally, if you don’t give your rabbit enough toys to chew on, it could decide to chew up your furniture, carpet, wires, and more. Your best bet is rabbit-proofing your home; otherwise, you’ll end up spending money to replace items.
Owning a Dwarf Hotot Rabbit on a Budget
So, is it possible to own a Dwarf Hotot rabbit on a budget? It is! And your best bet at doing so is reaching out to experienced rabbit owners, whether online or in real life. People who have owned rabbits long-term will likely have plenty of tips on how to save some money on caring for your Dwarf Hotot rabbit.
Another way to save is by purchasing food in bulk. Whether it be pellets or hay, you should be able to find these items in bulk. You just need to be sure you’re properly storing them so they remain fresh and delicious.
And you can save some money by making the things your rabbit needs, such as toys, a hutch, or an exercise pen.
There are plenty of ways to save!
Saving Money on Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Care
There are a couple of other ways you can save on Dwarf Hotot rabbit care, too. One way is by adopting a rabbit that’s already been spayed or neutered (that alone will save you a couple of hundred bucks!). You can also purchase pet insurance to help you save on vet visits and medical costs.
Conclusion
Purchasing a Dwarf Hotot rabbit won’t cost that much at all (though they can be expensive for their size). However, you’ll also need to invest a few hundred dollars in initial setup and supplies for your new pet such as a cage or hutch, bedding, litter box, food, and more. After that, you’re most likely looking at spending $200–$450 a month to maintain your rabbit. Don’t forget to factor in emergency expenses, though, like an illness or a pet sitter when you go out of town!
So, be sure you can afford a Dwarf Hotot before adopting one. While the costs balance out with the joy they bring, you want to ensure your pet has the healthiest, happiest life possible!
Featured Image Credit: WBes, Shutterstock
