Little girls often have an affinity for animals and not just horses. Puppies, lambs, kittens and basically anything cute and cuddly - young girls just seem to go all lovey-dovey when confronted with beautiful animals and toy animals are no different. So if you have a daughter or young friend who loves animals and want to offer her a suitable gift then this list of great animal themed toys will help you.

Generally girls who love animals love to care for them as well. Being a veterinarian is a natural step and there are a number of role play costumes and kits to help kids get into the feel of playing vets and caring for their animals, plush or otherwise.

Learning resources has a great veterinarian dress-up kit as do Melissa and Doug. Most dress-up kits include a regular blue vet's uniform with a few medical instruments while others include paperwork and a couple even come with animal carriers and a sick plush animal to care for. Whichever you choose, your animal loving girl is sure to be healing her stuffed animals in no time.

If dress-ups is not her style, try these play figures instead. Calico Critters is a brand of animal figures that wear clothes, live in houses and drive cars. The brand has been around for more than twenty years and proven to be popular with girls of all ages. The critters live in families and animals featured include mice, hedgehogs, frogs and monkeys. They are very cute and durable and can be played with using dollhouses you may already have.

Girls also like more realistic animal figures and no one comes more realistic than Schleich. Schleich animals are better known for being the makers of the Smurf PVC figures but they also have an extensive range of small hand-painted animal figures of all kinds including a large horse theme. Collectors value the Schleich range for their accuracy and durability and at a low price point it is easy to build up a collection quickly.

These are just a few of the best toy options available to encourage a young girl's love of animals and perhaps even spur her on to a future as a veterinarian or zoo keeper!