Common Rabbit Malformations: Identification & Concerns
Identifying Abnormalities in Rabbits
1. Overgrown Incisors
Rabbits with abnormally long incisors are suffering from a condition known as mandibular prognathism. Some rabbits have their lower incisors growing diagonally upwards, resembling an overgrown tusk. Others have their upper incisors growing inward into the mouth, becoming elongated and curved, resembling a ram's horn. Both scenarios can significantly hinder the rabbit's ability to eat and may easily pierce the upper palate and gums.
2. Bow Legs
Rabbits with bow legs have their front legs extending diagonally forward, forming an 'X' shape, which makes walking difficult. This condition can be congenital or acquired, often due to improper nutrition (imbalanced calcium and phosphorus ratios) or poor management (longterm standing on overly smooth surfaces). Regardless of whether the bow legs are congenital or acquired, rabbits with this issue should not be bred.
3. Body Defects
Some rabbits have body parts that are malformed, making breeding difficult and their appearance unattractive. These rabbits are not suitable for breeding purposes.
4. Droopy Ears
While droopy ears are a natural feature in certain rabbit breeds, such as the French Lop and Dutch Lop, most rabbit breeds have upright ears. If droopy ears are a result of injury or illness, they can sometimes be treated with rabbitspecific ear drops. However, droopy ears are considered a defect, and such rabbits should not be used for breeding. Additionally, some male rabbits may have undescended testicles, monorchidism, or reproductive organ abnormalities, and some female rabbits may have an insufficient number of nipples. These rabbits are also unsuitable for breeding.
In conclusion, this article by Oxygen Pet Doctor has covered all the rabbits that should not be used for breeding. Lastly, we remind all rabbit owners not to focus solely on the selection of stud rabbits while neglecting the quality of the females. A poorquality female can make it difficult to produce highquality offspring even if the stud is of good quality. We hope this information will be helpful to rabbit breeders!
