Caring for rabbits with brachycephaly
As a current, new or hopeful owner of a flat-faced rabbit, having the right information can help you give your pet a better chance at a happier life. Caring for rabbits with extreme conformations is a big responsibility; they can suffer from many health issues that may impact you both financially and emotionally.
On this page, you’ll learn more about rabbits with brachycephaly, how best to care for them and the most common issues they experience.
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Rabbits with brachycephaly
Brachycephalic rabbits are also commonly referred to as ‘flat-faced’ rabbits, or as having ‘squished faces’. Brachycephaly is an extreme conformation, where the rabbit’s skull is smaller than non-brachycephalic breeds, causing a flattened and less prominent nose and mouth. It often occurs due to the overall size of the rabbit – the smaller the rabbit, the smaller the skull – and being selectively bred to reproduce desired characteristics.
Unlike cats and dogs, the effect of brachycephaly in rabbits is less well researched. Available evidence shows that rabbits are not affected in the same way as cats and dogs, but the feature can still cause health and welfare problems. Rabbits are also vulnerable to other extreme confirmation issues – affecting their eyes and teeth – often hiding their pain and discomfort.
Important information
All animals with brachycephaly require extra care and attention, as the health issues that extreme conformations like brachycephaly cause can result in lifelong suffering. For rabbits, the problems caused by brachycephaly are less apparent so may go unnoticed.
An upright rabbit scans their vibrant environment, while a Lop rabbit remains still and disconnected. These sensory "blind spots" created by flopped ears mute the world, making an animal’s life smaller and quieter than it should be.
General rabbit care advice
The best thing you can do for your rabbit, regardless of whether they’re brachycephalic, is to keep your eye on them, monitor any changes to their behaviour or everyday functioning, and try to make them as happy and comfortable as possible. To do this:
- Take them for regular vet checks: Even if there are no apparent problems – some issues are harder to spot
- Keep their weight down: With a healthy diet and the right amount of exercise – consult your vet on their specific needs
- Check their skin regularly: Ensure they’re clean and dry, keeping an eye out for any infections
- Check their teeth regularly: Take them for regular dental checkups
- Get to know your rabbit’s normal behaviour: The more you know your rabbits and their body language, the more likely you’ll notice if something is out of the ordinary
- Seek professional advice: If anything seems unusual, you think your rabbits might be suffering, or you have any concern or uncertainty about their brachycephaly, contact your vet
Could your rabbits suffer from brachycephaly?
Subtle signs that your rabbits may be suffering from health problems associated with brachycephaly include:
- Changes in their eating habits (e.g. avoiding their usual foods)
- Dirty and matted fur around their bums
- Overgrown teeth
- Drool around their mouth
- Masses (abscesses) forming on their ears
- Weeping eyes
- Their head is tilted or shaking from ear infections
Common brachycephalic rabbit issues
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is the clinical term to describe breathing difficulties that occur due to a shortened muzzle and flattened face. Rabbits have very different anatomy to dogs and cats, which means their breathing is not affected by brachycephaly. Some research has said short-nosed rabbits may have noisy breathing when eating, making a snuffling noise due to shortened nasal passages; however, severe airway obstruction does not occur.
Research has shown that brachycephaly may have a more significant effect for rabbits who require a general anaesthetic. This doesn’t mean you should avoid taking your rabbit to the vet if they require an anaesthetic, but it is important to find a vet who’s experienced and confident in rabbit care.
Dental problems
Rabbits are at increased risk of dental disorder as their teeth continually grow, leading to painful spurs that cut into their mouth. Overgrown teeth make it harder for rabbits to eat and clean themselves. Significantly overgrown teeth can also grow into facial structures, like the eye sockets. Research into the association between brachycephaly and malocclusion is inconclusive. In previous years, some studies showed a strong correlation, while a more recent study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), and other studies, found none, suggesting that skull shape does not increase their risk. The leading cause of rabbit dental problems is poor diet and neglected general welfare, according to RVC. If a rabbit’s dental issues stop them eating continually, they can suffer from life-threatening gut problems as a result.
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Symptoms of dental problems include:
- Head tilt
- Dropping food when eating
- Difficulty eating (they may chew on one side only)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Drooling
- Reduced appetite
- Weight loss
- Facial swelling
- Overgrown teeth
- Dirty bottom
- Diarrhoea/soft faeces
- Teeth grinding
- Runny nose
- Lethargy
If you think your rabbit is suffering from dental problems, contact your vet.
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If you have a brachycephalic rabbits with dental issues, you should:
- Check your rabbits teeth weekly – if you notice a problem, take them to your vet
- Feed them a diet that predominantly consists of hay or grass, to help wear their teeth down and prevent them from becoming overgrown
- Give them access to wooden items, such as willow or apple sticks, to gnaw on
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Eye conditions
The term Brachycephalic Ocular Syndrome (BOS) is used to describe eye problems that have occurred due to an animal's skull shape. Brachycephalic rabbits are over three times more likely to have tear duct abnormalities and may develop further eye problems because of this.
Tear duct problems are also linked to dental problems and lop-ears.
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Symptoms of eye conditions include:
- Discharge
- Irritation
- Blinking/winking frequently
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Cloudy eyes
- Watery eyes and excessive tear production (often shown by brown stained fur in the corner of the eye)
- Swelling
- Third eyelid showing
- Lump in or around the eyes
- Flickering eye movements
- Blood in eyes
- Bulging eyes
If you think your rabbit is suffering from eye conditions, contact your vet.
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Check your rabbit’s eyes each day, to monitor for any problems or changes, and contact your vet if you notice any changes (even if they seem okay in themselves).
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Skin and ear disease
Many brachycephalic rabbits also have lop-ears. While brachycephaly itself doesn’t cause ear problems, the ear shape does. The lop-shaped ear reduces circulation of air, this causes build up of debris, wax, bacteria and yeast leading to ear infections and abscesses. Chronic, untreated ear disease causes pain and can lead to deafness.
Brachycephalic rabbits may also be more likely to suffer with skin problems due to an inability to groom. This is usually due to overgrown, painful teeth, or because of their skull shape, as they are less able to reach to clean their back end. They’re also at an increased risk of flystrike, which can be fatal.
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Symptoms of ear disease include:
- Rubbing head against objects or surfaces
- Redness
- Swelling at the base of the ear
- Discharge coming from ears
- Head tilt
- Loss of balance
- Flickering eye movement
- Pain
- Reduced appetite
Symptoms of flystrike include:
- Maggots on or in the fur
- Patches of wet fur
- Fur loss (especially around the bottom)
- Open wounds/sores
- Lethargy
- Reduced appetite
- Bad smell
- Pain
- Collapse/death
If you think your rabbit is suffering from skin or ear disease, contact your vet.
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Regularly groom your rabbit, focusing around their back end, particularly in warmer months, and try to take your rabbit to the vet for routine ear inspections.
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