Winter 25 Vet Newsletter

There has been a recent, very interesting paper published by the RVC’s epidemiological and exotics teams:
Maria A. Jackson, Michaela Betts, Joanna Hedley, Charlotte C. Burn, Rabbit conformational predispositions to ear abnormalities: Field study of a pedigree population, The Veterinary Journal, Volume 315, 2026, 106497, ISSN 1090-0233, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106497.

RWAF’s response to this paper Rabbit conformational predispositions to ear abnormalities: Field study of a pedigree population – ScienceDirect is that this study confirms what many of us already suspected and see repeatedly with the rabbits in our care at home, in adoption centres, and in practice: certain rabbit breeds, especially lop-eared and brachycephalic types, have serious welfare issues. These findings reinforce why we strongly believe brachycephalic breeds should not be bred.

As John Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS, who is a Veterinary Advisor to RWAF, urges:
“Avoid buying baby lop-eared rabbits, and do not support the breeding of them; adopt instead.”

And RWAF’s Patron Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS reinforces this message:
“We have long urged people not to buy lop-eared rabbits, and this study backs this advice. We should not be breeding animals that are disadvantaged from birth. In this rabbit welfare crisis,there are thousands of rabbits needing homes, some of which are lop-eared. Let’s care for the rabbits that are here, now and stop breeding and buying lops in the future.”

And to that, I’d add:
“Rabbits have evolved to have iconic, upright ears, which are vital for communication and hearing, and to have straight, healthy ear canals. This study shows that selective breeding for “lop” ears has caused a range of health and welfare problems in such rabbits.

“Previous research by the same team, where they examined show-rabbits showed how rabbits with ear disease can be in so much pain that they rear up when their ears are examined, showing just how serious a welfare issue this is.” This research was published as a poster.

What was studied?

Researchers examined 435 pedigree rabbits from 49 breeds to see if those with certain body shapes (like lop ears or flat faces) are more likely to have ear problems. These rabbits were volunteered by their breeders and were probably considered healthy, so the real situation in the wider rabbit population could be even worse.

Key findings

Ear problems were very common.

• 86% of rabbits had flaky discharge in the ear canal.
• 42% had stenosis of the ear canal
• Many had signs that suggest ear inflammation or otitis externa.

Lop-eared rabbits were most at risk.

• Almost all ear problems were more common in lop-eared rabbits.
• Their ear canals are bent and narrow, which traps wax and discharge.
• This can lead to chronic pain, itching, and even hearing loss.

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) rabbits.

• These were linked to ear canal stenosis, which can also cause problems.

Other risk factors

• Large breed rabbits had more ear issues and were harder to examine.
• Long-haired rabbits had more discharge and irritation.
• Older rabbits were more likely to have ear problems and hearing loss.

Why does this matter?

• Ear disease in rabbits is often hidden, as are the signs of pain and suffering.
• Rabbits can suffer silently with pain, itching, and hearing loss, which can cause stress, aggression, or changes in behaviour.
• Lop-eared rabbits are especially vulnerable, and these problems are hard to cure because of their ear shape. These may require surgery to resolve the issues.

What should owners and caregivers do?

• Regular vet checks: Ask for an ear exam, even if your rabbit seems fine.
• Watch for signs: Head shaking, scratching, lethargy, or behaviour changes.
• Avoid breeders: Avoid encouraging these welfare problems and do not buy baby rabbits from breeders.
• Especially, avoid purchasing lop rabbits, although we fully understand that many rabbits for adoption will be lops.
• Extra care for lop-eared rabbits: They need more monitoring and may require treatment for chronic ear issues.

What should vets do?

• Examine the ears of every rabbit coming into the consult room, and when they are under anaesthesia or sedation for any reason
• Otoscopes are not designed for rabbits; they rarely allow a view down to the tympanic membrane in rabbits with naturally small, stenotic, or convoluted lop ears. Video otoscopes, endoscopes, or inexpensive “endoscopes” that attach to phones are better.
• Advise appropriate imaging for rabbits where you are suspicious of pathology. This may include radiography, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
• Advise owners of the importance of pet insurance for rabvbits, especially for lop breeds

Bottom line

Lop ears may look cute, but they come with serious health risks. Many rabbits in this study had ear problems despite appearing healthy, so the true scale of the issue is likely worse. Owners and care givers should be proactive about ear health to prevent pain and improve welfare.