Lop Rabbits

Everything you need to know about the Lop Ear Rabbit breed

Lop ear rabbits are probably the most popular rabbit breed. Lop ear rabbits have been around since the mid-1800s.

There are a number of different rabbit breeds with lop, or floppy, ears. The breeds we most commonly see in rescue are as follows.

Mini Lop

The Mini Lop, also known as the Holland Lop, is the smallest of the Lop breeds, and thus has become very popular. They often have very flat brachycephalic faces.

Dwarf Lop

Dwarf Lops, confusingly called Mini Lops in the USA, are medium sized Lops and the second most commonly seen Lop breed we see in rescue.

French Lop

French Lops are a large Lop breed typically weighing around 5-6kg. They require extra large accommodation.

Lion Lop

Lion Lops are a cross between fluffy Lionheads and Lops, and thus create an extra fluffy version of the Lop. While the fluff may look cute, it can cause further issues with grooming and eyesight.

Fuzzy Lop

The Fuzzy Lop, or extra fluffy lop, is recognised as a few breeds, including the “Jersey Wooly” and “American Fuzzy Lop”. They have long hair across their whole body and head. Size will vary depending on their breeding. While they do have an endearing look, they are not an easy type of rabbit to keep and require a lot of daily maintenance. They are prone to matting, mess around their back end, and issues with their eyes, as well as dental problems, especially if they’re very brachycephalic. All that fluff around their eyes means their eyesight is very limited. They can also struggle during hot weather.

Other Lop Breeds

There are a number of other Lop breeds we don’t commonly see in rescue. That includes the English Lop, a large breed rabbit with very long ears; German Lop, a chunky large breed rabbit and Velveteen Lop or Plush Lop, a large breed rabbit which has been crossed with the Rex rabbit to produce a Lop with very short soft fur.

Behaviour

The behaviour of any rabbit will vary depending on their history which must always be considered. With good husbandry, we usually find Lops to be curious, strong-willed and affectionate.

Health

Health of any rabbit will depend on their history and breeding. Unfortunately for Lops, they are one of the breeds with the most health issues. Many Lops, especially Mini Lops, are brachycephalic. Most commonly we see:

• Ear base abscesses
• Dental issues
• Deafness
• Tear duct issues
• Restricted eyesight
• Problems keeping themselves clean and grooming issues