New rabbit owners may be worried about their rabbits having a weird-looking bump under their chin (double chin). As a new rabbit owner, it is vital to learn everything about your bunny so that you can tell if there is any sign of a health problem. The double chin in rabbits is also known as a dewlap. So, what is a rabbit dewlap? A rabbit dewlap is the extra flap of skin that appears to contain fatty tissues and is found beneath the rabbit’s jaw and neck.
The primary reason your female rabbit has a double chin is to help her get the hair she needs to make a nest for her babies. When pregnant, the doe will pull her fur from the double chin and use it to line her nest in order to make it warm and comfortable for the arrival of her babies. The double chin is formed once the doe reaches sexual maturity and is ready to reproduce. This can be an indicator that your female rabbit is ready for breeding.
Seeing your female rabbit pulling hair from her double chin is normal. However, if the fur plucking damages the skin, resulting in skin conditions such as alopecia, you should consult your vet.
Why Female Rabbit Have a Dewlap
So, do all female rabbits have dewlaps? Yes, all female rabbits have dewlaps; however, the dewlaps can sometimes be very small in size, thus unnoticeable. The size of the dewlap will vary depending on several factors.
Factors affecting the size of dewlap in female rabbits:
1. Breed
Giant breed rabbits will develop bigger dewlaps compared to smaller breeds. Examples of these large breeds include the Continental giant and the Flemish giant. Smaller breeds of rabbits will have smaller dewlaps, so you can hardly tell whether they are there.
2. Age
The age of the female rabbit matters when it comes to the size of the double chin. The dewlap is more noticeable once the rabbit reaches sexual maturity. Young female rabbits also have dewlaps; however, they are not as evident as older female rabbits.
3. Whether the Female Rabbit Is Spayed or Not
The size of the dewlap is bigger in rabbits that were spayed late or those that were not spayed at all. The dewlap will continuously increase if the rabbit is not spayed once she reaches puberty. On the other hand, rabbits that have been spayed early will not develop very large or apparent dewlaps. Once the female rabbit is fixed, the dewlap will not decrease but will stop growing bigger.
4. Rabbits With Looser Skins
Female rabbits with looser skin are more likely to develop large dewlaps.
5. Overweight Female Rabbits
Female rabbits that are overweight are more likely to develop bigger dewlaps. However, rabbits with dewlaps are not necessarily obese.
Do Female Rabbits Rub Their Chins on Things?
Understanding rabbits’ behaviors and body language can help one know what their rabbits are trying to say. Rabbit behaviors such as chinning are one of the unique ways that female rabbits show emotions. Chinning is where rabbits rub their chins on objects, people, and other rabbits.
Yes. Female rabbits rub their chins on things for various reasons. The most common reason for this behavior is scent marking. Female rabbits are more territorial and thus often claim their personal belongings by rubbing their chins on things. The chin has a unique scent gland; therefore, they rub it on things to keep other rabbits away.
Chinning in female rabbits is normal behavior and is always fun to watch.
Below are five reasons why rabbits rub their chins on things;
1. To Show Love and Affection
Female rabbits chin you to show that they love you. This happens when you have a good relationship with your female rabbit. A female rabbit can also chin the male rabbit to show that she likes him.
2. To Explore New Environment
When you move your rabbit to a new place where they have not been before, they will start rubbing their chins on objects and places to familiarize themselves with the environment. By leaving their scent, they are able to tell where they have been and where they haven’t been.
3. Claiming Food and Objects
Since rabbits do not like to share food, you may have a female rabbit claim food by rubbing her chin on it to keep other rabbits from eating it. Rabbits also chin random objects to make them their personal belongings.
Additionally, female rabbits rub their chins on their owners to claim them as their own.
4. To Show That She Is the Boss
Female rabbits rub their chins on other rabbits to acquire dormancy. Rabbits live in a social hierarchy where there is an alpha rabbit.
5. Marking Her Territory
Female rabbits do not like to share their personal space or things. They will perform chinning as a way of marking their territory. Rabbit may become aggressive if she feels that her territory is being violated.
How to Get Rid of Rabbit Dewlap
Does a rabbit’s dewlap go away? No, a rabbit dewlap does not go away entirely but can always reduce size.
You can reduce the size of the rabbit dewlap if you notice that it has become more significant due to being overweight. The heavier the rabbit is, the larger the dewlap.
Your vet can provide you with a diet that will enable the rabbit to lose some weight, and as a result, the size of the dewlap will also decrease.
Neutering or spaying rabbits will also slow the growth of the dewlaps. Male rabbits neutered after reaching sexual maturity will have smaller dewlaps. Female rabbits, however, should be spayed at an early age for smaller dewlaps or ones that are unnoticeable.
At what age do rabbits get dewlap? Baby rabbits do not have any noticeable dewlaps. The dewlaps develop when the rabbit reaches sexual maturity, around three to four months.
Why Does My Male Rabbit Have a Double Chin?
Double chins are more prevalent in female rabbits than in male rabbits. Male rabbits can also develop smaller double chins since all rabbits are genetically able to develop a double chin.
If you notice that your male rabbit has developed a double chin, it could be an indicator of something else.
The main reason your male rabbit has a double chin is obesity. When a male rabbit starts to gain weight, the fatty tissue under the chin may develop into a dewlap. Larger male rabbit breeds also grow double chins that are small in size.
It is, therefore, essential to have your male rabbit checked out by a vet to determine the cause.
Male rabbits neutered before puberty are more likely to develop dewlaps due to higher estrogen levels. Therefore, male rabbits with double chins are hardly used for breeding. Getting your rabbits fixed after puberty results in smaller or no double chins.
Related Articles
Why Is My Female Rabbit Bleeding from Bottom?
Why Does My Rabbit Push Me with His Head?
Can Rabbits Live Alone Happily? | Is It OK to Keep One Rabbit?