French Lops

[Eucalyptus]

Hello everyone. My boyfriend and I are looking into adopting a bunny in the near future (couple of months). So we’re not currently bunny owners … YET. But we’re super excited and always talking about it.

Both of us REALLY like lops – they’re just soooo cute! We visit a pet store nearby to look at their bunnies, and the store owner has a French-Lop that he keeps at the store to show to customers. Needless to say … the first time we saw him, we fell in love. We really want a French-Lop, but we’ve come to realize how difficult it is to find one. I’m not promoting breeders, but it seems like it’s our only bet at getting one …. and it’s nearly impossible to find one of them around here (northern California).

Anyways, that’s not really the subject of this thread. I’m posting because I’d like any current or former French-Lop owners to state their opinion about how they were as pets. I know they have health problems as a Giant breed, but were there any serious problems? The one at the pet store we go to has a problem with his right eye (it’s inflamed or something), and I’ve heard that eye problems are somewhat common in the breed. If you clean and care for their eyes regularly, can this be avoided? Any other health problems that we should know about, and can they be prevented?

Any other information you’d like to chime in is welcome and appreciated.

It’s not really the point of the thread, but if you’d like to offer help on how we might find a Frenchie, then please do.

[floppybunny123]

good luck with your new future bunny!

[Sarita]

I did see some French Lops for adoption from links to rescues and shelters that BB posted links to for you. There was a female at one shelter and a male at another so they can certainly be found in shelters if you want to adopt.

[Eucalyptus]

Thanks.  I’m more looking for an input about the breed. 

I’ve heard that larger breeds have a lot of health problems, but I wanted to hear from people who have owned Frenchies and if it’s really that serious or it can be avoided. Like eye problems – if you keep them clean, can you avoid any health issues coming up?

Or shorter life spans – would really good care, a healthy diet, exercise, etc help it live out a long, healthy life still? Or is it doomed to a much shortened life span? :/

[Sarita]

I have a friend who has a 13 year old French Lop named Molly. I think she’s has the usual problems like dental, but other than that, nothing major.

[Elrohwen]

Welcome!

Eye problems are often related to dental issues, and not specifically the eye. Lops can be prone to dental issues (because of their face shape) which require regular vet care to keep them in good condition, but any rabbit can have the same issue.

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By Sarita on 07/27/2012 05:06 AM 
I have a friend who has a 13 year old French Lop named Molly. I think she’s has the usual problems like dental, but other than that, nothing major.

Is it serious? Or is it one of those things where it just requires a bit more care and possibly treatment than other bunnies?

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Posted By Elrohwen on 07/27/2012 10:45 AM

Welcome!

Eye problems are often related to dental issues, and not specifically the eye. Lops can be prone to dental issues (because of their face shape) which require regular vet care to keep them in good condition, but any rabbit can have the same issue.

Do you know if it’s a big deal, or can you just put a lot more care and attention into that stuff in order to keep your bunny happy and healthy?

I’m really just wondering if it’s going to be a drastic issue for us, or if it’s just something to take note of so that you can take extra care of it.

[Beka27]

We have quite a few members with Flemish Giants (which I think have a lot of health problems due to breeding practices), but I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head with a French Lop. They’re not as common.

Dental problems with large breeds will be similar as to any other breed. They occur more often as the rabbit gets older (bone recedes, teeth can become misaligned), and it is usually chronic. The frequency of dental care will depend on how bad the teeth are; some rabbits can go in a couple times a year, others are in every month or two.

[Elrohwen]

I have two lops and neither of recurring dental problems. When I first brought Hannah, my mini lop, home at 3 years old, she did need her molars trimmed. She previously had a good home, but showed no symptoms so her owner didn’t take her to the vet. I took her just because she was new to me (and I had another rabbit at home – didn’t want any diseases coming in) and the vet found that her molars needed to be trimmed (she was a very slow eater, which I thought was normal for her, but that completely changed after her teeth were taken care of so I’m sure she was a bit uncomfortable because of her teeth). It wasn’t cheap to fix (I live in a really expensive area in general), but she hasn’t had the problem reoccur in two years so I think she’s fine. My holland lop boy is 3 and has never had tooth problems.

There are some rabbits who need regular dental care, as their teeth don’t wear evenly and eventually can cause painful spurs that need to be trimmed. This can be expensive, depending on how much vet care is in your area, but it’s a very routine procedure and doesn’t require full anesthesia.

There are people who say that lops are more prone to these issues because of the often smushed shape of their face (though other breeds also have smushed faces and can have the same issues), but out of my pair it’s the bun with the long face that had issues, and the smush faced one hasn’t had any. Like Beka said, they can often happen as a rabbit gets older too. It’s just something you have to be aware of because it can happen, but the majority of rabbits don’t have an issue with it.

[Sarita]

I think that you are going to get different answers from any rabbit owners (French Lop, Holland Lop, Uppity Ear, etc.) concerning any issues on rabbits, behavior, medical, etc…just like Forrest Gump said “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”.

Elrohwen has had little problems with her lops and dental, but Kinggoblin’s Goblin has severe maloclussion and needs monthly dental treatments.

And it really doesn’t matter where you acquire your rabbit – breeder, pet store, shelter, rescue – no one can predict what problems can arise. Some rabbit owners go through their rabbits life without any issues at all and some have continuous and on-going issues.

I guess what I would say with any new rabbit owner – be prepared to have vet bills and spend money on vet bills no matter what because you just cannot know. Same with behavior, don’t have too many expectations about how your rabbit will behave or be like.

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By Sarita on 07/29/2012 08:18 AM

I think that you are going to get different answers from any rabbit owners (French Lop, Holland Lop, Uppity Ear, etc.) concerning any issues on rabbits, behavior, medical, etc…just like Forrest Gump said “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”.

Elrohwen has had little problems with her lops and dental, but Kinggoblin’s Goblin has severe maloclussion and needs monthly dental treatments.

Well, I was really asking about French-lops specifically, because I know that different breeds are going to have different problems – severe or not.

Posted By Sarita on 07/29/2012 08:18 AM 
And it really doesn’t matter where you acquire your rabbit – breeder, pet store, shelter, rescue – no one can predict what problems can arise. Some rabbit owners go through their rabbits life without any issues at all and some have continuous and on-going issues.

Yeah, I figure that.

Posted By Sarita on 07/29/2012 08:18 AM 
I guess what I would say with any new rabbit owner – be prepared to have vet bills and spend money on vet bills no matter what because you just cannot know. Same with behavior, don’t have too many expectations about how your rabbit will behave or be like.

Of course. Always expect the most/worst with any pet.

[Monkeybun]

bunnnnnnie!’s Zeus is a french lop isn’t he? Maybe she has some thoughts on this

[bunnnnnnie!]

Monkeybun is right, Mr. Zeus is either a French Lop or a cross. There was one other person on the board with a French Lop but I haven’t seen them post in quite awhile and cannot recollect their name.

I haven’t had any health problems with Zeus. He has an occasional runny eye when it’s dusty and windy out and I have the windows open, but that’s not really surprising. I have not had any tooth problem with him (not to jinx it, knock on wood!) but I also think, just from surfing pictures of French Lops online, their heads are typically not as flat/smushed as a Holland or Mini Lop’s.

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 08/02/2012 09:54 AM

Monkeybun is right, Mr. Zeus is either a French Lop or a cross. There was one other person on the board with a French Lop but I haven’t seen them post in quite awhile and cannot recollect their name.

I haven’t had any health problems with Zeus. He has an occasional runny eye when it’s dusty and windy out and I have the windows open, but that’s not really surprising. I have not had any tooth problem with him (not to jinx it, knock on wood!) 

That’s really good to hear. Hopefully his good health is everlasting.

Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 08/02/2012 09:54 AM 
but I also think, just from surfing pictures of French Lops online, their heads are typically not as flat/smushed as a Holland or Mini Lop’s.

Is this to say that they are more or less likely to have problems than Hollands and Minis?

[Monkeybun]

Less likely I would think. The smushed faces of hollands and minis causes more dental issues.

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