I know some breeds don't get dewlaps or if they do its rare, like netherland dwarves for example. And it is more common in breeds like the flemish giant or something. I was just wondering how common is it for a holland lop to get one? One of my main concerns of getting a female rabbit was it's dewlap. personally i find them to be very unattractive? It kind of takes the cuteness of a bunny away? That's just my opinion, many people will disagree. If i could change my thoughts i would but i cant. So is it almost certain that my current holland lop female will develop a dewlap as she gets older? Are there any ways i can prevent it? or make it so its not AS obvious? i plan on spaying her from 6-7months, and i will start transitioning her to timothy pellets from 6 months of age so before she get's spayed she will be eating timothy pellets and orchard grass. or should i wait until after she is spayed to transition? 

I heard somewhere that the more over weight your rabbit is the bigger the dewlap, i plan on giving her plenty of exercise later on (right now she has a hard time just frolicking around as she is so young, i take her out on my bed while watching her and she's very calm and slow but is curious but she doesnt run around even when she's on the ground she just sort of takes her time and sniffs things) 

Spaying may help. But honestly you cannot change a rabbit's "make-up". Obviously the more overweight a rabbit is can make a dewlap more prominent (male or female) however you need to follow proper diet guidelines for health reasons rather than physical reasons.

And quite honestly it's not always as prominent as you may thing.

Most likely spaying her younger (at the appropriate time) will keep the dewlap smaller.

What is a dewlap?

well i obviously will follow the proper diet guidelines, wouldnt risk her health over appearance. thank you. and a dewlap (more common in females) is almost like a double chin

When I got Olivia she was approx a year and had a prominent dewlap. I got her spayed and on a diet (she was quite fat) and she lost all of it. It seems to be most common in the bigger breeds and the really big dewlaps tend to be on older un-spayed females (especially those that have had litters) and overweight buns. I've seen a lot more dewlaps on uppy-eared buns as opposed to lops.

HeyWhatsUp: A dewlap is the fat deposits some rabbits have under their chin, shown on this totally gorgeous bun:

 

Spaying young (and keeping her diet under control) should keep the dewlap small, and it may not be visible at all.

My female mini rex started developing a dewlap at about 6 months. She was spayed at 7 months and what had started showing all but disappeared. It's not noticeable now unless she smushes herself down, and even then, it just looks like an extra fold of skin.

I also don't like the look of a dewlap. It's not just you.

ah thank you, this is encouraging! i mean small dewlaps that just look like an extra fold of skin are okay, i just dont want it to be obvious, but i do plan on spaying her at 6-7 months of age for many reasons (behavioral, health and appearance - i actually totally forgot about females having dewlaps until like a few days ago) thank you all

You wont care once it shows up. I thought the same thing before I got Sam or Lady, and they both got one and I don't even notice I love them so much. Its on of those things.

ah you do have a point.

This may be an odd question -- but do female Tan rabbits even get dewlaps?? Honestly, when we got our buns from our breeder and picked them up the mother had absolutely no dewlap (and Tans are so lean I think I wouldn't have overlooked it) and the recent photos she's posted of the other breeding Tan does have no dewlaps either... Just a thought but an interesting one. My girl is 9 months now and she has absolutely nothing either.

Cupcake had a dewlap when I got her, but she was a little chubba wubba then. I have since slimmed her down (because of the arthritis) and her dewlap is gone, except when she lays down sometimes...but i think thats to be expected I think a proper diet will do the trick for you!!

My sweet Pepper has a dewlap, no doubt from her two oops litters. Dewlaps apparently appear in doe's to give them an extra place to pull fur from to line the nest though that was not an issue as daddy Piglet is a french angora and was subjected to "run by pluckings" to line the nest. Pepper still has her dewlap even though there will NEVER be any more babies but she uses it to her advantage. Mostly it is not overly visible until she wants to be Disapproving. Then it gets plumped out to highlight the Disapproval.

thanks! also tan lover, hm sorry im not sure! a slight dewlap is fine i just dont want it to be like super obvious. thanks for all the helpful answers!

Generally I haven't seen them on spayed lops - the bigger, heavier breeds tend to get them more often even when spayed, but it's impossible to predict. My mini lop girl was spayed around 6 months and doesn't have a dewlap, though she does have a bit more fat in that area than my boy. Not a true dewlap, but you can see it a bit when she is lying down, if that makes sense.

Netherland Dwarf rabbits do get dewlaps I have a dwarf and her dewlap isn't even that noticeable at all.

it does make sense elrohwen, thanks, yeah i mean i guess that is expected with a female. and oh really? i guess they're just not as common or as big as other rabbit breeds, but im not sure thanks!

I have a friend that has a chocolate colored dwarf and she has a little of a dewlap -- but hers is more noticeable than my bunny's dewlap. My girl is on a good diet but still got one hahah.

haha oh, well very small dewlaps are cute

When Olivia had a dewlap, we called it her "turtleneck" because it looked like she was wearing a turtleneck shirt.

Lol LPT. My H calls Lady's dewlap her built in Pillow

Yeah, I kno what they are now. My female had a little one

I know what a dewlap is now!