Some rabbits have itty-bitty ones. And some rabbits are well-endowed. We’re talking, of course, about rabbit double chins, also known as dewlaps.
What Are Dewlaps?
Dewlaps are those pouches / lumps / folds of skin under a bunny’s chin.
Take a look at this dewlap:
And this one:
And look at the size of this one!
Yep, that’s a small one! Bet you thought they were just going to keep getting bigger!
Anyway, moving right along…
Which Rabbits Have Dewlaps?
In general, female rabbits develop dewlaps under their chins after six months. If they get spayed at six months, their dewlaps stop developing.
Male rabbits can sometimes develop small dewlaps as well.
Small breeds of rabbits, like dwarf bunnies, tend to have small dewlaps, while larger breeds, like Flemish giants (pictured below) tend to have very large ones.
Why Do Rabbits Have Dewlaps?
So why on earth do rabbits have dewlaps? Dewlaps are secondary sex characteristics tied to certain hormones produced in adult female rabbits, and to a lesser extent, some male rabbits.
The development of the dewlap appears to be connected to the release of substances from the ovary once they become adults.
That’s why rabbits who are spayed at the six-month mark tend to have very small dewlaps. It’s also why baby rabbits do not have dewlaps.
What’s the Purpose of a Rabbit’s Dewlap?
The common wisdom is that the large fold of skin allows the female rabbit to easily pull fur from her chest to make a nest when she’s pregnant. And it sure is convenient to have that lump of fur so accessible to her mouth like that!
However, having a small dewlap doesn’t appear to hinder those less-endowed female rabbits from pulling fur from their chest for a nest. Wild rabbits, for example, don’t seem to be bothered.
Do Dewlaps Help Rabbits Attract Mates?
There’s no scientific evidence that male rabbits find certain size dewlaps sexier than others.
Rabbit Dewlap Problems
If a rabbit has a very large dewlap, sometimes the areas under the chin and under the dewlap can get infected if they get wet.
The dewlap could get wet if the rabbit has dental problems that lead to excessive salivation and drooling.
To prevent infection, be sure to address those underlying dental issues, such as molar spurs. And in the meantime, be sure to dab the area dry daily and apply antiseptic.
Sometimes, rabbit dewlaps fall into their water bowls as they’re drinking. Swapping out the water bowl and substituting in a water bottle with a sipper may be the best solution in this case.
Other times, large dewlaps are related to rabbits being obese. If your rabbit is obese, be sure the pellets you’re giving it are fiber-rich Timothy grass pellets with no treats mixed in. And be sure to only give pellets in limited quantities. Hay should be available at all times though.
In Summary
A dewlap is a fold of skin that develops under the chin of an adult (usually female) rabbit. Some bunnies have big ones, some have small ones, and some don’t have them at all! But as long as your bunny’s dewlap stays dry and clean, there’s no cause for concern.
Further Resources:
- Hu C, Frazier CN. Relationship Between Female Sex Hormone and Dewlap in the Rabbit. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 1938;38(1):116-119. doi:10.3181/00379727-38-9761
- Molly Varga Smith BVetMed, DZooMed, MRCVS. 8.7.1 Moist Dermatitis of the Dewlap. In Textbook of Rabbit Medicine (Third Edition), 2023. ScienceDirect.com
About the Author
Abi Cushman is a veteran house rabbit owner and a contributing editor of My House Rabbit. She currently shares her home with one mischievous dwarf bunny named Otis.
When she's not writing about bunnies for My House Rabbit, Abi writes and illustrates funny books for kids, including Soaked! (Viking) and Animals Go Vroom! (Viking). And yes, there are bunnies in them. Learn more at abicushman.com.
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