Rex vs Holland Lop

Rex

Holland Lop

Rex

• Good with children: No
• Good with other pets: No
• Apartment friendly: No
• Exercise: moderate

Holland Lop

• Good with children: No
• Good with other pets: No
• Apartment friendly: No
• Exercise: moderate

Rex

Exercise

moderate

Grooming

low

Shedding

—

Holland Lop

Exercise

moderate

Grooming

low

Shedding

—

Rex

Life span: 8–11 yrs

• Sore hocks (ulcerative pododermatitis) — the Rex's signature short, velvety coat extends to the soles of its feet, leaving far less protective fur padding than a normal-coated rabbit, so on wire or hard, dirty flooring the hock skin breaks down into painful ulcers; this is the breed's defining health risk, and prevention means solid soft dry flooring, weight control, and weekly checks of the hind-foot undersides for redness or hair loss.
• Heat sensitivity — the dense, plush Rex coat traps heat against a body that cannot sweat, so this breed overheats more readily than a thinly furred rabbit; keep indoor temperatures below roughly 26°C/80°F, provide airflow, shade, and frozen water bottles in summer, and watch for fast breathing, drooling, or listlessness.
• Coat and skin problems from over-grooming — the short pile is easily damaged by aggressive brushing, and bare or broken patches expose skin to irritation and fur mites that hide in the dense coat; groom gently and infrequently, and inspect the skin during the weekly handling for flaking or thinning rather than brushing hard.
• GI stasis — the gut slows or stops, often triggered by a low-fiber diet, dehydration, pain, or stress; it is a genuine emergency, and any rabbit that stops eating or passing droppings for 12 hours needs same-day veterinary care.
• Uterine cancer in unspayed does — adenocarcinoma is common in female rabbits over about three years old; spaying removes that risk and also prevents reproductive and hormonal behavior problems.

Holland Lop

Life span: 8–12 yrs

• Dental malocclusion — the breed's short, flat skull crowds continuously-growing teeth, leading to overgrown or misaligned molars and incisors; prevented largely by an unlimited grass-hay diet and caught early by yearly back-teeth checks.
• GI stasis — the gut slows or stops, often triggered by a low-fiber diet, dehydration, pain, or stress; it is a genuine emergency, and any rabbit that stops eating or passing droppings for 12 hours needs same-day veterinary care.
• Ear infections and mites — the lopped ears trap moisture and reduce airflow, raising the risk of wax buildup, bacterial infection, and ear-canker mites; inspect and gently clean the ears weekly and watch for head-tilt or persistent scratching.
• Heat stroke — at 2 to 4 pounds a Holland Lop has little thermal mass and cannot sweat, so indoor temperatures above about 26°C/80°F are dangerous; provide shade, airflow, and frozen water bottles through summer.
• Uterine cancer in unspayed does — adenocarcinoma is common in female rabbits over three years old; spaying both protects long-term health and prevents reproductive and hormonal behavior problems.