8 week old netherland dwarf possible peanut? Is this possible??

Question
Hello,

I help to run a rabbit rescue and as part of this we often take in does with unwanted litters.  8 weeks ago we took in some ntherland dwarf crosses (mums around 2kg)and their 1 day old litter.  All were fit and healthy and it was only when they were just about 8 days that we noticed one was falling significantly behind.  Although the little bunny is still with us 7 weeks later she is significantly behind her siblings (250g vs 800g, she has an unusual headshape (vet has suggested possible hydrocephalus) which may or may not also be causing her eyelashes to be inverted leading to ulceration & she also has significant teeth problems.  Given her unusual headshape and small stature (she eats like a horse) we have also been wondering about the possibility that she is a peanut and that somehow the mix of her parents genetics has enabled her to survive for 8 weeks.  Is this at all possible and have peanuts ever survived to adulthood.

Answer
Dear Lucy,

She does sound like a peanut, especially with the weird head shape.  Peanuts typically have a weird, "conical" head shape with a cranium that looks too large.  I've heard of some peanuts surviving, for whatever reason.  This trait apparently shows variable expressivity, with some individuals being less severely afflicted with the various problems than others.  I've not heard of a true peanut surviving this long, though.  I wonder if her weird appearance is due to some other genetic condition(s), and that she's not truly a peanut (i.e., recipient of two copies of the lethal dwarfing gene).

I hope she continues to do well, despite her developmental problems.  :)  Good luck!

Dana