Sore hocks and lop rabbits hearing

Question
Hi Randy,

I actually have two questions for you. The first is regarding our rabbit's feet. She has a small (about the size of a pencil eraser) bald spot on one heel of her foot that is showing the pink skin underneath. I'm worried it will turn into a sore hock, if it isn't considered one already. She is a very fuzzy Holland Lop X, rescued from the park last year. She lives in an apartment with hardwood floors, but we've put down lots and lots of area rugs for her to get traction. We try to keep her back nails trimmed, but she hates being picked up and having her feet touched. Is there anything else we can do to encourage the fur to grow back over this bald spot and prevent an open sore?

The second question I have is just out of curiosity. Do you happen to know how well lop-eared bunnies hear? Worse than up-eared rabbits? Our rabbit seems to be half deaf most of the time. She spooks when we come into the room even though we call out and make noise coming down the hallway, and she really enjoys lying in front of an amplifier when guitar noises are coming through it - she doesn't mind the loud music at all. If you could shed some light on this, it could explain a lot about her behavior..

Thanks~

Answer
Hi Valerie.....Fuzzies are about the cutest thing in the world.  And props to you for rescuing this little girl.  The rescues always know they have been given a second chance.

Most likely what you are seeing on her foot is a callous and we often try to make them form especially if we have to have a wire floor for any particular reason.  The only way a sore hock will form is by friction.  Rex bunnies, with their radically different fur, are quite prone to them as are heavier rabbits such as Flemish.  The way to avoid sore hocks is to provide a clean solid surface for resting.  There are commercially available "resting boards" should you need some.  And many rabbits appreciate the coolness of a piece of slate....just important to keep it clean.  But as long as the bald spot doesn't get inflamed or start bleeding....just keep a watch on it and allow it to callous.

I don't know of any studies but it would appear that the lop ears would tend to reduce their hearing range as compared to the "radar screen" ears of an up ear.  Domestic rabbits are still prey animals and respond more to movement than sound.  They learn your shape.  Want proof?  Come into the room as you normally look and then immediately come back wearing a big hat or carrying an umbrella.  It will catch their attention.  Rabbits can see "behind their heads" but can't see a limited arc in front of the nose....and that is where the ears are the primary response to a predator (and technically you are a predator).  They don't see like we do....they see in a series of shadows of basically grey with some evidence (based on the cones in the retinas) that they can see shades of green and blue.  These spectrums are most abundant at the most active times of day for a rabbit.  To give you an idea of their sight line, if you approach them from the front from overhead, your hand may appear to be a hawk.  But her response is basically normal.