The Hypoallergenic Myth

Rex rabbit fur

Standard rabbit fur

You may have come across people who make claims about the Mini Rex being a hypoallergenic breed of rabbit.  The claim makes for a catchy sales phrase but unfortunately it is completely untrue. This claim is often accompanied by claims that the Mini Rex shed less than other rabbits or that they actually don't shed at all. These claims are also untrue although I can see why some one could possibly think that. To understand why these claims are false, you first need to understand the Rex fur. 

Rabbit fur and the fur of most fur bearing animals is made up mainly of two types of hairs. Each hair follicle in the skin grows both types of hair. The first type is often referred to as an undercoat. The primary function of these hairs is to insulate. They are often small in diameter, soft in texture, and can be compared to a wooly fuzz. This layer of fur is great at keeping the animal warm and protected it from the elements but being so soft it's not really made to withstand rough wear and tear. This is where the guard hairs come in. These hairs tend to be much thicker in diameter, they are stronger, and they grow to extend past the undercoat to form the primary protective coat layer. These hairs are what forms the coat you can visibly see on an animal while the softer undercoat remains safe and hidden. 

Standard rabbit fur works the same way however the Rex type fur does not. There are two Rex rabbit breeds, the Mini Rex (a dwarf version of the Rex) and the Rex (their full size cousins). Both have the Rex type fur which is the result of a genetic mutation. This mutation affects the hair follicles and greatly reduces the existence of the long guard hairs, those that remain are short and form a uniform even layer together with the undercoat. The mutation also has a visible effect on whiskers giving them a waived or curly appearance. In some animals, the Rex gene causes the wavy pattern to show over the entire coat of the animal, however his wavy coat characteristic is not desirable in either of the Rex rabbit breeds (it does occasionally show up). What you will see in a properly bred Rex rabbit of either variety is a very short and very dense coat that is softer than standard rabbit fur. The appearance of any stray guard hairs longer than this layer are considered a fault, and if extensive become a disqualifying fault. For a more comprehensive read about the structure of a Rex coat, check out this study: A Deletion in Exon 9.

Do the Rex rabbits shed? Most absolutely! Ask any Husky or German Shepherd owner if their dogs shed their undercoat hairs. They can offer you proof by the bag fulls that animals do indeed shed their undercoat. All animals shed both their top coat and their undercoat on a routine basis in small amounts as part of a normal hair life cycle. The undercoat is also additionally shed in large amounts seasonally. That's because all animals grow more of their warm undercoat to help them stay warm during cold weather, and shed all that extra insulation off for the warmer months. These seasonal sheds in rabbits are referred to as moulting. 

When rabbits with standard fur shed, what you often see gathering on your clothes, furniture, and on the floor directly beneath the rabbit are the heavier, thicker, and longer guard hairs. Those tend to stay where they land and can even work themselves into fabric. They are usually mixed in with bits of the softer undercoat but that undercoat being very light tends to float away or become airborne with the slightest of air movements. You are more likely to see it as light and fluffy tumbleweeds rolling over straw like piles of the top coat hairs. Since that is the type of hair that primarily makes up the Rex coat, it is more inconspicuous when it is being shed. Being so light and fluffy, the undercoat type hair that sheds off of the Rex rabbit is more likely to end up floating into unseen corners, or gather under the couch. 

If you hug a Mini Rex while they are going through a seasonal shed, you will be instantly covered in a soft thick blanket of this extra light magical fluff. Some of it will remain clinging to your clothing in clumps, but a noticeable amount will easily fall off and drift in the slightest of air currents. You might have trouble seeing it unless you inspect the inside of your vacuum bag, but it's there, and along with it so is any accompanying dander that the rabbit naturally sheds. 

This is where the hypoallergenic theory becomes a ridiculous notion when attributed to this breed. The theory behind hypoallergenic coats on animals is that they are made up of tightly woven curly top coats which trap any dander that the animal naturally sheds. This naturally shed dander is what contributes to household dust, which can be an allergic irritant for some people. In hypoallergenic animals, that dander is trapped by the tight coat and is mostly only removed under controlled circumstances, such as when the dog is bathed. Additionally, people with animal allergies are usually sensitive to the animal's saliva and not actually their coat. After animals groom, dried saliva remains on the coat and mixes with the dander and hair falling off the animal and can become an additional allergic irritant. Again, in hypoallergenic animals, the coat retains these irritants and prevents them from becoming airborne, making it easier for a person to control their exposure. However, the absolutely opposite coat dynamic is true with the Rex rabbits! Their coats are straight, short, soft, and do not trap any dander. In fact, the Rex coat is possibly one of the easiest types of coats for the dander to fall out of! 

As a little aside when it comes to potential rabbit allergies, many people assume they are allergic to their rabbit, when in fact they are experiencing allergic reactions to the hay they are feeding to their rabbit. This issue can some times be resolved by switching the type of hay you use or eliminating loose hay all together. If you think you might have any rabbit related allergies, it's best to consult with an allergy specialist to help you pinpoint what triggers your reactions. It might not be the rabbit. 

If you do have rabbit allergies, a Mini Rex unfortunately might not be a good choice for you. This myth is still being kept alive by people who either don't know any better, are repeating what they heard without checking if the information is true, and unfortunately some people who only care about making a sale. Sadly some people are duped into believing this and for some the end result is avoidable heart break.