Do not use this as your only source of information. No internet source should replace the opinion of a knowledgable vet. Please, if you think something is wrong you owe it yourself and your pet to take them in for needed medical care.

Genetic Problems

If you breed rabbits long enough you will eventually come across some of these gentic disorders. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have anything to add.

"Moon Eye"

This is a very misunderstood problem. Breeders/ Judges often use it as a general term for "there is something wrong with this rabbits eye". There is no one cause for moon eye. Here are some of the most frequent causes though. Some are genetic and some aren't.

1) Inverted eyelid: This is genetic and can be seen as a young kit normally. They often are plauged with teary eyes. Could not find out if it was recessive or not. Usually both eye are affected.

2) Congenial Glaccoma: It is recessive. This is the one that doesn't show up until about 3 months of age. It is caused by a misbalence in interocular pressure. This misbalence causes the retina to be scared and the eye will often bulge outwards. It  will usually be seen in both eyes but can be seen in just one. Highly genetic. All kits from a rabbit with congenial glaccoma WILL be carriers.

3)Prolapse of the Gland in the 3rd eyelid:  It is supose to be caused by lax supporting connetive tissue. Counldn't get much more info on this one... one or both eyes can be affected.

4)Scratches: They will usually heal but is the most common type seen at shows. Not a big deal on this one and usually pretty easy to recongnize.
"Malocclusion"
This is a VERY contraveral issue. I will go over different points of views as I have heard it. Choose the one you believe in and make you own decisions.
1) Some say it is purely genetic and that it takes 2 carriers to produce a malocclusion baby. (reccessive gene). In this it is not wise to breed any rabbit with malocclusion.
2) Some say it is caused by the jaws growing at different times. Causing a misbalence. Alot of breeders will clip the teeth and see if they grow back normal. Technically you are NOT supose to do this (For show purposes anyway. If you are breeding for pet I see no reason not to go for it) 
3) Malocclusion later in life. Often a rabbit will pull a tooth on the bars and it never grows back correctly. Some breeders will tell you the fact that they did not grow back normal means that it was naturally inclined to do so. Others (myself included) would not fault a rabbit for this as it was caused by an outward source. Guess it all boils down to what you believe.
 
"Trapped Teeth"
This is a close cousin to Malocclusion. You will often get litters with both malocclusion and trapped teeth within the same litter. Trapped teeth is when they line up exactly not going one way or the other. Trapped teeth are also a contaversal subject. Some believe this tendency is genetic and some disagree.
1) I know a lot of breeders who will wait it out on a good kit. If they go towards malocclusion then they get rid of the bunny. If it corrects itself then they keep and later on breed the rabbit knowing that it may be a carrier.
 
2) Many others air on the side of precauction. They will get rid of any kit showing signs of either problem.
 
In the end you have to choose what is right for you.
 
"Mismarks"
On a lighter note. Mismarks are pigment in the coat gone wrong. It will show up as snips and blotches. I believe it is seperate from BEW Sports but some believe that ALL mismarks can trace back to a BEW. Some say it is genetic and others say it isn't. Here is a picture of a mismark: (Nose)
                   
 
I hope this helps some. In the end you have to decide what YOU believe is right for your breeding program. Err on the side or percausion but remember breeding rabbits is for fun~!