Content
- the behavior of rabbits
- Symptoms of a Stressed Rabbit
- 1. Grunting, grinding your teeth or kicking the ground
- 2. licking excessively
- 3. Put the ears back
- 4. scream
- 5. Self-mutilation
Rabbits are increasingly popular pets as they usually are very sweet and we can take care of them peacefully in an apartment and, unlike dogs, for example, they don't demand that we take them for a walk.
Also, rabbits are very easy to care for, although if we don't do it correctly they can show changes in behavior. That's why in this PeritoAnimal article we will focus on the main symptoms of a stressed rabbit so you can detect and treat them in time. Good reading.
the behavior of rabbits
Rabbits, in general, are animals that get stressed relatively easily. We must not forget that, in their natural habitat, rabbits are easy prey for many predators, such as dogs, foxes, wolves, men... For this reason, they tend to feel stressed in many situations that may seem threatening to them.
In the presence of other pets, noises or trying to take them by surprise can be regarded as a threat by these animal suits. Because of this, it is necessary never to approach the rabbit abruptly, not to scream and, if we have just received it in our house, to conquer it little by little.
This can be achieved with gradual contacts, gently approaching them, offering them food or snacks without punishing them. One good way to pick them up is using one hand under the chest placing the other hand under the rabbit's back to hold its weight. Rabbits should never be held by the ears under any circumstances.
Furthermore, and although rabbit species have been domesticated for many years, in their natural habitat live in burrows that they abandon to move freely through the countryside. Therefore, excessively small cages without environmental enrichment (no toys or chewing materials) can cause discomfort to a pet rabbit.
On the other hand, it is also necessary to take into account the cage cleaning, as rabbits appreciate hygiene. In addition to keeping it clean and using a suitable substrate, such as wood chips or cellulose, it is advisable to reserve a corner so that they can take care of their needs. Lack of hygiene in the cage can also stress our pet.
And we shouldn't forget the temperature, because if it is not suitable it can also cause stress for the rabbit. It is recommended to keep it away from direct sunlight and drafts.
THE ache it is also a stressful experience, with the aggravating factor that it is often difficult to detect the signs of pain in these animals.
A good way to understand rabbits to know if they are stressed or in pain it's learning to recognize the sounds of rabbits and their meanings.
Symptoms of a Stressed Rabbit
In this article, we will consider as stressful situations those that cause fear in the rabbit, pain and also those characteristics of the environment in which they live that can make them feel uncomfortable. In this other article, for example, we've already covered the reasons that explain why do we have a sad rabbit. Below we explain the most common symptoms of stress in rabbits and what can be done to overcome the situation:
1. Grunting, grinding your teeth or kicking the ground
Grunting, grinding your teeth or kicking the ground are signs of anger and also of dominance if there are other rabbits in the cage. Furthermore, they are clear symptoms that the rabbit is stressed and that you must do something to change that situation. If you observe this behavior, it is good to pay attention to find out what would be the reason for your discomfort to ward off these possible "threats" to the rabbit.
In this other article we talk about the coexistence of cats and rabbits that might be useful for you. In this other, we detail the reasons why a rabbit bites you.
2. licking excessively
Behaviors like very constant licking and self-cleaning, gnawing incessantly materials in the cage can be a sign of environmental stress. These excessive and repetitive behaviors are known as stereotypies and are signs that the environment in which the rabbit lives is not comfortable for him or does not allow him to feel fulfilled. If this is the case for your rabbit, it is advisable to check that the cage is the right size, provide it with toys and chewing materials, as well as play with it more often and pay more attention to it to get rid of this stress symptom in the rabbit.
Don't miss this other article where we show how to make rabbit toys.
3. Put the ears back
Throwing the ears back until they are very close to the neck, as well as standing still or shrinking into a healthy ball. signs of fear and therefore one of the symptoms of a stressed rabbit. What he's trying to do is shrug down so that predators don't notice.
In this situation, it is a good idea to investigate if we have other pets that he fears, such as dogs or cats, if there are menacing smells in the building or house and whether he fears his guardian. If he fears us, we must accustom him to our presence, approaching him carefully, without shouting or sudden movements, without anything bad happening, and without punishing him or trying to pick him up.
4. scream
Although it's not often, the rabbits can also scream, uttering high-pitched wheezing, which indicates fear and/or anguish. Of course, any tutor who hears this knows there's something wrong with their rabbit, but that shouldn't be confused with the intimidating growls we've talked about that denote aggression.
5. Self-mutilation
A sign of extreme pain and thus a fairly clear symptom of stress in rabbits is self-harm. Often, when they feel pain, they react similarly to when they are afraid, they stay quiet and hide their discomfort so as not to appear vulnerable and to become easy prey. But, onlyand the pain is very intense or lasting, especially if they are felt in some extremity of the body, they can even cut the part that is hurting.
So, in such a situation you should take him to the vet urgently.
Now that you know how to identify a stressed rabbit from its symptoms, don't miss the following video where we talk about how to tell if your rabbit loves you:
If you want to read more articles similar to Symptoms of a Stressed Rabbit, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.