Here's Why You Shouldn't Lay Bunnies On Their Backs

It's called 'Tonic Immobility', and it's not cool.

Edited by Hayden Hoyl

[Miadixoneq]

I’ve always held my bunny on her back I always thought she was so calm like that.... now i know it’s because she was terrified.... *great*

[EonHSD]

"Don't do it"
Shows a video of doing the thing

[nickelangelo]

Let this be known they are not "frozen with fear" this happens with sharks too and has nothing to do with fear, it's called tonic immobility and it is a state of paralysis that is usually triggered as a way to stay hidden from prey. However it can be triggered without causing fear or harm to a rabbit by turning them upside down.

[josephinebarnhart]

My one bunny always flops over for her belly to rubbed, and hops into my lap where I turn over to rub her belly, and even if I pick her up and place her somewhere else, she runs back to me knowing I might turn her back over, so is it true she doesn't like it? Ive tried it with my other bunny but she makes it very apparent she likes to be petted up right

[WorldOfStickboi]

It's so cute how that bunny stays calm after that :-)

[NerdyRebel]

I love how you are promoting how to care for rabbits/bunnies!

[mattygreen]

i used to do this cuz i was scared to break her legs when i moved her. i used to hold her like a baby and i didnt know it was bad but she seemed to be relaxed but i guess not

[coldhands]

the guy at the pet store told me the opposite.

[thevelvetcommenter]

I’ve seen so many animal compilation channels, and this is the only one that bothered to actually educate people on these animals. Wonderful job, you’ve prevented many bunnies from suffering, and you’ve earned my respect. (And sub) Great job, keep up the good work!

[channel]

I used to trance my old rabbit to clip his nails. He wouldn't otherwise let anyone handle him, he hated being picked up. He wasn't exactly happy about it, but I knew him well enough to tell the difference between him being grumpy and scared. He was somewhere between, but talking nice and softly to him kept him reassured until the job was done. Then a cuddle with all his feet back on the ground, a little treat and we were friends again. It's not ideal to trance a rabbit, but it can be useful when it's entirely necessary. The only other way to clip his nails was to take him to the vet and have him sedated, but all of that handling and transporting put him under way more stress than trancing him and getting the whole thing over and done with within five minutes in a familiar surrounding with someone he knew and trusted. Just watch their breathing rate and general demeaner, if you have to trance one. Abandon the attempt immediately if it's getting too stressful, otherwise it's dangerous for it. Try and introduce trancing in very short sessions at first and let it get used to the fact that it's not being harmed. But like this video warns, it's not cool and no rabbit should ever be subjected to it for the sake of it.

[toritime]

well. if bunnies have a hard and painful belly, you have to massage it, so that it gets soft again. And to reach their belly, you *have* to lay them on their back. I don't know if they'd rather die because of a stomach ache or because of fear.

[gymnastics_forever]

But what if your Bunny goes to sleep on its back anyway? Mine does!


*So, 300 likes. What a caring community the internet is :)*

[Anna-mdjf]

Thanks so much tho, because we have a neighbor who has bunnies and sometimes my little sis and I and our friends come and hold them, and they would sometimes hold them on their backs, including me, but now that I know, I won't do it and I will tell my friends because all animals are important to me.

[carcionpetto]

The one time i did it, i learnt my mystakes. He double-kicked my jaw and evaded my hold, doing a flip and falling perfectfully on his legs. I had never witnessed something that majestic

[cmarierosa]

pfft wow the lady at the pet store told me to do that with my bunny that it would "comfort" him but i only did it once or twice after i heard it was bad i dont do it anymore

[haleyyoder]

It can be necessary though for certain tasks such as sexing and checking teeth. Though not neccessarly for nail care as the rabbit can be held upright if properly supported, without flipping the rabbit onto its back.

[itsmimi]

I used to do this when I was a child and thought that I was magically putting them to sleep :( I feel sad now

[pez]

Thanks for spreading awareness its cute when you dont know what it does to them but once you know you feel so bad for the bunnies :(

[machineofvirtue]

Ok, so let me say this one thing:
Stop being salty at each other! It’s just a little advice someone gave out, chill.

Some rabbits DO freeze because they’re SCARED, some DO freeze simply because it’s awkward. Some DON’T freeze because they’e terrified and want to get away, some DON’T freeze because they’re ok with it. Rabbits are known to nurse and sometimes just relax on their backs on their own, but they’ve also known to have heart attacks if they’e flipped suddenly or for too long. Just get to know your rabbit, flip them once or twice carefully to see how they react. They’ll tense up and their heartbeat will skyrocket if they’e scared, so just flip the fluff balls back over! I know a friend with a rabbit who doesn’t mind being flipped on his back, but who used to own a rabbit that was *petrified* of being turned over. Some people are being so stubborn and rude in this comment section **eyeroll**

[lunareclipse]

Tonic immobility failed to be proven to occur in rabbits with replicated studies.

Rabbits lay on their backs to nurse and in the nest as babies, and some adults may lay on their backs when relaxing.

You can find other videos of rabbits grooming themselves while cradled on their backs. They'll even eat hay and partake in other normal behaviors while on their backs, which would not be possible if they were in a state of tonic immobility.

Whether they are content or not depends on the individual. Some rabbits hate being on their backs, in which case they will be tense and might kick or bite you. This could cause injury if the rabbit flails and/or you drop the rabbit.