Ask Me Help Desk - Bunny laying on her back.

Bunny laying on her back.

I haven't asked a bunny question for a while so it's about time :p

Well as you know I have a rabbit named Dora... she's a dwarf lop.

Randomly she will just be sitting there and all of a sudden she will twist around and flip over onto her back or side...
Kind of like how a dog goes to roll in something smelly but she will stay there.

Why? Or is there no answer for this other than I have a 'special' rabbit :p

I don't know a thing about rabbits, but your description of the behavior reminded me of how one of my former cats would act when it had fleas. Can rabbits scratch with their hind legs?

Yup, they can... looks cute too :) I have checked her for fleas as she used to be an outside bunny (now inside) it's something she has always done... for about 2 years.

Perhaps it just plain feels good then. Nothing worse than a stuffy, uptight, prim and proper bunny that can't relax. ;)

Hi Shazzy.

You know the bunny binky, well, this is the bunny flop.

Bunnies aren't vocal animals, although they can vocalize very loudly when they're hurt or scared. Most times they tell you how they're feeling by their actions. Dora is telling you that she's very content.

This is normal, especially for happy, healthy, loved bunnies. Cotton is my flopper. I don't know why he's happier then the others but he is.

They usually jump around, binky, hop, binky and all of a sudden they'll just flop on the ground. It's almost scary because they stop their activity so suddenly, but it's just complete and utter bliss.

Dora's a happy bunny. :)

Thanks Scleros and Alty :)

I was hoping that was the case, it's just very strange to see her do it!
I have had bunnies that stretch their back legs out behind them when they lay down but never one that does a little flip on it's side.

Back when she lived at my parents house in her hutch my dad thought she was dead one day!
She was not moving at all and it didn't look like she was breathing... he picked her up thinking the worst... still no movement. Then when he got her to chest height she 'woke up' scratched him and jumped down onto the ground :D

It could be a form of self-hypnosis, self-preservation:

rabbit.org/faq/sections/handling

Like a opossum "playin' dead".

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Thanks Scleros and Alty :)

I was hoping that was the case, it's just very strange to see her do it!
I have had bunnies that stretch their back legs out behind them when they lay down but never one that does a little flip on it's side.

Back when she lived at my parents house in her hutch my dad thought she was dead one day!
She was not moving at all and it didn't look like she was breathing... he picked her up thinking the worst... still no movement. Then when he got her to chest height she 'woke up' scratched him and jumped down onto the ground :D

Cotton and Dora have to meet.

I often walk up to Cottons cage and say "hey, stop that! Pretending you're dead isn't funny!"

Really, you have a happy bunny. This is a good thing. :)

My rabbit will do that too... When I let him out for his run, he'll run around and jump and twitch and then he'll hop over towards the dog and just kind of flop onto his side as if he was tired out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rex123

My rabbit will do that too... When I let him out for his run, he'll run around and jump and twitch and then he'll hop over towards the dog and just kinda flop onto his side as if he was tired out.

Yup, content and happy bunny.

That's a great thing to hear. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Yup, content and happy bunny.

That's a great thing to hear. :)

My wife does that from time to time. Whenever she wants to GET content and happy. For me, it's a great thing to SEE. Yup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjoseph

My wife does that from time to time. Whenever she wants to GET content and happy. For me, it's a great thing to SEE. Yup.

LMAO! Do you secretly think that your wife is a bunny? Maybe of the playboy variety?

Oops... wrong thread. :o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

LMAO! Do you secretly think that your wife is a bunny? Maybe of the playboy variety?

Oops....wrong thread. :o

Well, she does eat a lot of salad, and is cuddly, and warm, and sweet(sometimes)... I just got a great idea, I'll play Elmer Fudd, put on the floppy hat, and "hunt" for her... "I'm going to get the wabbit".

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjoseph

Well, she does eat a lot of salad, and is cuddly, and warm, and sweet(sometimes).... I just got a great idea, I'll play Elmer Fudd, put on the floppy hat, and "hunt" for her... "I'm going to get the wabbit".

Back off bunny boy. Rabbits are friends, not food. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Back off bunny boy. Rabbits are friends, not food. ;)

I was just role playing, I wasn't going to hurt the little bunny. Don't "jump" to conclusions. I wouldn't hurt one little "hare" on her head. I swear on my lucky rabbits foo... OOPS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjoseph

I was just role playing, I wasn't going to hurt the little bunny. Don't "jump" to conclusions. I wouldn't hurt one little "hare" on her head. I swear on my lucky rabbits foo .....OOPS.

I'm getting a mental picture of your wife in a bunny costume. Not good. ;)

I'm also getting a mental picture of Ben slapping us silly for hijacking this thread. Also not good. :eek:

Wait, I sort of kind of moderate this forum. Maybe we're safe.

Nope, better not chance it. I don't need another bad mark on my rep. ;)