Rabbit in distress

can rabbits find their way home

What to do if your rabbit is lost? Wait, search, or rescue?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Click here to get a pet tracker to avoid losing your rabbit.

Has your pet rabbit escaped somehow, and you are sad because you can’t figure out what to do now?

Well, to find a lost rabbit, you can either wait for the rabbit to come back home or follow the steps below to find your rabbit as early as possible.

House rabbits may find their way back or may not survive the trial out there in the wild.

Therefore I want to discuss in this article what you can do once your rabbit is lost.

I will begin by answering the most common question.

Can rabbits find their way home?

Yes, rabbits can find their way back home. Being a natural explorer, it is likely your rabbit only went out to explore new territory. Supposedly it hasn’t gone far and will be back in a couple of hours.

There are cases when rabbits are lost and found their way back home after a few days.

However, it is not common for rabbits to completely get lost after they go missing.

Your house rabbit may come back home; nevertheless, it is wise to search your neighborhood to find your lost rabbit if you do not see it for a few hours.

As it is normal for rabbits not to go far from his/her homes.

Will your lost rabbit return?

The answer to this question is different for every different situation.

I cannot answer this question in a few sentences, so let me describe it for your better understanding.

Whether your lost rabbit will return or not depends on what your pet rabbit intends to do.

If your rabbit merely escaped from your lawn to explore the territory, then it will come back. Unless the rabbit travels far and can’t recognize its way back home, then it is a problem.

What if your house rabbit escaped from your house or patio because the rabbit was not enjoying her stay, then it is an opposite scenario.

If the rabbit was not taking pleasure in living in an enclosed area, then they probably escaped finding a better place.

Even domesticated rabbits like hopping, and playing around. Rabbits need companions. If the rabbit guardian raises her rabbits in a tight space and without a companion, then a rabbit might want to escape.

On the contrary, a rabbit might escape her enclosure to exercise in the new territory.

However, in both cases, there are possibilities for pet rabbits to get lost and never return home.

That’s why it is wise as a rabbit guardian to search your rabbit after it is lost for a couple of hours.

A rabbit can’t go very far from its home in a few hours. Similarly, being endangered animal rabbits may face a lot of danger in the world outside of your patio without having his/her guardian.

Can domestic rabbits survive in the wild?

The answer is no. Domestic rabbits haven’t learned the survival technique, unlike their wild counterparts. Domestic rabbits might not even assume the danger of predators.

Regardless of domestic or wild, all rabbits tend to run and hide if they are scared. But a house rabbit lost in the wild world will find it difficult to place for hiding.

A pet rabbit is raised by its keeper with care and love. A rabbit guardian will provide the rabbit with it’s favorite timely and an unlimited supply of hay.

Hence a house rabbit doesn’t grasp how to look for food and survive in the wild. Such a rabbit is unaware of the danger in the wild.

Without food and water, a lost rabbit will be weak out there. As a result, these rabbits are more vulnerable in the wild.

The quicker you find your lost rabbit instead of waiting for it returns, the more prominent the chances of finding your rabbit safe and alive.

What dangers will a lost rabbit face?

There are many dangers for a lost rabbit in the outside world. A pet rabbit has minimum knowledge of survival in the outside world.

The rabbit may have left its enclosure only out of curiosity to explore the new world.

Although a curious rabbit may fancy its new territory, it will soon realize the harshness of the wild world.

There are several dangers for pet rabbits being lost outside.

Pet rabbits have no idea of the traffic in your neighborhood. Your rabbit might get hit by a car, or even by a motorcycle. It is unlikely for such a delicate animal to survive any small crash.

What do you think about predators?

Rabbits are small prey animals. I guess by now you already know that as you own pet rabbits.

How sure are you that there are no predators in your neighborhood?

Rabbits are prey for eagles, coyotes, snakes, and foxes.

For a domestic rabbit without knowing where its home is, it will be challenging for it to outrun its predator.

Rabbits tend to hide in places like tunnels when to keep themselves safe from predators.

If your cute bunny friend is out there and doesn’t have a burrow to hide from its predator, then it will be challenging for the rabbit to outrun a predator.

The result will be more like getting hunted down by the predator ultimately.

Domestic rabbits grew up in sheds or hutches. The rabbit guardians keep them safe from weather and feed them as healthy as they can.

Knowing rabbits have a delicate stomach, you might have fed your rabbit all the best quality of food.

While this bunny friend of yours is lost out, there they will not have enough food. It will require some time for the rabbit to discover nutritious food for themselves. And how sure are you that you have enough nutritious food and snacks for rabbits in your neighborhood?

I say about your neighborhood because I am quite sure your rabbit hasn’t gone far.

It is close to his/her home, yet can’t come back or unwilling to go back because you failed to take proper care of your pet rabbits.

Another problem for a lost rabbit is the weather. Rabbits are ok with moderate temperatures.

If it is too cold, then the rabbit will struggle. In very cold weather if your rabbit is out alone, then the condition will be even worse for your rabbit because rabbits share the warmth of their companion in the group during cold temperatures.

On the contrary, summer can be fatal for rabbits. Especially for pet rabbits, which had loving and caring guardians, will suffer the most in the wild.

If you raised your rabbits under sheds or a place where the rabbits were safe from sunlight, such rabbits would have heat stroke out in the wild.

Heatstroke occurs in rabbits when they can’t tolerate the heat anymore. Rabbits are furry animals, and in high temperatures, during summer, the rabbits cannot endure the heat anymore. They start to move slowly and, finally, collapse. It means the rabbit has a heat stroke.

To prevent heatstroke, rabbit owners take several precautions. Nevertheless, a lost rabbit will collapse and might die in no time without support from his/her guardian.

How to find a lost rabbit?

Finding a lost rabbit is not a difficult task. Rabbit keepers must know that the rabbit will not go very far once it has escaped.

It is also likely that the rabbit has only left the enclosure and is still inside your lawn.

If your lawn has high fences, then look for signs whether the rabbit has dug tunnels or not.

Rabbits are natural diggers, and they will dig tunnels below the fence to go out on the other side.

So if you can locate a tunnel, you can be sure your rabbit is lost and start your search from that location. However, if you can’t see any tunnels around the fence, probably the rabbit is still in your patio and invisible to your eyes.

Rabbits are prey animals and are very good at hiding.

Which is the best place to start your search?

The best place to start your search is within your rabbit territory.

Check inside your house and your patio. Check every corner of your home.

Check under the couch, under the table, under the bed. Similarly, look for your rabbit in high places.

They can jump and may climb into higher grounds. I suggest doing this within a few hours of not seeing your rabbits.

The longer you wait, the more vulnerable your rabbit is to dangers.

If you find your rabbit within your house, then that’s great. If the rabbit has escaped from your home, then it is time you take a look into your neighbors’ house.

Let your neighbors know your rabbit is lost. Surely the rabbit cannot be lost in thin air unless a predator has attacked your rabbit.

If a predator can’t get hold of your bunny, then certainly the rabbit is very close and within the neighborhood.

Also, post on social media and let most people know in your area that you pet rabbits I lost.

So that people will be aware and will know whom to contact if they see a lost bunny in the street.

Losing a pet rabbit like any other pet can be sad. Hence acting quicker is the best solution. Within hours of your rabbit going unnoticed, it is essential to search within the house, and if not found, it is my suggestion to let everyone in your area know that your rabbit is lost.

Hoping for the rabbit to return without taking any actions is not suitable for rabbit guardians.

Your rabbit may return by itself even after it was gone for days.

It is common for a lost rabbit to come back home after a couple of days.

However, your responsibility is to catch your rabbit before harm comes your bunnies way.

How to catch an escaped rabbit?

You cannot catch a rabbit that has escaped unless you can locate your rabbit.

Locating a rabbit can be difficult as they do not have an instinct to go back home.

Clearly, a rabbit does not understand the difference between home and other places.

Thus the rabbit does not know where to return once they escape. They are focussed on exploring the territory.

Hence to bring your escaped rabbit back home, you have to trigger their senses.

What do I mean by that is you have to give them the sense of their familiar location.

What was your rabbit familiar with in his/her home?

Suppose your rabbit had a favorite treat. So you can leave your rabbit’s favorite treat somewhere accessible for your lost bunny.

You can keep drinking water and some fresh hay out there, hoping for your rabbit’s return.

Like I mentioned earlier, your rabbit may return even after being lost for a few days if not any harm was done to your rabbit.

You will not notice when your rabbit has returned because rabbits are crepuscular animals. They are mostly active during dawn and dusk.

And they will possibly come back home during dawn and dusk. You may be surprised to see your rabbit has returned to its hutch one morning.

It also said that to keep your rabbit’s hutch open so that the rabbit will find its way inside and relax there.

A lost rabbit will struggle out there by itself. Thus the rabbit will not try to explore the territory once it faces difficulties. So the possibilities for a lost rabbit to go back home is high.

Merely hoping for its return is not an option. Take actions to look for and search for your rabbits. As well as taking measures for your rabbit, never to escape again is crucial.

Click here to get a pet tracker to avoid losing your rabbit.

Want your rabbit to be happy and healthy?

Click on the links below for:
Rabbit food
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit cages and houses
Rabbit health and hygiene
Get a portrait of your rabbit

Click here to order the ebook How to raise healthy & happy rabbits!

How to raise happy & healthy rabbits!
How to raise happy & healthy rabbits!

Read more

  • Do Rabbits Need Shots?
    All pet owners want their pets to have long, happy, healthy lives. The same goes for those who own rabbits. However, there is one concept that can be very complicated for rabbit owners: Vaccines. Do bunnies require vaccinations? Are they even safe? These questions pose a real concern for bunny owners. We all want our …

    Do Rabbits Need Shots? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins?
    Pumpkins are believed to be rabbits’ second-favorite orange vegetable, right after carrots. These winter squashes are mostly used as holiday pies, but they’re also packed with nutrition that’s important in a rabbit’s diet. Pumpkin is not toxic for rabbits but they should not be fed with it too often or in larger amounts. If you …

    Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers?
    Picking the appropriate fresh vegetables to supplement your pet rabbit’s diet can be an excellent way to turn out their nutrition. While bunnies receive most of their nutrients from fresh hay, attaching a regular supplement of fresh greens and veggies will equip them with vital vitamins and minerals. While most vegetables can aid in keeping …

    Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro?
    Cilantro gives a touch of fresh taste to a variety of foods. Just like any other spices, cilantro also carries antioxidants that can remove dejected and unwanted metal particles in our bodies. It has also been proven that cilantro carries an element that can fight off Salmonella. Thus, providing its partaker a more salutary digestive …

    Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Corn?
    Fresh, dried, or cooked corn, all of them are not safe for your bunny. It is very unfortunate to say because some bunnies love to munch on fresh and sweet corn very much. While the hull of corn kernels carries complex polysaccharides. Normally, rabbits find it hard to digest complex polysaccharides. So, corn is considered …

    Can Rabbits Eat Corn? Read More »

signs of a sick rabbit

Signs of a sick rabbit.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Attention: If your rabbit needs health needs to be reviewed now, book an appointment now with Vetster for a review from a vet.

Are you confused about your rabbit’s unusual behavior?

A change in your rabbit’s natural behavior might be signs of a sick rabbit.

Understanding the changes in your rabbit’s behavior will help you recognize your rabbit’s health.

I have shared a complete list of possible signs your rabbit will give you when they are feeling unwell.

Do rabbits get sick suddenly?

A rabbit does not get sick suddenly. Raising house rabbits in an unclean environment without proper diet will result in health concerns.

Being prey animals, rabbits are good at hiding themselves as well as their feelings.

Usually, a rabbit does not show any signs of their sickness until they can’t hide the pain anymore.

Rabbits in the wild survive for merely 2-3 years because they can’t escape from their predators.

However, domestic rabbits live longer because the guardians keep them safe from predators.

On the contrary, when a rabbit guardian fails to take genuine care of their pet rabbit, only then a rabbit may pass away sooner because of sickness.

Although domestic rabbits are delicate pets and vulnerable to sickness, it is unusual for them to have deadly diseases.

Often they get sick because of a guardian’s irresponsibility.

I believe you are one of those rabbit owners who are concerned about pet rabbit’s well being.

Thus you are willing to recognize what are the signs of a sick rabbit.

Signs of a sick rabbit include:

  • Changes in the rabbit’s behavior;
  • Stiff posture;
  • Aggressive behavior;
  • Lonely rabbit;
  • Peculiar noises;
  • Tooth grinding;
  • Head tilt;
  • Overgrown tooth;
  • Loss of appetite;
  • Unhealthy looking rabbit’s skin/fur;
  • Fluctuations in body heat;
  • Respiratory issues;
  • Urine;
  • Stool;

Changes in the rabbit’s behavior.

If you own a pet rabbit for some time now, you may have already noticed a common habit in your pet rabbit.

Rabbits are habitual animals. Once they have built up a custom, they will always follow that model.

Therefore potty training a rabbit is very easy. Likewise, rabbits will always go to the same spot while they want to use a toilet regardless of a litter box because they have built up this manner.

Yet a sick rabbit will show alterations in their habit.

Suppose your rabbit loved hopping around the house before, and suddenly they stopped doing so for some time.

You may notice many uncommon things in your rabbit, such as not willing to play with the rabbit toys anymore. It means your rabbit is feeling unwell.

The rabbit is in pain and does not appear to be playing around.

Stiff posture.

In case, a rabbit is not feeling well; it will have a stiff posture. It is easily noticeable when your rabbit is resting but has a hardened stance.

It is typical for a happy, relaxed bunny to lay down on his/her side. Also, lay down flat on his tummy. So do not confuse yourself if you see your rabbit every time in such a position.

Try to observe for other symptoms of sickness together with stiffness and unwillingness to move.

Aggressive behavior.

A sick rabbit will act grumpy. It is natural for anyone not to have a better mood when sick.

Likewise, a rabbit, if s/he is in pain, s/he will show aggression. The rabbit may show hostility towards other rabbits in the group as well as its guardian.

My rabbit once bit my finger, and at the time, I did not understand why she did that.

Now I know she did that as she was in pain because I was an irresponsible guardian.

Lonely rabbit.

Your rabbit may have been a lively one. Suddenly you start to see that your rabbit is not playing around anymore.

A sick rabbit may avoid the companion of other rabbits and stay inside her enclosure for an extended time.

Your rabbit is lonely and willingly avoids contact with other rabbits because she is unwell.

In such a condition, a lonely rabbit requires immediate attention from his/her guardian.

Peculiar noises.

Rabbits are good at hiding their pain. If they cannot hide their pain any more, they will make noises.

A healthy rabbit does not make any sound at all. They are prey animals and very quiet.

In case they are very sick, they will make strange sounds as if they are screaming. The noise may not be loud, but a sensible rabbit guardian will notice the change in no time.

Tooth grinding.

Grinding teeth is unusual behavior for rabbits. When rabbits feel ill, they may grind their teeth, and a rabbit guardian understands the difference.

Yet you have to figure out whether it is tooth grinding or just tooth purring.

Tooth purring is normal, and you can hear your rabbits purring when you are playing with them.

Therefore recognize the difference between tooth grinding and regular purring to know your rabbit is in pain or not.

Head tilt.

The tilted head is also known as wry neck. Head tilt is a sign of many severe illnesses in rabbits. More commonly, a rabbit will have a tilted head due to inner ear infection.

However, a rabbit with trauma or a tumor will also show the same signs.

If you see your rabbit having a tilted head, visit a veterinary before it is too late.

Only a rabbit vet can find the exact reason for your rabbit’s current condition and provide the appropriate treatment.

Overgrown tooth.

I believe most rabbit guardians know that a rabbit’s teeth grow throughout their lifetime.

Hence a rabbit needs a 90% hay diet and many chew toys, which will help the rabbits tooth from overgrowing.

If a rabbit’s tooth has grown longer than average, then I deem the rabbit guardian is not taking care of the rabbit.

Yet if your rabbit somehow has grown long teeth despite having an adequate amount of hay every day, you must visit a rabbit vet.

Only a rabbit vet can help the rabbit with its problem of long teeth.

Loss of appetite.

Similar to all animals, a sick rabbit will lose its desire to eat. A healthy rabbit can munch on fresh hay all day. As well as drink a lot of water.

If you give a healthy rabbit some tasty treats, they will be overly excited.

On the other hand, a sick rabbit will stop feeding. It will not munch hay or enjoy even if the rabbit has a treat in front of it.

So if your rabbit noticeably eats less than average, then it is time to visit a veterinarian.

There are a few diseases that will prevent rabbits from eating like normal.

Unhealthy looking rabbit skin/fur.

A weak rabbit will not groom itself. Self-grooming is the natural characteristic of a rabbit.

They are spotless animals. A rabbit has dense, soft fur which feels fresh to touch.

If a rabbit is sick and stops self-grooming, you will feel the fur is slightly oily to touch.

As well as the rabbit skin will form dandruff.

Not self-grooming for a while and flaky skin is a symptom of a sick rabbit.

Fluctuations in body heat.

If a rabbit’s body is warmer than ordinary or feels colder than usual, it is highly likely your rabbit is suffering. It is best to visit a veterinarian for a checkup.

Only a rabbit vet can say why your rabbit’s body temperature is not the same as usual.

Respiratory issues.

Snuffles is a common disease in rabbits. Anything related to a rabbit’s respiratory system will show flu-like symptoms.

Your rabbit having discharge from the nose, sneezing, and coughing is signs of respiratory issues.

Similarly, shortness of breath and watery eyes are all issues that require attention from you.

Providing proper medication to your rabbit will bring your rabbit back to normal.

The unusual color of urine.

Traces of blood in a rabbit’s urine is a sign of sickness. A healthy rabbit will never have blood in their urine.

Likewise, if the color of your house rabbit’s urine is unusual; then, it is better to consult a vet.

Traces of blood or reddish pee show that your rabbit is sick.

Stool.

Your rabbit’s stool will show many signs that your rabbit is sick.

There is a saying that a rabbit guardian must start from the rabbit’s litter box to find whether the bunny is healthy or sick.

A sick rabbit will have loose stools. An abrupt change in a rabbit’s diet can cause diarrhea.

Loose stools are the result of a diet with fewer fibers.

Which means the rabbit is not healthy.

If the rabbit is not going to the toilet as usual, then you may also observe that. Because the rabbit suddenly stops pooping, then it means the bunny is struggling. One of the reasons why your rabbit may stop pooping is that the digestive system is struggling to pass the stool.

Observe the size of the rabbit stool too. If the size of the rabbit’s waste is smaller than regular, then your bunny friend is having a problem digesting the food.

Rabbit poop does not have any odor, yet if you find your rabbit’s waste is spreading smell, then it means your rabbit is sick.

Conclusion.

If you adopt a rabbit, you must learn to read the symptoms.

Consider a rabbit as an exotic pet; thus, it is crucial to keep track of their behavior.

Any change in rabbits’ normal behavior might be a sign of a sick rabbit.

Maintaining cleanliness in your pet rabbits’ cage, running area, and feeding them a menu high in fiber is vital for their well-being.

Observe your rabbits often, and in case you notice any symptoms as I mentioned above, visit a veterinary soon.

Leaving your rabbits untreated for their sickness will deteriorate their health and might as well bring their demise sooner.

Want your rabbit to be happy and healthy?

Click here to order the ebook How to raise healthy & happy rabbits!

Need other things for your rabbit?
Click on the links below for:
Rabbit food
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit cages and houses
Rabbit health and hygiene

lonely rabbit behavior

Lonely rabbit behavior

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Realize all the lonely rabbit behavior first to better understand whether your new pet rabbit is lonely or simply stressed due to some unusual changes in its environment.

Knowing your rabbit’s lonely behavior will aid you to prevent your house rabbits from further feelings of depression.

I have described in this article several actions of rabbits which determines the rabbit is lonely. Unless you understand that your rabbit is lonely you can’t prevent your rabbits from getting stressed or sick.

A bunny has to be lively in order to stay healthy.

Below is an audio file which you can listen to if you do not want to read the full article.

Lonely rabbit behavior: Is my rabbit lonely?

In order to know if your rabbit is lonely or not you have to pay attention to your rabbit’s behavior.

A lonely rabbit may show signs of aggression towards other rabbits or its guardian. Similarly, a lonely rabbit will overeat and pull at its own fur.

A rabbit will act in different ways when they are lonely:

  1. A lonely rabbit will seek your attention and nudge at you;
  2. It may simply refuse to interact and bond with you. A lonely rabbit will not show any interest when you pet him/her or try to play with your rabbit.
  3. A lonely rabbit will show aggression towards other rabbits;
  4. A lonely rabbit will become destructive. They will bite furniture and rip off carpets with their tooth.
  5. A rabbit that is eating more than usual and pulling on its own far is also a lonely rabbit.

How to stop your pet rabbits from being lonely?

To stop your rabbits from being lonely or depressed, you can do any one of these:

  1. Introduce a rabbit of the opposite gender to your current pet rabbit. Allow time for them to become friends and follow the rabbit bonding stages for proper rabbit introduction.
  2. OR if you are not willing to bring home another pet rabbit, then make sure you spend plenty of time with your current pet rabbit.

Two above mentioned are the only ways to stop your pet rabbits from being lonely.

As well as you can bond a rabbit with other pets like cats and dogs. In order to bond a rabbit with a cat, you will have to be patient and follow the steps I have discussed here >>> Do cats and rabbits live together?

In case you have a dog as a pet and want your new rabbits to live happily with your dogs >>> Read HERE.

Human interaction to prevent rabbit depression.

A rabbit guardian must prevent their rabbit from getting depressed at any cost.

What shall you do if you do not have any other pet to bond with your bunny?

Do you have plenty of time to spend with your rabbits? If you have enough time to bond with your rabbit and be the best companion of your rabbit you can do as follows:

  1. Do not lock your rabbit inside a cage all the time. Rabbits like to run around and explore. Give them a running space and make sure you bunny-proof your house.
    If you cannot bunny-proof your house then choose a play-pen for bunnies to build a bunny running space.
  2. Your rabbits will explore themselves and in time slowly they will come close to you. Once they come close to you pet them slowly. Learn here how to pet a rabbit the right way?
  3. Do not pick up your bunny. Rabbits are prey animals and if you pick them up they may get scared. Get down to their level and play with them.
  4. Use rabbit toys for your rabbits. Toss some rabbit toys and see your rabbits playing with and chewing on them.
  5. Do not invade their space or they can think of you as their enemy. Allow your pet rabbits to come close to you.

Lonely rabbit after the death of a bonded partner.

A rabbit will get very lonely after the death of its bonded partner. Rabbits are very social animals and require a companion to remain happy and healthy.

Rabbits build a strong relationship with their partner and the death of their partner will cause severe stress and depression in a rabbit.

What can you actually do to prevent?

To prevent your pet rabbit from further loneliness you have to spend a lot of time with your rabbit. Do not allow your rabbit to remain lonely.

Try to bond with your grieving pet rabbit.

Your rabbit will grief and it will cause extreme stress in your rabbits. Once they are stressed beyond limits they will get sick very fast.

If you can’t spend sufficient time with your rabbit you can help your rabbit to come out of depression by introducing a new rabbit friend to improve the scenario.

However proper introduction is required before doing so. Do not expect your older rabbit to accept a new bunny companion right away.

Without correct rabbit bonding stages, the older rabbit may show signs of aggression towards the new bunny.

Follow the correct steps and perhaps it will help your grieving rabbit come out from depression.

Can rabbits die of loneliness?

YES, rabbits can die of loneliness. There have been several cases where a rabbit passed away after a few days of its bonded partner’s death.

Losing a friend or a bonded partner will cause the rabbit to grieve and depression. As a result, the grieving rabbit will be stressed.

AND in time the stressed rabbit will become unhealthy.

Staying in such a condition may result in the death of a lonely rabbit.

Therefore it is always a rabbit guardian duty to look after a lonely rabbit and do everything possible to keep the pet rabbit in a good shape.

Want your rabbit to be happy and healthy?

Click on the links below for:
Rabbit food
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit cages and houses
Rabbit health and hygiene
Get a portrait of your rabbit

Click here to order the ebook How to raise healthy & happy rabbits!

Read more

  • Do Rabbits Need Shots?
    All pet owners want their pets to have long, happy, healthy lives. The same goes for those who own rabbits. However, there is one concept that can be very complicated for rabbit owners: Vaccines. Do bunnies require vaccinations? Are they even safe? These questions pose a real concern for bunny owners. We all want our …

    Do Rabbits Need Shots? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins?
    Pumpkins are believed to be rabbits’ second-favorite orange vegetable, right after carrots. These winter squashes are mostly used as holiday pies, but they’re also packed with nutrition that’s important in a rabbit’s diet. Pumpkin is not toxic for rabbits but they should not be fed with it too often or in larger amounts. If you …

    Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers?
    Picking the appropriate fresh vegetables to supplement your pet rabbit’s diet can be an excellent way to turn out their nutrition. While bunnies receive most of their nutrients from fresh hay, attaching a regular supplement of fresh greens and veggies will equip them with vital vitamins and minerals. While most vegetables can aid in keeping …

    Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro?
    Cilantro gives a touch of fresh taste to a variety of foods. Just like any other spices, cilantro also carries antioxidants that can remove dejected and unwanted metal particles in our bodies. It has also been proven that cilantro carries an element that can fight off Salmonella. Thus, providing its partaker a more salutary digestive …

    Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Corn?
    Fresh, dried, or cooked corn, all of them are not safe for your bunny. It is very unfortunate to say because some bunnies love to munch on fresh and sweet corn very much. While the hull of corn kernels carries complex polysaccharides. Normally, rabbits find it hard to digest complex polysaccharides. So, corn is considered …

    Can Rabbits Eat Corn? Read More »

rabbit signs of stress

Top Rabbit signs of stress – FAQ

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Wondering whether your rabbits are stressed or not? Realizing the rabbit signs of stress will enable you to prevent your rabbits from rabbit stress death.

Learning all about the signs of fear and nervousness in rabbits will remove the whole confusion between you and your rabbits. As a result, your rabbits will love you.

The best part

I have explained in detail and answered all the FAQ relating to rabbit anxiety symptoms and ways to reduce stress in house rabbits.

Rabbit signs of stress and the reason behind stress.

Being small and delicate animals, rabbits get nervous very easily. As a rabbit guardian, it is you who will have to realize rabbit anxiety symptoms and prevent your rabbits from getting further stress.

Before understanding rabbit signs of stress, you must remember rabbits are naturally prey animals and they are very fearful.

A sudden change in their environment or habitat can cause stress for your rabbits.

If you place your rabbit in a situation where your rabbit feels scared or frightened all the time, it will cause serious stress for them and may cause fatal health concerns.

However, you may not recognize the behavior changes in your rabbits due to stress, if you don’t know the signs.

The rabbit signs of stress are as follows:

A stressed rabbit will behave unusually than normal. Although every different rabbit has different characteristics, rabbit owners once they recognize the normal behavior pattern they will be able to identify the unusual behavior as well:

  • Rabbits are a very active animal, however, if they are stressed they will seem anxious and restless;
  • On the contrary, some rabbits may become very inactive when they are stressed. They will lose the interest of their surroundings and will be visible quiet trying to hide in a spot;
  • Hiding or going somewhere they think is safe is the natural instinct of rabbits. But a stressed rabbit will hide longer than normal to stay away from fear and prevent themselves from nervousness.
  • A nervous and stressed rabbit will over groom themselves. At some point, they may even bite themselves and remove a patch of fur from their body. That may even lead to bleeding, so be very careful of this sign.
  • Again a rabbit that is nervous may not groom itself at all. rabbits are very clean and self-grooming animals if they stop grooming themselves, you must take notice of that and prevent your rabbit from further anxiety.
  • Another sign of an anxious rabbit is being aggressive. It means the rabbit is frightened and trying to protect him/herself.
    A stressed rabbit will fight another rabbit and may bite the rabbit guardian when the guardian is trying to handle or pet the rabbit.
  • Finally, a stressed rabbit will appear very nervous. They will breathe heavily, may freeze an hold their ears back tight to their head.
    But the sign of holding ears tight back to their head is similar to the way a rabbit sleeps. Now, to prevent confusion you have to understand whether it is a sign of stress or your rabbit is just sleeping.
  • A stressed rabbit will make noises. Usually, rabbits are very quiet house pets. Nevertheless, in an extremely stressed situation, your pet rabbit will make a screeching sound.
  • Another rabbit sign of stress is a change in the rabbit’s feeding and toilet timing. This change in rabbit’s behavior shows that your rabbit is fearful and nervous, hence they only feed and poop when they think it is safe for them.

Why do rabbits get stressed?

Rabbits get stressed when they are scared. As rabbits are a prey animal and like to sleep in burrows even a simple change in the environment can be fearful for them.

Too much fear leads to nervousness and anxiety as a result you rabbit gets stressed.

There are several other factors apart from fear for a rabbit to get stressed. Understanding these other factors are equally important for your rabbits’ health and prevent them from house rabbits getting sick:

  • A rabbit will get stressed if you keep them in an unclean environment for a long time. Rabbits are a clean animal.
    They prefer to keep themselves clean and play in a clean surrounding. Neither they can clean their own cage nor the running space you provide for your bunnies.
    If you do not clean the rabbit cage or hutch regularly it will impact your rabbits’ health. Your rabbit will be stressed and the unclean cage may form bacteria and lead to diseases in your rabbits.
    To learn read here >>> How to clean a rabbit cage properly?
  • Rabbit owners love to pet their rabbits. Most rabbit owners do not know how to pet a rabbit the right way.
    In order to pet a rabbit and lift a rabbit because they are so adorable bunny lovers must first realize there is a decent way to do so. If you lift a rabbit abruptly it will cause stress in rabbits as they are prey animals. Find here >>> How to pet a rabbit and not frighten them.
  • Many rabbit owners prefer to keep their pet rabbits outdoors. Keeping a rabbit outdoors is a good idea only if you take the safety measures.
    Temperature changes can harm your rabbit a lot. Too much cold or too much heat can cause stress in your rabbits. Preventing rabbits outdoors is easy and you can read here more details about >>> Keeping rabbits outdoors and safety.
  • A stressed rabbit is not a healthy rabbit. An unhealthy rabbit is a sick rabbit. To keep your rabbits in good shape it is vital you choose a very good diet for your rabbits.
    Understand what is the best food for your rabbits and what to feed them. Rabbits dental health is equally important for overall health. A rabbit wants to continuously chew on something to stop their teeth grow continuously.
    So it is vital you provide your rabbits always with some fresh and good quality rabbit hay
  • Rabbits are amazing pets. Some pet lovers they try to introduce their rabbit with the previous rabbits they already own.
    It may sound complicated yet it is easy and to do so you must introduce new pet rabbits gradually. A rabbit can stay in the same house with cats and dogs. But if you introduce the cat to your rabbits suddenly it will cause stress for you rabbits due to so many reasons. Read here for a basic understanding of >>> How to introduce cats and new rabbits.

How to reduce stress in rabbits? Techniques to calm down a stressed rabbit.

To reduce stress in rabbits you must prevent rabbits from getting fearful. Avoid sudden changes in the environment and their habitat.

In case your rabbit shows signs of stress continuously it is best to visit a rabbit vet immediately. The vet will be able to find the reason for stress and suggest you what measures you must take for your bunny friend.

To reduce stress in rabbits you can take all these steps:

  • Provide your rabbits adequate running space for them to exercise and remain healthy;
  • Do not expose your rabbits to extreme heat or cold. Find ways to keep them at a comfortable temperature;
  • They should be kept in a place with sufficient flow of fresh air.
  • Keep them in a clean place.
  • Do not expose your rabbits to predators. A mere sight of a predator will shock your rabbits.
  • Rabbits are very active animals and get bored easily. Give them plenty of safe rabbit chew toys so that they will not get bored.
  • Rabbits are adorable and require companionship. So do not let your rabbit go lonely. Always try to buy a pair of rabbits.
    If you do not buy a pair of rabbit, you as a rabbit guardian try to make some time every day to interact and play with rabbits. In no time you will realize these small pets are amazing companion too.
  • Do not introduce your rabbits to strangers suddenly. Your rabbits will be frightened by the new faces, and it will be very stressful if the stranger tries to handle your rabbits without having knowledge of how to pet a rabbit.
  • Avoid keeping your rabbits in a noisy place. Too much noise will create stress for your rabbits.
  • Every time you go out for the whole weekend, do not carry your rabbits along with you. The car travel may be very stressful for your rabbits.
    You can keep your rabbit in the house alone but definitely needs supervision. Read here >>> How can you leave a rabbit alone for the weekend?
  • Prevent your rabbit from getting sick. Provide them with the best rabbit food and best rabbit hay.

In order to calm down a stressed rabbit, avoid doing all the above mentioned.

Pet your rabbits and let them feel loved.

Give them a place where they can hide and relax.

Provide your rabbits with treats.

Give your rabbit some toys to play with.

Still, if your rabbit is stressed you must visit a vet and explain all your concern.

The rabbit vet will identify the reason and can suggest you the best steps on how to take care of your rabbit.

Rabbit stress death: Can rabbits die from stress?

Yes, rabbits can die from stress. It is not common yet not impossible.

If your rabbit gets a sudden shock from fear of loud noise or sight of an aggressive predator, which may lead to a heart attack.

The heart attack will be the reason for your rabbit’s sudden death.

Want your rabbit to be happy and healthy?

Click here to order the ebook How to raise healthy & happy rabbits!

Need other things for your rabbit?
Click on the links below for:
Rabbit food
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit supplies
Rabbit cages and houses
Rabbit health and hygiene

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  • Can Rabbits Eat Corn?
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can i leave my rabbit alone for the weekend

Can I leave my Rabbit alone for the weekend?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Before leaving your rabbit alone, make sure you leave them with essential items over the weekend.

Every once in a while I want to go out traveling for the weekend. But whenever I intend to do that I am concerned about leaving my rabbits home alone. Every time I ask myself can I leave my rabbit alone for the weekend without anyone to care for these delicate animals?

Now

That I have done that leaving my rabbits home alone a few times, I can say you this:

Leaving rabbits alone is not a problem. However proper safety measures and precautions must be considered before you do so.

This article explains what to do and what not. How long can you leave a rabbit home alone?

After you complete reading this article, you can leave your bunnies alone in your home with some bunny toys and plenty of the best rabbit hay while you are on vacation.

The best part:

You don’t have to stress or worry about your rabbits during your trip next weekend.

Can I leave my rabbit alone for the weekend?

The simple answer is YES and NO. Let me share a little from my own experience.

I personally like to travel a lot. At least once every week I am out somewhere close to nature to recharge myself for the busy week ahead.

However, for many reasons

It is always not possible to travel with my rabbit. Due to causes beyond my control, I have to leave my favorite bunbun in the house for a few days.

My rabbit DAYA never had a cage. She has the full house for the run. She is litter trained. So it has never been an issue for me to leave my rabbit alone for the whole weekend.

How can you actually do this?

By doing the things I have written in this article.

I always took proper measures:

Such as leaving sufficient rabbit food and rabbit hay, fresh drinking water, and some rabbit chew toys to not allow my rabbit to get bored or feel lonely.

Do not keep grass or hay just in one place. Try to spread your rabbits’ food in several places around the house, so that your rabbits can work around to find their food.

Keep fresh water in 2 or 3 different feeders in different locations.

Rabbits are social animals and need human interactions to stay healthy. I never left my rabbits alone for over 24 hours.

However, leaving your rabbits alone for the weekend is often dangerous. Not all rabbits will be comfortable staying alone for a whole week or over 24 hours without any observation.

Rabbits are little delicate animals and simply can have health issues. Rabbit get bored quickly, and due to being prey animals they get scared very fast.

If you leave them alone in your house, your bunny may lose their appetite and stop eating. This can be deadly for your rabbits.

In case you have to leave your rabbit over 24 hours you must get a pet sitter or have a friend or neighbor to come look at how your rabbits are doing at least once every 12 hours.

But what if you really don’t want to leave your rabbits home alone?

You can use one of this rabbit carrier to take your rabbits on the journey with you.

How long can I leave my rabbit home alone?

Rabbits are highly social animals. They need to be cuddled and petted and play with. So once you leave them home alone they are going to get lonely.

I never left my rabbits home alone for over 24 hours. Leaving them for over 24 hours or 48 hours is a big NO-NO.

Why is that?

Because rabbits are lively animals and need to run around at least four hours every day. So it is not wise to leave your rabbits in cages for 48 hours.

Although you leave rabbits with enough food, rabbit hay, and supply of fresh water, there is no guarantee of odd incidents that might occur and can be fatal to your rabbits.

Your rabbits may spill all the water or they may chew through all the hay you have left for them. They will starve and probably will get sick.

I must say it is preferable to leave your rabbits unsupervised for a maximum of only 12 hours. Over 12 hours can be too risky.

Leaving them alone for 12 hours is not much of a risk. I have done it many times and it was never an issue for my rabbits.

Can I leave my rabbit alone for a week?

So I can understand, there may be occasions you really need to be out for a week and you can’t carry your rabbits along with you.

You might be wondering what to do with your bunnies or rabbits during the week. Simply request a friend or a neighbor to look after your rabbits.

If that is not possible then find pet sitters who will happily visit your house and spend time with your pets in your absence.

If everything else fails why not just buy this small pet carry bag and bring your bunnies along with you. Perhaps your bunnies will enjoy a different place and an environment too.

Nevertheless, do not leave your rabbits alone for a week. Maximum of 24 hours and your bunny will start to feel very lonely. In case they are in a rabbit cage, that’s going to be worse for them.

The bottom line:

They require time outside of their cage to run and exercise. I remember I didn’t let my rabbit out of the cage for 24 hours once, and she was so angry with me that she bit my finger.

Even if you leave them free within your apartment, there are still dangers of your bunny chewing through harmful things which will cause problems in their digestive system and may become fatal for your rabbits.

That is why a house with free-roaming bunnies needs to be bunny-proofed.

There are so many reasons you must not leave your rabbits unsupervised alone in the home for a whole week.

How long can you leave a rabbit without food?

Rabbits love eating especially grass and hay. They can chew all day through rabbit hay.

So the idea of leaving your rabbits without food is complete nonsense. Hay is essential for the betterment of their health.

You can read here >>> The importance of hay in a rabbit’s diet.

Rabbits are small animals and cute house pets, yet they like to eat a lot. In spite of being small doesn’t mean they do not consume much.

So thinking about leaving your rabbits without food for a certain time is a NO-NO. Your rabbits need food and fresh water to survive.

If you are about to go out for a day. You must leave enough rabbit hay around the house and fresh water. Some pellets wouldn’t be bad either. Do not keep the food and water in one place as I mentioned above.

Spread it around in a few places within your rabbits running space. So that way your bunnies will have to look for the food and he/she will not get bored.

The first time I wanted to go out on a trip during the weekend I asked the same question to myself if can I leave my rabbit alone for the weekend. But I couldn’t find any satisfactory answer.

Hence I have written this article to help others.

Interested to know what food is best for your rabbits while you are not home? Then go Here to find out >>> Rabbit Foods for a Healthy Bunny.

As well as visit our >>> Resources <<< page to find the essential bunny products recommended by our readers.

Want your rabbit to be happy and healthy?

Click on the links below for:
Rabbit food
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit cages and houses
Rabbit health and hygiene
Get a portrait of your rabbit

Click here to order the ebook How to raise healthy & happy rabbits!

How to raise happy & healthy rabbits!
How to raise happy & healthy rabbits!

Read more

  • Do Rabbits Need Shots?
    All pet owners want their pets to have long, happy, healthy lives. The same goes for those who own rabbits. However, there is one concept that can be very complicated for rabbit owners: Vaccines. Do bunnies require vaccinations? Are they even safe? These questions pose a real concern for bunny owners. We all want our …

    Do Rabbits Need Shots? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins?
    Pumpkins are believed to be rabbits’ second-favorite orange vegetable, right after carrots. These winter squashes are mostly used as holiday pies, but they’re also packed with nutrition that’s important in a rabbit’s diet. Pumpkin is not toxic for rabbits but they should not be fed with it too often or in larger amounts. If you …

    Can Rabbits Eat Pumpkins? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers?
    Picking the appropriate fresh vegetables to supplement your pet rabbit’s diet can be an excellent way to turn out their nutrition. While bunnies receive most of their nutrients from fresh hay, attaching a regular supplement of fresh greens and veggies will equip them with vital vitamins and minerals. While most vegetables can aid in keeping …

    Can Rabbits Eat Bell Peppers? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro?
    Cilantro gives a touch of fresh taste to a variety of foods. Just like any other spices, cilantro also carries antioxidants that can remove dejected and unwanted metal particles in our bodies. It has also been proven that cilantro carries an element that can fight off Salmonella. Thus, providing its partaker a more salutary digestive …

    Can Rabbits Eat Cilantro? Read More »

  • Can Rabbits Eat Corn?
    Fresh, dried, or cooked corn, all of them are not safe for your bunny. It is very unfortunate to say because some bunnies love to munch on fresh and sweet corn very much. While the hull of corn kernels carries complex polysaccharides. Normally, rabbits find it hard to digest complex polysaccharides. So, corn is considered …

    Can Rabbits Eat Corn? Read More »

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