Is Turning a Bunny on Its Back Bad for It?

Even the most docile of pet bunnies may object to being handled on occasion. Turning a bunny on his back can make him temporarily easier to handle during a difficult situation. Placing a frightened or uncooperative bunny on his back can help you perform tasks such as nail clipping, grooming or giving your bunny medication.

  1. Trancing

    • Turning a bunny on his back and waiting for him to go completely and totally still is a process commonly referred to as putting your bunny in a trance. The trance state is considered to be a defense mechanism. Essentially, the bunny goes completely still and plays dead. A significant amount of debate exists within the rabbit breeding and enthusiast community as to whether putting bunnies in a trance is a relaxing or stressful experience for the bunnies.

    Cradling

    • You can put your bunny in a trance by gently placing cradling him in your arms with his back facing toward the ground and his stomach facing up. Stroking your bunny's face, stomach and sides may help him enter the trance state more quickly. Your bunny is fully in a trance when he stops wiggling and lies still in your grasp.

    Safety

    • Putting your bunny in a trance is not dangerous itself, but some dangers present themselves. Bunnies recover from trances quickly, so maintain a good grip extending through the period when he is waking up. A bunny is in a trance will not awaken quickly enough to protect himself from a fall; he could fall off any elevated surface. Do not do anything to your bunny when he is in a trance that you would not consider a safe, basic part of regular care when he is not in a trance. Your bunny should not become injured simply by placing him on his back, but he is more vulnerable to injuries in the trance state.

    Stress

    • Experts disagree whether bunnies are under significant stress when they are in a trance. Some bunny owners turn their bunnies briefly onto their backs as a way of disciplining them. Since you can effectively discipline a bunny by turning him on his back, it is quite possible an element of unpleasantness is involved for your bunny. Putting your bunny in a trance can be a useful tool for getting necessary tasks done, and that is all the trance should be used for. Trancing your bunny should not be a means of putting your bunny in a cooperative state while you perform unnecessary tasks you would never try to do if your bunny was able to fight back.