Grey rabbit sitting on a persons lap looking stressed

Rabbits are prey animals, and in the wild, there are many predators that hunt them. Therefore, rabbits have evolved to be continuously on the lookout for very real dangers. They live in groups, as there is safety in numbers. They minimise their time above ground and rarely show signs of illness or weakness, as that would alert predators to a potentially easy target.

Domesticated or pet rabbits are not so far removed from their wild ancestors, and so although our furry friends may look cute, cuddly and relaxed, unless you're very attuned to signs of rabbit stress, it's likely that your bunny may be more stressed out than you realise.

If you've ever wondered do rabbits get stressed easily, do rabbits shed when stressed​, do rabbits flop when stressed, can rabbits get diarrhoea from stress, or even can a rabbit die from stress, then read on to find out more. Don't worry, we also cover how to calm a stressed rabbit…

What is Stressful to Rabbits?

The answer to this question is that almost everything can potentially make a rabbit feel stressed or anxious! As prey animals, anything that is unfamiliar or that could be a potential threat will cause rabbits to feel stressed and fearful.

Common Causes of Stress in Rabbits

As we just mentioned, the list of things that could stress out your bunny is seemingly endless. But some of the more common examples are:

Anything unfamiliar to your bunny is likely to cause them some degree of anxiety. But how do you know when your bunny is stressed? And, when many of the things around them can contribute to those feelings, what can you do to help them?

What Are the Signs of Stress in Rabbits?

Rabbits hide their stress, so as not to show signs of weakness to predators. So, you may need to use your detective skills to identify when they're feeling anxious and to recognise signs of rabbit stress behaviour.

When rabbits are stressed and fearful, they'll be on full alert. Their ears will be raised (unless they're a lop-eared rabbit) and the ears will move around to detect sounds. They may be poised, ready to run away. They may stamp their back feet to warn other rabbits of possible danger. Their breathing and heart rate will increase, and they'll stop eating or doing whatever they were before the danger became apparent. Their eyes will be wide, and their nose twitching will be faster than usual as they try to locate the scent of any danger.

How Do You Know When a Rabbit is Scared?

Scared bunnies may also try to make themselves smaller. They may crouch low to the ground, and their ears may be flat along their back. Their eyes will be wide, and they'll attempt to remain totally still.

To the untrained eye, these rabbits may look relaxed, but they're absolutely not. Instead, they're more likely to be in a state of fear and heightened anxiety.

Noticing Anxious Rabbit Behaviour and Signs of Chronic Stress

Concentrate on reading your rabbit's body language so that you are well placed to notice any changes in behaviour, including:

  • When did the behaviour change?
  • Did anything unusual happen around that time?
  • What level of stress is your bunny experiencing?

If rabbits have been under stress for long periods, then they can start to suffer signs of chronic stress, and this can make them very poorly.

Stressed bunnies may shed hair, or even pull out their hair; they may suffer from diarrhoea, they may not groom properly and can even die from chronic stress.

How to Minimise Fear and Stress in Rabbits

We can't eliminate all worries for our rabbits, but we can strive to reduce stress and help them feel safe.

Only pick your rabbit up when truly necessary. Most rabbits do not like being picked up and prefer to be stroked on the ground, rather than picked up and cuddled.

Don't chase your rabbits when trying to catch them. Instead, sit at their level to interact with them and allow them to come to you.

Never, ever place a rabbit on their back. They may freeze or flop when you do so, but this is a highly stressful position for rabbits, and the freeze is a fear-related response.

Always keep rabbits with a companion rabbit as they don't like to live alone and can't truly relax if they feel they must be the solo "lookout" all the time.

Creating a Suitable and Safe Environment

Ensure that their environment allows them to exhibit normal behaviours, such as:

  • Digging
  • Hopping
  • Sunbathing
  • Hiding
  • Exploring their environment
  • Jumping up and down from boxes
  • Going through tunnels
  • Normal eating habits (lots of grass and hay), etc.

They also need to have lots of hideaways so that they can choose to be in the location where they feel safest. Avoid loud noises and try to ensure that your rabbits live in a generally quiet location.

Do not allow predator species nearby, even if the rabbits can't see them, they will still be able to smell them.

How to Reduce Stress in Rabbits On a Trip to the Vet

If your rabbits need to go to the vet, always keep bonded pairs or groups together to help reduce their stress levels. Ask your vet if they have a quiet place you can wait, away from any cats and dogs.

Stress in rabbits is a very real problem, but if you become familiar with the common signs of stress, then you'll be in the best position to notice when your rabbit is stressed and can find ways to get them feeling a bit more relaxed. If you feel that you need some further help or advice, then your veterinary team will be able to assist you.

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

Here at Everypaw, we want to help you keep your bunny healthy and in tip top shape. So, when it comes to your rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Lapis - www.vetlexicon.com/lapis 

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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