Anxiety in rabbits explainedFirstly, you need to ALWAYS remember that rabbits are prey animals, and their instincts are that everything is out to get and eat them. So, you need to prove to them first that you are a friend and part of their clan. You need to be accepted. But looking deeper into their anxiety, you need to know the following:
Just like humans, rabbits can have very anxious natures. Bunnies can have anxiety attacks, or have a predisposed anxious nature, depending on what they went through, but some bunnies are just born anxious. Just like humans, anxious rabbits will need more safety, more reassurance, and more care.
Anxiety should not be confused with anger issues, which have similar symptoms but displayed differently.
Chewing: One of the main signs of an anxious rabbit is chewing. Not normal gwawing or chewing to shorten the front teeth on boxes and wood, but chewing of fabric, bedding, clothes, and more. This is not just chewing, it is nearly a panicky destruction of what is in front of the bunny, in an attempt to get attention focused on him/her in order to be noticed and reassured.
Freezing: An anxious rabbit may suddenly freeze for no apparent reason than something in the rabbit’s mind that went astray. It could be that something is seen as a threat, that is not actually a threat. The rabbit will freeze, barely breathing, in order not to attract any attention. Most predators go on movement, and the rabbit reacts by freezing in order to escape movement detection.
Screaming: The Banshee yells of a rabbit is one of the most terrifying sounds to ever hear… they only scream in extreme circumstances, in immediate life-threatening danger. However, a rabbit with an anxiety attack will scream for “no apparent reason” and you will see nothing that could have threatened it.
So, what causes a rabbit to have anxiety?
• A Traumatic Past: Domestic Rabbits, especially indoor rabbits that have been abandoned or let go, have minimal survival chances. In cases where they ARE rescued, the stress that they went through, can leave anxiety in them for a long while after the rescue.
• Rabbits with eye or ear problems. In many cases where rabbits have compromised senses, they tend to be more anxious; while they learn to cope with a new environment, or the changing in their senses.
• Babies born from a mother that had a highly stressful pregnancy. These babies will start showing the symptoms only from around 6 weeks old, and being rehomed in that time-span can cause their hearts to fail. Rescued mothers need to have their babies with them until about 12 weeks to show them to be trusting, as she settles in.
• Other factors include genetics, predisposition, and more.
What can you do if you have an anxious rabbit?
A New rabbit:
Do not attempt to touch or pick the bunny up at first. Rather go sit down flat on the ground with the bunny, and just talk softly, read out loud or even sing softly so he/she can get used to your voice and see that you being there is not a threat.
Have treats like rolled oats or small pieces of fruit ready, and just place it halfway between you and the bunny, moving closer in the days to come.
An established rabbit:
First recognize that you have an anxious rabbit, and it is not because of lack of trust.
Then accept the fact that you have a special needs little one, that needs you more than ever.
After that, start doing the following and get this into your routine: Be as supportive as you can, not making sudden moves, loud noises, or using any different smells near the rabbit. The known environment is the rabbit’s safe place, and any new smells may make the bunny feel threatened. If your rabbit likes to be held or stroked, start touching him/her as soon as you see he/she is starting to panic.
The Medical side of an anxious rabbit:
It is not only physiological problems that manifest in an anxious bunny.
These buns have a much higher stasis risk, they can get diarrhea much easier, and their hearts can fail quite easily.
Anxious bunnies are special needs bunnies.
Bunnies that chew can ingest foreign matter and get a blockage.
Make sure your Rabbit Emergency Kit is updated and available for any situation.
Be calm... and love your Bunny!