Bunnies

Why Is My Rabbit Shaking?

Sheetal B
By Sheetal B. Updated: October 7, 2024
Why Is My Rabbit Shaking?

Owners of rabbits often have to deal with many peculiar behavioral aspects of these cute and cuddly creatures. In the wild, rabbits are prey animals. Their body language is totally instinct-based. As an owner, it will help to thoroughly know your pet to understand them. Know exactly how they behave, adapt and respond to their environment, without getting worried.

A rabbit shaking or trembling is one of the most common behaviors owners come across and leaves many nervous, because it seems unusual. Are you a new owner and wondering "why is my rabbit shaking?" oneHOWTO is here to help.

You may also be interested in: Why is My Rabbit Aggressive?
Contents
  1. Why do they shake when it's hot?
  2. Why do bunnies shake when they're frightened?
  3. Are they shaking or is it just hiccups?
  4. Is my rabbit actually shaking?
  5. Is my rabbit's shaking an abnormal sign?
  6. Can I prevent my rabbit from shaking?

Why do they shake when it's hot?

Rabbits (or bunnies as many prefer) do not take heat very well. While freezing temperatures are a different story, they are generally able to endure cold. Conversely, heat really gets to them. A temperature of 26º C (80º F) or more will cause them distress. High temperatures will make rabbits shake. This might seem counter intuitive to you as cold temperatures tend to make us shake more than warm climates. However, bunnies are a little different.

When a rabbit is too hot, they might get heat stroke. While for humans, heat exhaustion may cause a range of symptoms such as dizziness and headaches, the case is different for rabbits. A rabbit with heat stroke cannot regulate their temperature by sweating. Instead, they dilate their blood vessels to regulate temperature[1]. In particular, they dilate the vessels near their ears. This is why you may see a rabbit shaking ears or shaking their head and running. This is often an attempt to quickly regulate their temperature when they have overheated.

Treatment for heat stroke in rabbits involves reducing their temperature. Bring down the heat in the room and leave a cold compress, a damp sheet or a pillow near them. If heat is the cause, the rabbit will come in contact with the cold surface and start feeling better. If they do not stop trembling or shaking their head after you have reduced their temperature, you will need to take them to the vet.

Why do bunnies shake when they're frightened?

When scared, it is quite normal for rabbits to start shaking. You will notice that they are frightened due to their body language. Their nose will vibrate in these situations.There are many different reasons why a rabbit could get frightened, so it is very important to look at any concurrent symptoms and to take a look at their habitat.

It could be due to trauma or a change of surroundings.When you get a new rabbit home, they might miss their earlier environment at the pet store or the farm. They might even miss their mother or siblings. Sometimes, a rabbit that’s used to being alone may not respond well to another in close confines and may get frightened with new company.

Other rabbits will also provide cause for stress in rabbits. If the rabbits have not been sterilized, then they may try to mount the other. This isn't always as a means of procreation. Male rabbits may mount other males as a way to relieve pent up sexual energy or even simply to assert dominance. While we try our best top create convivial living spaces for our beloved pets, there are many elements which can lead to stress. However, it is important to note that quality of care is very important. A 2018 study has also shown that domestic rabbits are much less frightened than their will cousins[2], so domestication does seem to be having an effect.

The above stressful situations may make a rabbit shake and even spray urine too.

Why Is My Rabbit Shaking? - Why do bunnies shake when they're frightened?

Are they shaking or is it just hiccups?

With long-haired rabbits it can be difficult to decipher if the rabbit is really shaking its whole body or if it is just having a case of the hiccups. The most common cause of hiccups in rabbits is a gastrointestinal issue. Rabbits are grazers, so they are unlikely to eat too fast. However, this doesn't stop them from eating too much or too much of the wrong thing.

If rabbits are given food which is too rich for them or has nutrients which are not beneficial to them, they might get upset stomachs. This can lead to hiccups, something which has been reported in rabbits[3], but not all animals. There is still some mystery over the cause of hiccups and other theories suggest it is due to spasms in the respiratory muscles.

When your rabbit has the hiccups, you can reassure them by caressing them softly. Touch their stomach, nose, ears and back gently to help flow of digestion and respiration. Do not do it too firmly or you could cause damage. They might be breathing fast, so recognize their normal breathing pattern. Hiccups might manifest as the rabbit shaking their head, moving their ears from side to side. However, it can cause a tremor to go through their entire body, especially in acute cases.

Why Is My Rabbit Shaking? - Are they shaking or is it just hiccups?

Is my rabbit actually shaking?

There are different kinds of behavioral changes in rabbits. While we need to keep an eye out to see if our rabbit is shaking, we need to be careful to ensure we are not mistaking this symptom. This is why it is so important to check if our rabbit is shaking their head specifically. It can be easy to confuse shaking with other types of movement.

If your rabbit has an ear infection, then it is possible they will shake or scratch their head. It doesn't mean they are trembling or have a tremor. It is a physical reaction whereby they try to shake out the discomfort or it is a reaction to pain. The ear infection may have many causes, such as waxy build up, ear mites or other parasitical infestation. If this is the case, you should be able to see otitis (inflammation of the ears) and should take your rabbit to the veterinarian.

A vet will likely treat infestation with a deworming product. If the infestation has lead to infection, this can be treated with antibiotics. A waxy build up with require an ear cleaning, but you will want the vet to take care of it if it has lead to shaking symptoms.

Is my rabbit's shaking an abnormal sign?

Rabbits are sensitive animals and they might shake a little while still being healthy. If they do, it will be for a short period only and won't be a symptoms of some underlying problem. Also, we may be oversensitive and see our rabbits breathing fast. Fast breathing in rabbits is normal and their heartbeat is also fairly rapid. This is why we need to get to know the signs of a healthy rabbit, so that we can know the difference when something is wrong.

Shaking at all times is not normal and it’s a sign that something is not right. It is important to look for other signs along with shaking episodes. Is your rabbit eating well? Are they pooping fine? Are there any other behavioral changes that you have observed? If there are other symptoms accompanying the shaking and they don't seem well overall, it is recommended you go to the vet as soon as possible.

If you rabbit is shaking before lying down, then you need to recognize this as a sign of something abnormal. Shaking followed by lying down might be a sign your rabbit is dying. If this is the case, then you will need to take them to the veterinarian immediately.

Can I prevent my rabbit from shaking?

As there are many causes which may lead to your rabbit shaking, the best thing to do is maintain their overall health as best you can. Here are some ideas to help you prevent shaking in your rabbit:

  • Diet: maintain a proper diet which has sufficient amounts of quality feed and introduces fruit and vegetables. However, do not overfeed on the latter and ensure they are types beneficial to rabbits such as leafy greens. Also, they need a constant supply of fresh hay,
  • Hygiene: if a rabbit’s hutch or cage is not cleaned regularly and thoroughly, it can lead to disease and stress.
  • Remove stressors: if there are stressors in your rabbit's life, the family cat constantly bothering them for example, remove them.
  • Temperature: ensure the rabbits are kept away from draughts and out of direct sunlight.
  • Handling: don’t over-manipulate your rabbit as this can stress them out. Let them come to you and don’t pick them up if they obviously don’ want to be handled. Also, do not lay them on their back until they paralyze (known as trancing). It is dangerous and can cause a lot of anxiety.

If you want to read similar articles to Why Is My Rabbit Shaking?, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

References
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13 comments
Nicholas Davies
hiya ive had my rabbit for 6yrs now and when i bring her into the lounge with me after cuddling her i put her on the floor and she just sits there staring at me shaking really bad but then she stops after time and comes 2 me.
Rating:
faith
why is my rabbit shake[he is a boy] when i hold him
Ameera Mills
Hi Faith
Rabbits tremble when they are scared, intimidated or cold. Have you had your rabbit for a long time? If it is a new pet, be patient, he may just need to get used to you. However, if you notice any other physical or worrying behavioral problems. We suggest visiting your vet for a consultation. If you have any more questions do not hesitate to ask.
Shivani
My one rabbit pet just died this morning and my other rabbit is shakking his head fastly like he is shivering. Plz help me
What should i do
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Shivani,

If one rabbit died and the other is exhibiting unusual symptoms it is possible there is and infection or illness passed on. It is advisable you see a vet just in case this is the case and treatment needs to be implemented. We wish you luck and are sorry for your loss.
Brighton
The poor bunny might just be worried about why the other one just disappeared it will stop over about a week
Caitlyn tregre
so iilet my bunny run around my house and I have a dog and a 10/11 week old bunny and I was letting them run around to gether since we got her a week and a half ago but wen I went to the batheroom for about 4 min and I come back my dog standing next to her but she was laying on her side and I made she wasnt dead and she wasnt but she is brething really fast not that shacky but her heart is beeting really fast but also her heart feels like it keeps skipping a beet and it has been 20-30n min since what to do?HELP
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Stormy Lyons
This morning I went out to check on the rabbits and my female was laying on her side and shaking. She also has a lump on her back right leg. Is she okay?
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Stormy,

It sounds like she may need to see a vet as it could be a range of any number of issues.
urmeen
i have three rabbits 2 male 1 female all of them are vibrating so much all the time.is this because of heat because they vibrate in hot temperature only but all the time
OneHowTo Editor
This is not a normal attitude. Therefore, try to place them in a cool area with plenty of shade and give them water, making sure they remain calm. They may have suffered a heat stroke or are nervous due to something.
If they keep shaking after two hours we advise you to seek professional help.
Hope this helps
Rating:
Ocean
I just got a male rabbit a few days ago and so far I've let him roam around as much as possible, but he seems to hide under the bed or underneath my table. He shakes constantly and I don't know whether to worry or just pass it off as him not being used to my home. What should I do?
Jane Bertin (oneHOWTO editor)
If there are no other unusual symptoms - changes in diet, digestive functions, behavior - it's likely that it's just the new environment. Do your best to help it feel safe and comfortable, and it will be alright.
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Torii-Ann
Hello. I adopted 2 rabbits almost 4 days ago. One is a male who is a little over 3 years and the other is a female who I was told is around a month and a half old. The male who seems to love it here is shaking all the time and I'm not sure if this is normal or not. It is not a constant shaking he will shake for a few minutes then stop for a while. He seems to be very happy if he's not roaming around he is on my husbands lap, my lap or on our coon dogs back. He also licks us and his original owner has told me that he has never even licked her and she had him for 3 years. Before they came to live with us they were kept in cages and never let out. Since they have been with us they run the house from wakeup to bedtime and they love it. We open the cages in the morning and they come out on their own. I also take them outside to the grass for fresh air throughout the day. He is eating and drinking plenty of fresh water throughout the day. I clean his water bottle every 3-5 hours along with putting fresh water back in it. He looks healthy, acts healthy and happy. He has never seemed nervous or scared. The female does not shake the way he does so it has me on edge. I didn't know if it was normal or if I should be concerned. Also he is not fixed nor is the female so we have to take turns with them. We put a baby gate up to separate them from each other because the male is constantly trying to jump on her and he's so much bigger than her. I want to get them fixed but the original owner asked me not to. They are 2 different breeds of rabbits even if they were they same breed I'm not comfortable with them having babies. I think I'm going to go ahead and get them fixed as it would be better for their health and they would be able to play together instead of just threw their cages or the baby gate. What is you opinion on the shaking and getting them fixed?
Thanks in advance,
Torii-Ann
OneHowTo Editor
Your rabbit may still miss its previous environment or find it hard to get used to having company. If you're very concerned and the shaking keeps happening, we advise you to take it to the vet.
On the other hand, if you don't feel comfortable with the rabbits breeding, then it is fine to fix them, it is a simple operation and it will not have any further side effects for them. Just make sure you keep them on a strict diet after that so they don't put on weight.
Hope this helps
Tina
Originally I had two bunnies that were sisters. Sadly though one pasted away from an illness and we had to move. Since my bunny lost a sister and was moved to a new environment, could this have caused trauma to her??? :(
OneHowTo Editor
It may be the case, comfort your rabbit as much as possible, play with her and pet her as much as possible. Take her to the vet if the situation persists for more than a couple of days.
Pat
When my rabbit poos its all over his bum and smells can u give me some advice on a shampoo to use please
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Pat,
You should go to the vet to get a shampoo appropriate for rabbits, human shampoo might mess with their skin. Or use PH neutral soap.
Hope this helps
Alannah
Hi, my bunny is part of a litter of 9 that lost their mother. She/he is the only one thay shakes a lot and seems to have some sensitivity to light. It's very confusing and little unnerving, she/he is only about 2 weeks old. We have been feeding the entire litter KMR formula.
Alice T Breeze
Hi Alannah,
We advise you to take the little bunny to a nearby vet so he/she can examine your pet properly.
Hope this helps
Cody
Hi, my bunny's leg is twitching, he is not eating his favorite food, has no interest in moving around his cage or floor, and he is avoiding people. PLEASE HELP SOON!!!!!!!!!!
OneHowTo Editor
It sound like your bunny is in quite discomfort, you should take it to the vet as soon as possible so a professional can take a closer look at him.
Jorjiana
I just got 2 new rabbits from the same owner they are the same age 1 is about 1 week older they are 9 weeks. They are both shaking and heart bating fast. Is it because they are scared of there new home or is it a problem? please help soon
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Jorjiana, if you find that they present other symptoms apart from shaking for not much longer we advise you to take them to the vet so they can be properly diagnosed. Kind regards
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Why Is My Rabbit Shaking?