Cannot trance her!!

[Ana]

I’m close to tears, and my poor baby is terrified more than ever! This is terrible.

I’ve tried for months to trance her, but today I got determined– really determined.  But, NO! I’m covered in scratches, she lost tons of hair, and she’s panting so hard I’m worried for her.

I’ve watched TONS of videos, I’ve tried everything.  It’s impossible.

Are there some rabbits that are just not tranceable?

Please help. We’re both freaked and at our wit’s end. :'( Any secrets? I’ve tried it ALL!

[BunnyMuffin]

I’m not sure if there are untranceable rabbits. Why are you trying to trance her? I never trance either of my rabbits and still manage to get nails trims, scent glands cleaned and all of that jazz. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t want to trance your rabbit – just that there might be other ways to accomplish what you’re trying to do without having to trance, since you’re having trouble with it.

But for now – take a break until you both calm down. Treats all around. 🙂

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi Furbaby!  Yes there are a few untranceable rabbits out there.  However I am concerned with you both since it is stressing you two out so much.  Definately take a break from it, offer up treats and spend tons of quality time on the floor with your baby to build up trust again.  She may not be too trusting now and/or it may have diminished, so it is important to become the un-intimidating loving human in her eyes once again.   I think that you may not really need to trance her either.  I rarely do it to my two and have built up a lot of trust with them and they let me perform grooming and so on without any troubles. 

[Ana]

We’ve both calmed down, she gots treats and lots of pets. I think she definitely trusts me, I think we’re pretty close for human and bunny. She’ll come up to me and ask for pets, she’ll let me cuddle her, etc. I’ve been trying to trance her so I can do her scent glands. She’ll let me brush her, clean her if she needs it, etc., but when I flip her over for the glands she goes crazy…

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Is there anyone who can help you? They can wrap her up in a towe,l bunny burrito style with her bum sticking out! That way she can’t scratch or kick. You could flip her over like that too if you’d like. That’s how I do my bun’s monthly maintenance.

[Ana]

I don’t have anyone to help me, as my roommates are terrified of her. Pretty sure the boyfriend would leave me if he saw me clean her anal glands. Haha.

I’ve tried the bunny burrito. I don’t think you guys understand how intensely Evie hates being on her back. And how intensely she fights against me. Do people take their rabbit to the vet for this kind of thing? God, that’s going to be terrible money wise and seeing as how I don’t have a car…

[BunnyMuffin]

Hmm… Might be something to just gradually work on. I don’t think anything tragic will happen if you don’t get her glands cleaned immediately, so you might want to try just slowly getting her used to the idea. I know that Wally isn’t a big fan of handling, but we’ve been working with him and he’s already much better than when we got him in October. We make a point of picking him up once a day and giving him some type of treat while he’s being held. Noelle absolutely refused to be upside down when I first tried, but I kept working on it and she’s much better. At first I was really nervous when I tried to flip her over, so I think she didn’t trust me because she could sense my uncertainty. So definitely do your best to feel calm and project confidence when you’re handling your bun – which I understand is easier said than done sometimes. How is she with being picked up in general? Cuz you might want to work on that first, then once that’s more comfortable start flipping her over just for a short period and giving her a treat, but not trying to prod. Why are your roommates terrified of her? She’s just a little bunny! 😛

Hopefully some others will have some suggestions soon as well.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Furbaby that’s great to hear that you two still have a close bond. Some bunnies aren’t so forgiving so I just wanted to be sure. Have you tried putting her on her back in a somewhat upright position to clean the scent glands? I do this with Daffodil as she gets skittish sometimes too.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh gosh that’s terrible!! There are some rabbits that are really good at ‘not getting tranced’

I’d agree-take a break, a breather-rebond, let your arms heal

I’d love to give you some pointers for when your ready to try again I find the easiest way to trance is this: (I’ll try to explain it)

I’m sitting down; Bunny in my arms accross my lap (bum on left, nose on right)

I use my right hand to grip the front of her, with three fingers under her tummy, pointer finger under the chin and thumb on top. With my left hand I grab the bum, holding both hind legs tightly.

Then moving smoothly but slowly and *keeping her against my chest* I tip backwards (counter clockwise) into the crook of my arm, as if I’m cradling a baby.

This way you have both hands and your chest to support and restrain her -as soon as she’s on her back, I hold tight making sure legs are restrained from kicking and talk soft and rub the nose.

[Ana]

Thanks guys… we are pretty close and I think we’ve both recovered (she still binkies). Not sure what to do though. I’ve tried hodling her many ways, and she just can’t handle it. I don’t want to keep trying because it’s just too stressful on both of us… She doesn’t smell, so maybe she doesn’t need the glands cleaned?

[MarkBun]

I have never cleaned Maryann’s scent glands. When I brought her to meet Dono for the first time, one of the helpers cleaned her scent glands and apparently they were just fine. A little dirty but fine.  I should mention that she doesn’t stink either.

Maryann is also a non trancer. The only time she allows me to do it is when I’m scared that she’s hurt herself. She seems to sense the urgency and allows me to do it.

Remember that rabbits enter a trance when a predator turns them over on their backs just before tearing them open. It is a self defense mechanism so it is usually engrained in their heads that on your back=food for wolf.

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