My bunny’s ears are down in the relaxed position all the time

[Lac668]

I just got a Netherlandian dwarf bunny a couple weeks ago, and she’s still a baby. At first her ears did all kinds of motions like bunnies and rabbits do, but ever since this weekend it has seemed like she has kept her ears in the relaxed position on either side of her head, always. Is this normal? Is she just relaxed all the time, or could it signal depression? She does it even when she’s doing her binkies, or zooming around running when she appears content.

[Wick & Fable]

It is difficult to make informed judgements based on brief descriptions. Can you provide some more information? Is she eating well? Is she pooping well? When there is a sound, do her ears respond normally?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Lac668]

She eats and poops just fine. She has had a few “off” days where she acted like she might be depressed or lonely, or something despite my interacting with her and trying to bond with her. I wanted to get her a bunny friend but then found out that it’s usually necessary for a bunny to be spayed or neutered beforehand, 3-6 months down the line before introducing another bunny. So that has been feeling like not an option yet and in the meantime I’ll continue trying to play with her and set up some toys and entertainment for her. Sounds don’t seem to grab her attention much. I just think it’s weird that she suddenly went lop-eared all the time. It started out that her ears were almost always one ear up one ear down, but now they’re both just down in the relaxed position, all the time.

[Wick & Fable]

Do you have a picture? You may just be seeing the natural progression of a lop-eared rabbit actually becoming lop-eared. There is a phase of “helicopter ears” where one is up and one is down pretty often, and then eventually things will “fully lop” and both ears will be at the side. Lop ears don’t move very much because… gravity and anatomical structure.

If you are referring to ears laying/rest on the back, I wonder if you’re just noticing your rabbit sleeping. See here for information on interpreting body language: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Understanding_your_rabbit#Body_language

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[LBJ10]

Yes, what do you mean by “relaxed position”? Are they flopping? Like helicopter ears?

[Author]

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