Shaking bunny?

[alexa h]

As I am new to rabbits, I had a question concerning my little bun, Lola. She is always slightly shaking, especially when shes sleeping or relaxing. Nothing violent or anything, and its barely noticable, but her ears are always very lightly, hmm, trembling? At first I thought maybe she was scared, but then I notice her heartbeat is faster than a human’s and I figured this is why she does this. So, is this normal and healthy? Or is ther a problem? Thanks

[BinkyBunny]

Sorry it took me so long to get to you. Somehow I missed this post!  If you ever have something that is concerning to you healthwise that you would like me to answer right away, then after you post, email me the link and ask for immediate attention, and I’ll get to it within 24 hours.

I’m wondering if, because of her long fluffy hair, her breathing and sniffing  does make her “seem” to be slightly shaking.  Also, longer haired bunnies may have a more difficult time with cooling down, so has it been hotter there?  Could she just be breathing a bit heavier?  You may have to keep a light fan nearby to keep her cool. (Not directly on her though)

But there are also neurological problems that can cause shaking too.  

But, of course, there  is no way for me know the difference via this board, so if you have real concerns, it might be good to have vet check her out.  Plus, since you just recently got her, it’s always a good idea to find a “rabbit savvy” so she can get a check-up.   I don’t know where you got her, but many places offer free vet exam coupons.   But either way, getting her checked out not only is good for her but gets you established with a vet if you haven’t already done so.

If you don’t already have a rabbit savvy vet, there are ways to find one.  Just let me know, and I’ll post some stuff that will help you out.

[alexa h]

Thanks for replying Actually it had been hot, and I figure she was doing that to cool off. Now the AC is back on, and I gave her a trim, and she seems fine. I also giver her the ice water bottle to snuggle next to when she sleeps. But if I notice any more of that, I will head over to the vet. Actually, I am keeping my eye out on vets right now, so that I’m ready for when its time for her to get spayed. Since I live in Chicago, I have a nice list of bunny vets i’m going to have to check out. Thanks for the advice!

[laura lindauer]

My bunny does that!! When she binkys!!!!!!!!! So I suggest give your bunny some water and chill out!! bunnys love to binky!!

[Bunnies4ever]

My lionhead Chloe shakes when she’s hot, so perhaps your little one got a little overheated. Keep an eye on her and if it gets too hot, mist the ears with a iittle water, it cools them down. The frozen water bottle works too to keep them cool.

[Lucy]

hey leksia- letting you know I’m in chicago also. I called a bunch of vets, and ended up going to Blum Animal Hospital. There’s a doctor there that only deals with bunnies- Dr. Kramer. They are really nice, and it’s one of the cheaper places I found. . .the surgry was still over $350…but he healed nicely. You can email me, and I’ll give you all of their info. Good luck. (our bunnies should have a play date)

[alexa h]

Thanks for the info!! I will keep Dr. Kramer in mind Lola still has some time before she neds to be spayed, so Im gonna try and do a little research, but its good to know theres a good bunny doctor around! Hehe our buns should have a play date, bunnies of Chicago unite But wow, $350 is one of the cheaper places!? At least he did a good job though Thanks for the advice!

[BinkyBunny]

Here are some links that might help you out as well.

This is the Vet list on the House Rabbit Society Site for Chicago:

http://www.hrschicago.org/articleslay1.html

It is still advised to put who you choose through some screening questions as doctors or vet management/ownership etc could have changed.    Though it does look like the list was update just four months ago.  You can also call the Chicago House Rabbit Society to find out what is the criteria for adding the vet to the list as it the criteria can vary with each chapter.

Here is a great link about how to find a rabbit savvy vet, which also includes the screening questions to ask a vet (also provided by the wonderful House Rabbit Society!)http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html

Keep us updated!

[barbara elliott]

Does trembling/fast breathing mean that the bunny’s feeling hot?

Jhumpa does this sometimes, and I never knew why. I just figured their breathing and heart rates were faster than humans. The only other thing I thought it could mean was that he was scared, but then he did it in “relaxed-bunny-lounge”, so I thought he was ok. He seems very healthy otherwise. We have air conditioning, but our apartment can be a bit warm sometimes (about 75 degrees). I didn’t know about this–could you explain a bit more? I’d like to be more aware of it.

p.s. This is the greatest site ever! Many kudos, Binkybunny!!!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By tabby on 08/22/2006 9:55 PM

 We have air conditioning, but our apartment can be a bit warm sometimes (about 75 degrees). I didn’t know about this–could you explain a bit more? I’d like to be more aware of it.

p.s. This is the greatest site ever! Many kudos, Binkybunny!!!

Thanks so much for the kudos!  Soooooo appreciate it, and I am glad that this can bring people help people as well as just bring us kooky bunny people together. 

Regarding heat and bunnies.   Most bunnies don’t handle heat very well, anything over 80 degrees, especally if they have long hair, small ears or lop ears.   Rabbits don’t  have the capability like hares  with their long lean body, shorter hair and huge ears, to handle heat.

Some bunnies who are used to heat can handle it more than others who aren’t but you still have to watch when the temperatures reach 80 degrees.   

You might be able offer some cooling methods – like a frozen water bottle, dampen a sheet, or pillow case and hang that over their area.  That helps keep things cooler around way they hang out.

[Amie]

Wow! $350 for a spay/neuter? Come on out here to Colorado. I take my bunnies to the best bunny vet (recommended by the CO HRS) in Colorado, and he only charges $80.00. And he is most super sweet to the bunnies.

But, I’m glad the trimming and fan worked. Hate to see our little guys too hot. 🙁

I am new to this site and new to the post thing, but I can’t believe how much info is on here. It’s great!
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[BinkyBunny]

Welcome amie1027!  I am so glad you have found this site helpful. 

It is amazing how vets vary. 

It is wonderful you found a rabbit savvy vet who has a wonderful bedside manner…and he’s cheap! Now I am jealous!

So tell us about your bunny or bunnies.   What do they look like?  What are they like?

[Lucy]

did I get ripped off or something? Maybe it’s because I’m in a big city and couldn’t drive to a subburb (I don’t have a car so I’m at the mercy of friends)?

[Amie]

I’m fairly new to the bunny world.  I adopted my first bunny (mini lop) about a year and a half ago.  He came from a friend at work.  His roommate actually had him and she really knew nothing about bunnies.  She kept him in a small wire bottom cage in the laundry room.  He didn’t get out very often.  And his diet wasn’t even good enough for a street rat.  So, I agreed to take him off their hands.  I read everything I could about bunnies and now he’s the king of this house.  I found him a wife (netherland dwarf).  It took 3 months to bond them, but it was worth it.

My family thinks I am the crazy bunny lady now.  If I could take home every bunny I find on craigs list or at the shelter, I would.  They are the most wonderful pets I have ever owned.   Our bunnies here are more spoiled than most children (without the tantrums).  They have the run of the house when we’re home.  And have the whole kitchen area when we’re not.

I’m glad there are many other bunny owner/lovers out there.  I don’t think I could have gotten these happy bunnies by myself. 

The bunnies are now 2 1/2 years old – Boo (mini lop) and almost 3 years old – FooFoo (netherland dwarf) and they are the absolute love of my life (next to my husband and two kids).

Amie

 

[alexa h]

aww amie, you got a good heart! i know i did  a lot of research before i bought my bun, but some people just buy one and dont even know how to take care of it properly… so sad hehe, but anyways, we are all crazy bunny ladies here

fujoe, you didnt get ripped off, its just the chicago life i did a whole bunch of calling, and couldnt find spaying cheaper than $300 in chicago, or the suburbs. well i did find one place that did it for around $160, but it was the exception. plus half those places were rude!! its what we get for living in the city!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By fujoethebunny on 09/01/2006 7:27 AM
did I get ripped off or something? Maybe it’s because I’m in a big city and couldn’t drive to a subburb (I don’t have a car so I’m at the mercy of friends)?

Though the price you paid $350 was a little steep, mine wasn’t far behind.   I live in San Francisco, and I do think that sometimes the cities can be more expensive.    And though the vet that did the surgery was good, I did end up switching to another rabbit savvy vet that was more reasonable, however, I do have to make a trip across the bridge and out of the city.  

[BinkyBunny]

Amie1027.   That was such caring thing you did.   It’s amazing how some people treat their rabbit as if it’s a hamster.  I also have a hard time seeing all the available bunnies on Craigslist.  So cute, you just want to take them all home.  But that’s why I promote their so people will really know what they are getting into and be prepared to offer a GOOD life to a bunny.

It’s wonderful to have other adults here who have rabbit companions.  For so long rabbits were just thought of as a child’s pet,  But now they are starting to be recognized as a companion for  adults and/or to be included part of a family like cats and dogs.   It’s amazing to see their true personalites come out when they are given the space and the care they actually need.

And because of you, I am so happy to hear about Boo having a new wonderful chance at life!   And not only that to have a  new addition, FooFoo.   It sounded like a rough start, but how are things now?

Are they fully bonded?  Do they have little tiffs here and there?

[wendyzski]

I just adopted my rabbit from the Red Door shelter in Chicago, and they use Chicago Exotics in Skokie. http://www.exoticpetvet.com/

I don’t know how expensive they are, but they do ALL the spays for the shelter, and many of the staff have pet rabbits.  I’m going to be using them as my primary vet.

Also, about the shaking – is it more like a quivering or shivering, and does it happen just after the bunny has been been running around?  Someone posted about that on the livejournal bunnyowners community and it seems that a lot of buns do that.  I noticed Anabelle Lee doing it after a couple of laps around the kitchen.

[wendyzski]

BTW – one of the shelter volunteers mentioned your site as a place to get info, though I had already peeked over here after hearing about it on the bunnyowners community on LiveJournal.

[BinkyBunny]

Wow, that’s interesting!  So funny how things get around.  I am thrilled!   I’ll have to go search live journal now to see what was said.   How wonderful!!  I am so glad that this site can help people out.   It was just started to share my experiences and all the problems etc that I had to overcome as bunny owner. 

 I also hated seeing all the abandoned bunnies and I hoped that if people could have a place to check out what someone else did, and/or share their issues, and we could all help each other, that mabye that could help prevent someone from giving up their rabbit. 

Plus, it’s just turned out to be fun, Members here have turned out to be so nice, informative and funny. 

[Cuddles_Momma]

Posted By amie1027 on 08/30/2006 7:55 PM
Wow! $350 for a spay/neuter? Come on out here to Colorado. I take my bunnies to the best bunny vet (recommended by the CO HRS) in Colorado, and he only charges $80.00. And he is most super sweet to the bunnies.

But, I’m glad the trimming and fan worked. Hate to see our little guys too hot. 🙁

I am new to this site and new to the post thing, but I can’t believe how much info is on here. It’s great!

Hey, could I have that vet info? I live in Denver and would like to find a good bunny vet.
Thanks!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Cuddles on 09/16/2006 9:07 AM

Posted By amie1027 on 08/30/2006 7:55 PM
Wow! $350 for a spay/neuter? Come on out here to Colorado. I take my bunnies to the best bunny vet (recommended by the CO HRS) in Colorado, and he only charges $80.00. And he is most super sweet to the bunnies.

But, I’m glad the trimming and fan worked. Hate to see our little guys too hot. 🙁

I am new to this site and new to the post thing, but I can’t believe how much info is on here. It’s great!

Hey, could I have that vet info? I live in Denver and would like to find a good bunny vet.
Thanks!

Just in case Amie doesn’t respond here is the link to Colorodo HRS  – it has their ph# and email on the home page  http://www.coloradohrs.com

And here is their vet list for non-emergency vets – http://www.coloradohrs.com/vet.asp?whichvets=2#emlist

Their list for emergency vets  http://www.coloradohrs.com/vet.asp?whichvets=1#emlist

Of course I don’t know exactly which one Amie used, but at least you have options

[Cuddles_Momma]

Thank you Binky Bunny! I just hate to take her to a regular vet that is clueless!

[Henry2007]

My bunny is shaking and seems to be breathing very heavy…… What should I do????

[babybunsmum]

not sure if one of the moderators can give you any more info… but because it’s difficult to tell without a visual here, i’d get your bun to a rabbit savvy vet for an exam to be safe. 

a bit that i have learned about a rabbit’s breathing… at my bun’s recent exam my vet told me to watch for labored or wheezing breaths, or breaths that are not uniform ins & outs.  in those circumstances i should be concerned.  buns do breath at a faster rate than we do just naturally, and even faster when nervous or during exhuberant playing. 

when sleeping or resting a rabbit can twitch a bit much like a dog does.  i like to think they’re dreaming but i don’t really know.  but i take it the shaking part is out of the usual behaviour and that coupled with heavy breathing would def be enough for a vet trip for me.  if your bun is still eating, drinking & pooping, then you may want to stick around for more input.  if the eating / pooping is also wierd please don’t wait & just get to a vet.

how long have you had your bun? 

[Scarlet_Rose]

Henry -I can’t offer up much advice either except take the rabbit to the vet ASAP.  If it is injuring itself from the shaking, wrap it in a towel burrito-style and take it to the vet. 

Amie – Where in Arvada are you?  You’re not the only kooky bunny lady there, so am I!!!! LOL  Also, who is your vet?  I am looking at changing at the moment and I really do not want to take them to Dr. LaBonde or Dr. Guerrera unless they are critically ill. Although they are “The” bunny experts so I just might anyway.

Sage Cat, there is an excellent vet in Denver (Dr. McCarty), take a look at the list:

http://www.coloradohrs.com/vet.asp?whichvets=2#emlist

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