Side flop and teeth biting

[Littlepinkhouse]

I adopted my bunny Stella back in June and when I fot her shehad some bad terrirory problems and disn’t reallt like people or trust the hand. She’s been getting better and we’ve started to establish sole trust. She isn’t asaggressive as she used to be and will let me grab things from her cage without biting or scrathcing me. Everything has been going well but today she rolled onto her side. I saw her do it twice but I was out today so it could have been more.The first time she dis it I hopped off my bed and she immediatly rolled back over to a “regular” laying position. More of a loaf. I checked on her gave her some rubs, which she seems to enjoy, and then she layes back down. Not completly on her side but with her legs laying out to the side. The second time she did it she sounded like she was bitting her teeth? It’s really concerning me because we just got off of a five hour road trip yeaterday and I’m scares that something may be wrong. She seems to be eating and pooping fine. I gave her pellets a little while after the first time she did it and she ate them. As I type this out she’s eating her hay. (Note: she’s going to the bathroom now but she’s biting her teeth. If you could also let me know if teeth biting is something that bunnies often do and when that would be helpful.) I’ve read that flopping is a thing buns do when they’re happy buns do when they’re happy but can they also do it when they’re in pain? I’m really worried and hope someone can let me know if she’s probably fine or if I should be worried.

[Bam]

Buns do flop when they feel good. They also “bite their teeth” when they feel good and relaxed. It’s called a tooth purr. It can be quite loud at times, at other times it’s barely audible but can be felt if you put your fingers on the bun’s head. A rabbit can however bite its teeth when it’s in pain too – that’s often a choppier, more staccato sound. A bun in that much pain is practically never interested in food or treats.

Sick buns don’t tend to flop. A bunny with gas pain can press the belly against the floor like they are doing push-ups, but poorly buns mostly tend to position themselves in (an uncomfortably-looking) loaf. They also tend to try and hide away. This is a deep instinct, a poorly bun needs to hide away or a predator could spot its weakness and target it. They are also unwilling to move from their spot.

Could it be that she is feeling so good and relaxed now that she takes the (for a prey-animal like a bunny is) rather big risk of flopping out in your presence? By your description only I’d say this is what it’s about. It can be scary the first time you see a bunny flop, rabbits can’t get down onto their side in a controlled manner so they sort of collapse into the position. This is because of their anatomy and perfectly normal.

Eating, pooping, enjoying headrubs – great signs. It could be that she’s just a very happy bunny. 

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