What does a rabbit in a hunched posture look like?

[Miyuki]

Hello everyone, just for reference I was wondering if anyone could show me with pictures or better describe to me what a rabbit in a hunched posture looks like.  Everything I read about pain in rabbits mentions a hunched posture but I’m not sure I’d be able to recognize it even if I saw it.  Or is it one of those postures that I’ll just know if I see it?

[Beka27]

They look uncomfortable. Sometimes they sort of sway back and forth. I’m sure it’s going to be different with some rabbits, but my mini rex sits in kind of like a meatloaf position, but more upright, if that makes sense. My biggest clue with her is not always the body position but the unresponsiveness. She does not want to come out of her pen. She will sit in one specifc corner. Normally, she is very excited to see me, but if she doesn’t feel well, she does not stir. “Treats” have no effect on her.

Are you thinking Inkblot is in pain now?

[Sarita]

Yes, I think it’s not just a position too but rather a change in behavior. Also possibly a grinding of teeth as well.

[mrmac]

Is this like what you’re talking about? Davey sits like this just because he likes it. We call it his “old man” pose…

[Miyuki]

I don’t think so Beka but she was being a little weird. I was watching her on the webcam yesterday and she seemed to just sit in the cage staring out the front and sometimes chewing on the cage. I thought she lies down but she could’ve been doing it while I wasn’t looking.

[Elrohwen]

mrmac, my bunny sits like that too, lol. He’s a holland lop and I think it’s cute that he actually sits in a “show pose.” I always thought the show pose looked goofy, but I guess they actually like to sit like that. It’s so cute; we say he’s practicing to be a show bunny.

[KatnipCrzy]

I have only seen an extreme case of hunched position in my bunnies once (Penny the morning she died).

The hunched position when they are ill really sends out a vibe- I feel like crap.  They are reluctant to move- refuse treats, do not respond to other activity in the room, etc (abnormal behavior/reactions).  I knew instantly when I saw Penny from how tucked in her feet were- and how rounded her back was and her lack of response to the dogs coming into the room that she felt horrible.  Her head was also quite low- like she wanted to curl into a little ball and disappear.

There has been a time or 2 when I suspected that Cotton maybe had gas, but I was not sure.  She was not hunched but was not as active and not begging for treats like she usually does.  (She is more puppy than bunny sometimes I think).  She was just sitting in one of her loaf positions- and would move around but was very grumpy.  I gave her some Simethicone and kept and eye on her- and she was fine.  I am guessing she only had a bit of a tummy ache as she never stopped eating, drinking, pooing, etc.

[Beka27]

Yes, I agree. When Meadow has gas or what I suspect may be gas, she does tuck her feet in more, she’s in a meatloaf but it’s just… different than her normal meatloaf position.

My buns also sit like Davey all the time. They like to sit like that and stare at the wall. Or stare at each other. Or stare at a box… It’s how they sit when they stare. lol… ;o)

[3crazybuns]

 humm… Lol this is very interesting, I never really new that it could mean pain…Oreo will sometimes sit like that too, so I guess he could be gassy… I wonder if its something I’m feeding him?? research time!!!! 

[BinkyBunny]

Sarah – don’t panic though if you are just seeing a “normal” hunched position – like this is something he has done many times before. Some bunnies will actually fall asleep in this position. Like Sarita had mentioned – The difference is really noticing the change in behavior. And a bunny in pain really doesn’t look comfortable at all while in the hunch, while other bunnies are relaxed in the hunch. It’s funny that everyone has a different name for the normal hunch – we call it the “Chocolate Bunny”.

[mrmac]

Davey quite often will fall asleep sitting like that, he starts to wobble and then catches himself, it is hilarious! It is funny that we all call it something different!

[Miyuki]

Guess a hunched posture isn’t always bad!  Inkblot has been sitting up staring again.  Been doing it for quite a while.  I don’t think this is the hunched position.  I think she is just sitting there?

[3crazybuns]

Wheww…. I was starting to worry a bit, He sits like that often… not all the time though, he lounges more than anything…and its so funny because I can almost clock his flops too, every afternoon around 12:30-1pm he flops for his afternoon nap! TOOOO CUTE!!!

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