Why is My Rabbit Shaking And Laying Down?

Your rabbit suddenly starts shaking and can’t seem to stop. This uncontrollable trembling quickly escalates until your bunny collapses on their side, convulsing in distress. You feel your chest tighten with dread. What is happening? Is this normal? Could this spell disaster for your beloved pet? Rabbit shaking can mean everything from happiness to imminent death. Read on to unlock the clues to determine if your rabbit’s concerning tremors are harmless or an emergency requiring urgent vet care. This vital guide may help you save your rabbit’s life and avoid fatal false assumptions. Time is of the essence – let’s dig in!

Is It Normal for Rabbits to Shake?

It’s common for rabbits to shake or tremble occasionally, but constant or excessive shaking can be a sign of an underlying health issue. Rabbits shake for a variety of reasons, some harmless and others more concerning. Here's an overview of normal vs abnormal shaking in rabbits:

Brief shaking while grooming is normal. Rabbits shake themselves off after grooming to remove loose fur. These short shaking spells are nothing to worry about.
Shivering from fear is normal. Rabbits are prey animals wired to be cautious and alert. Sudden noises, unfamiliar environments, or perceived threats can trigger a fear response including shivering. As long as the rabbit calms down, this reaction is not a cause for concern.
Shaking off water is normal. After a bath or getting wet from rain, rabbits will shake themselves dry. Expect some shaking and trembling immediately after your bunny gets wet. Make sure to thoroughly dry your rabbit with a towel to minimize wet shakes.
Excitement tremors are common. Some rabbits shake when they are eagerly anticipating food or attention. These "happy hops" are a harmless display of anticipation. The shaking should stop once the rabbit gets the expected treat or petting.
Discomfort from heat can cause shaking. On very hot days, rabbits may pant and tremble to cool themselves off. Make sure your rabbit has access to shade, cool floors, and fresh water in hot weather. Limit exercise on scorching days.
Pain can prompt shaking. Rabbits shake in response to injuries like broken bones. Any type of discomfort or illness can cause a rabbit to shake or tremble. If your rabbit is shaking when there's no obvious trigger like wet fur or loud noise, get your vet's advice.

In summary, short shakes tied to specific triggers like grooming or wet fur are normal. But frequent, prolonged, or unexplained shaking is not. Contact your vet if your rabbit is shaking repeatedly with no obvious cause. Ongoing shaking can signal an underlying health issue needing attention. Don't ignore prolonged trembling—it's a sign your rabbit may be unwell.

How to Know if Rabbit Shaking Is Normal

Not all rabbit shaking is a cause for alarm. Use these tips to determine if your rabbit's shaking seems within normal limits:

Consider the duration. Brief, occasional shaking spells are usually fine. But prolonged, continuous trembling is not normal. Contact your vet if shaking lasts more than several minutes.
Note shakes triggered by events. Shaking while grooming, when wet, or from a sudden loud noise is typically normal. But repeated shaking with no apparent trigger may indicate illness.
Does the rabbit seem comfortable? Discomfort, pain, nausea, dizziness, and chills can prompt shaking. If your rabbit seems bothered or distressed when shaking, it’s a concern.
Look for other symptoms. Are there any other signs of illness like lethargy, loss of appetite, sneezing, or diarrhea? Trembling along with other symptoms is more worrisome.
Monitor the rabbit's temperature. Shaking accompanied by a fever over 103°F indicates an infection. Hypothermia below 99°F can also cause shivering.
Consider recent diet changes. New foods can disrupt your rabbit's GI tract and cause shakes or tremors. But this should resolve once their diet stabilizes.
Note the rabbit's surroundings. Sudden loud noises, a perceived threat, wet conditions, or drafts could trigger harmless shaking. Just provide reassurance.
Take your rabbit's age into account. Geriatric rabbits are prone to tremors and shaking due to age-related muscle weakness and arthritis. But see a vet to be sure.

By analyzing the situation holistically, you can get a sense of whether your rabbit's shaking seems serious or within normal limits. When in doubt, contact your vet.

Diseases that Cause Rabbits to Shake

Several infectious diseases and medical conditions can prompt shaking or tremors in rabbits. Here are some of the most common:

Pasteurella. This bacterial infection is extremely prevalent in rabbits. Along with nasal discharge, head tilt, and breathing issues, it can cause body tremors. Antibiotics are needed to treat pasteurella.
Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi). This parasite infects the brain, kidneys, and liver, leading to tremors and shaking. Anti-parasite medications like fenbendazole are used to treat E. cuniculi infections.
Rabbit syphilis. The bacterial disease Treponema paraluiscuniculi causes severe shaking and tremors, along with genital lesions. Antibiotics typically cure rabbit syphilis if treated early.
Overgrown teeth. Rabbits' teeth grow constantly. When misaligned, they can impair eating and cause malnourishment and shaking. Trimming overgrown teeth solves the problem.
GI stasis. When the intestines slow down or stop moving entirely, dangerous GI stasis results. Shaking and lethargy are common symptoms. GI stimulants and pain medication help resolve stasis episodes.
Hypocalcemia. Low blood calcium, often from poor diet, causes muscle tremors and seizures in rabbits. Diet changes and calcium supplements can treat hypocalcemia.
Tyzzer's disease. The bacteria Clostridium piliforme causes Tyzzer's which impairs liver and intestinal function. Shaking and GI issues are common signs. Antibiotics may help if caught early.

Any infectious disease or condition causing fever, inflammation, pain, nausea, malnutrition, or neurological issues can make a rabbit tremble. Diagnostic tests like bloodwork, cultures, biopsies, or imaging can pinpoint the exact cause.

Legitimate Concerns About Rabbit Shaking

While some rabbit shaking is normal, ongoing trembling, tremors, and convulsions are reasons to see your vet promptly. Here are some key concerns:

May indicate pain or illness. Anything causing a rabbit discomfort or impairment often leads to shaking. Getting to the root cause – an infection, parasites, dental problems, etc. – and providing treatment is crucial.
Can lead to exhaustion. Constant muscle tremors and convulsing is physically taxing. Afflicted rabbits often stop eating and become lethargic. Supportive care is needed until definitive treatment solves the underlying problem.
Risk of self-injury. During prolonged seizures or convulsions, rabbits can bite their own tongues or break bones thrashing around. Medication to control seizures may be warranted. Keep shaking rabbits separated so they don't hurt themselves.
Falls or bodily harm. Shaking rabbits can fall off high perches or knock over objects like food bowls and water bottles. Lower risky items in their environments until the shivering subsides.
Progression to seizures or death. Serious systemic illnesses that start with tremors can eventually lead to seizures, coma, or death if left untreated. Don't delay getting veterinary care.

While occasional localized shaking is usually no big deal, full-body trembling, convulsions, or twitching indicate an unwell rabbit needing prompt medical attention. Don't wait and see – uncontrolled shaking warrants a vet visit.

Why Is My Rabbit Laying on Its Side and Shaking?

Finding your rabbit laying on its side shaking is very concerning. While there are a few possible explanations, this posture likely signals a serious underlying medical problem:

Shock. Rabbits in shock from blood loss, trauma, extreme stress or a toxin will collapse on their sides. Shock requires emergency treatment to prevent death.
Seizures or convulsions. Prolonged, uncontrolled seizure activity leads to collapse. Seek emergency vet care to get seizures under control.
Pain. Significant pain from an injury, illness or GI stasis can cause a rabbit to writhe or convulse in agony. Pain control is needed immediately.
Paralysis. Spinal cord trauma, stroke or severe infection can paralyze limbs, causing the rabbit to lay immobile. Supportive care can help stabilize until the paralysis hopefully resolves.
Hypothermia. When rabbits lose body heat from wet fur or drafts, muscles twitch and contract until hypothermia sets in. Rewarm the rabbit gradually with blankets and a heating pad.
Poisoning. Ingesting toxins like pesticides, plants, or medications can cause shaking and collapse. Inducing vomiting may help if done soon after ingestion.

No matter the cause, a rabbit laying on its side shaking needs urgent vet care. Gently move the rabbit off the cold floor onto a towel. Avoid restraining the rabbit which can worsen injuries. Transport the rabbit to the vet ASAP for diagnosis and treatment. With aggressive support, many conditions causing the concerning symptoms can be successfully managed. Stay calm but act fast.

Is Rabbit Shaking a Sign of Death?

It's normal to worry that a shaking rabbit is on the brink of death. Shivering and tremors definitely indicate something is wrong, but not necessarily impending death. With prompt veterinary treatment, many conditions causing pronounced shaking are survivable. However, in certain circumstances, extreme shaking does foreshadow imminent death:

Uncontrolled convulsions or seizures lasting over 5 minutes that don't respond to medication. These intense episodes deplete blood oxygen levels and often end fatally.
Shaking accompanied by coma, unresponsiveness, or inability to swallow. Once a rabbit loses awareness and reflexes, prognosis is grave.
Constant trembling that prevents eating and drinking. Rabbits need near-constant food intake. Shaking that interferes with eating starves the rabbit, leading to fatal GI stasis.
Shaking along with severe breathing distress. Respiratory failure quickly advances to death without oxygen support.
Sudden onset of violent tremors in a geriatric rabbit. Age-related organ failure can culminate in collapse and death.
Shaking triggered by acute trauma like a dog attack. Massive blood loss or internal injuries often overwhelm the rabbit's system.

While most cases of shaking and trembling do not immediately precede death, certain circumstances stacked against the rabbit do indicate imminent demise without dramatic intervention. Still, don't assume a shaking rabbit is doomed – hurry it to the vet just in case treatment can preserve life.

References:

https://rabbitbreeders.us/questions-and-answers/why-is-my-rabbit-shaking-and-laying-down/
https://www.onlinerabbitcare.com/questions-and-answers/rabbit-shaking-and-laying-down/