I posted a picture of my Flemish Giant bunny laying on her back a long time ago, and recently received a comment from someone who asked me not to turn my rabbits upside down like that, telling me about a state called "Tonic Immobility" in rabbits. I read up on it further and found a few articles from pet websites stating that it's cruel to turn a rabbit on its back. They cited one example of a study done that showed increased heart rates and anxiety in rabbits put on their backs.
Sources:
http://www.bunnyhugga.com/a-to-z/health/tonic-immobility.html
http://petitepaw.net/blogs/137/tonic-immobility-rabbits-trance-or-not-trance
I personally can't believe this (literally). I brought it up on the showbunny mailing list, and got a response from a breeder who checked her rbabit's heartrate while it was on its back. She said it lowered significantly.
Not that this proves anything, but I don't think the studies do either.
I always thought many rabbits liked being on their backs because it's a position they were only able to be in as kits. In the nest, babies lay on their backs, but as they get older their spines develop and they're no longer able to get into that position.
Among the rabbits I've tranced, there's been a spectrum anyway from ones that seem to fall asleep to others who don't put up with it at all. Most of them seem to be able to flip back over whenever they want to.
I think the stress is not caused by being on their backs, but other factors. If they're handled roughly, there's loud noises, or a lot of shadows and contrast and activity going on, their heartrate will go up. If they aren't used to people to. And there's some rabbits who never like it (usually bucks).
What do you think? Any thoughts on this? Or more information and sources?
Sources:
http://www.bunnyhugga.com/a-to-z/health/tonic-immobility.html
http://petitepaw.net/blogs/137/tonic-immobility-rabbits-trance-or-not-trance
I personally can't believe this (literally). I brought it up on the showbunny mailing list, and got a response from a breeder who checked her rbabit's heartrate while it was on its back. She said it lowered significantly.
Not that this proves anything, but I don't think the studies do either.
I always thought many rabbits liked being on their backs because it's a position they were only able to be in as kits. In the nest, babies lay on their backs, but as they get older their spines develop and they're no longer able to get into that position.
Among the rabbits I've tranced, there's been a spectrum anyway from ones that seem to fall asleep to others who don't put up with it at all. Most of them seem to be able to flip back over whenever they want to.
I think the stress is not caused by being on their backs, but other factors. If they're handled roughly, there's loud noises, or a lot of shadows and contrast and activity going on, their heartrate will go up. If they aren't used to people to. And there's some rabbits who never like it (usually bucks).
What do you think? Any thoughts on this? Or more information and sources?