Why Is My Rabbit Not Moving But Still Breathing?

Rabbits are energetic animals that, in the appropriate circumstances, can move like a shot. Any threat might cause them to flee like lightening since they are sensitive creatures who desire security. Even with the greatest of intentions, guardians might frighten their animals, causing them to flee.

All of this means that when a limp rabbit refuses to move despite our best efforts, something is amiss. We may be able to watch them breathe, but it’s logical that we’re concerned they’re about to die.

Your rabbit may be moving but not breathing because he’s sick. Even though they may still be breathing, a rabbit may cease moving for a variety of causes.

However, we also need to be aware that there might be other reasons why a rabbit isn’t moving. It might be the result of environmental factors, accidents, or other issues. If a rabbit isn’t moving but is still breathing, it’s still alive.

Whatever the cause of your rabbit’s limping, it’s critical that you see a veterinarian. In most cases, quick action is required to ensure the bunny’s safety.

If you want to learn more about your pet bunny not being able to move, keep reading!

Why Is My Rabbit Not Moving?

Your rabbit may be unable to move due to the following reasons:

1. Trauma

Traumas, accidents and animal assaults can all cause our rabbit to become immobile. This might be as a result of the hit and the resulting internal damage.

Bones can shatter, causing severe discomfort in the rabbit and rendering them motionless but breathing. If your rabbit has fallen or has been injured, take them to a veterinarian right away if they are not moving.

2. Age

The body of a rabbit, like that of other living beings, will deteriorate with age. This can result in particular issues in a bunny like osteoarthritis.

They may also be lacking in vigour and energy, resulting in limited movement despite the fact that they are still breathing. In the end, the rabbit will spend more time standing still during the day.

It’s common to notice your rabbit moving less and less as they become older. However, if your rabbit suddenly stops moving, this indicates that something else is wrong with them.

3. Paralysis

Rabbits can be paralyzed for a variety of causes, which explains why they can breathe but not move. Rabbit paralysis may be divided into three categories.

Paresis or paralysis can occur when a rabbit has a spinal injury that affects the spinal cord or peripheral nerves of the limbs. Other neurological symptoms are likely to accompany them. Pasteurella multocida is a bacteria that can induce subsequent paralysis in rabbits after causing encephalitis.

Your rabbit will have a variety of difficulties if they do not eat a diversified and balanced diet that provides all of their essential nutrients in the proper proportions. Mineral and vitamin shortages might occur, causing the body to shut down.

Parasitic paralysis occurs when rabbits are infected with parasites like Encephalitozoon cuniculi or Toxoplasma gondii. This causes them to lose movement in their hind legs. Parasitic rabbits have a weakened immune system, a poor diet, and are not dewormed on a regular basis.

The rabbit may have a swollen and painful abdomen in addition to the restriction of movement.

To help prevent paralysis in rabbits, we must be careful while picking them up and provide them a balanced diet.

4. Stress

Rabbits are sensitive animals who are easily stressed. We must use extreme caution in order to prevent circumstances that may induce anxiety in the rabbit. It’s possible that your rabbit is stressed if he is breathing but not moving.

It is critical that we protect our rabbit’s emotional well-being in order to avoid him from becoming limp. We need to spend time with them and form a strong relationship with them.

This does not imply pushing engagement but rather allowing them to approach you and soothing them. Allow them to feel secure when they’re with you. Screaming and frequent changes in routine, nutrition, or home environment should also be avoided.

5. Heatstroke

Extreme temperatures can raise our rabbits’ body temperatures and induce heat stroke. The rabbit may become stretched out, static, dehydrated, and sluggish as a result of the high ambient temperature. You can prevent heat stroke by keeping the rabbit cool and closely monitoring their surroundings.

6. Hypothermia

When it’s too cold, a rabbit will cease moving just as much as when it’s too hot. Rabbits can suffer from hypothermia. When a bunny’s body temperature dips to the point that it can no longer operate, it is called hypothermia.

Another reason it’s critical to keep their living spaces at a comfortable temperature is because of this. If the rabbit’s body temperature drops below 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit), it might even lead to death.

7. Pathological Anorexia

Anorexia is a symptom of numerous illnesses, as opposed to being a psychiatric condition. The rabbit will stop eating and lose a lot of weight as a result.

The rabbit will be weak and have limited energy. He will finally cease moving during the acute period. Anorexia in a rabbit can be caused by a variety of illnesses and medical situations.

You should check for additional indicators of disease in rabbits besides immobility and loss of appetite. Weakness, weight loss, inflammation, diarrhea, respiratory trouble, fever, runny nose, and other symptoms are among them. It might mean they have an illness that needs to be diagnosed and treated by a skilled veterinarian.

What Do I Do If My Rabbit Is Not Moving?

Rabbits have been taught to hide their ailments. This is a bottom-of-the-food-chain creature’s behavioural adaptation since a wild rabbit with evident indications of disease becomes an easy prey for a predator. Unfortunately, for pet rabbits, this proclivity to hide indications of disease can spell disaster.

Rabbits acquire illnesses fast, and they typically do not show signs of illness until they are severely ill to avoid drawing predators’ notice.

If you suspect your pet is ill because he’s not moving call your veterinarian right away. Maintain a warm, well-ventilated environment for your pet. Make sure there’s enough of comfortable bedding.

Wipe away any discharge from the nose or eyes.  Check the back end for feces or urine soiling and provide a variety of soft foods, including fresh grass or apple or pear parts.

If the rabbit in your care appears unwell or unhappy when you see them, keep an eye on them and call the vet if the condition worsens. If you’re worried about something the rabbit is doing that isn’t stated here, trust your intuition.

You may get high-fiber liquid diets from your veterinarian and feed them to your pet with a syringe. However, be careful not to strangle your pet. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to learn how to do it.

Pellets can also be softened in warm water before being liquidised. Baby meals with a lot of sugar should be avoided. However, if your pet refuses to eat, contact your veterinarian straight away.

Is My Rabbit Dying If He’s Not Moving?

Your rabbit may be dying if you notice him not moving. Rabbits are excellent at concealing their disease. This is because in the wild, any symptoms of illness make them easy prey for predators.

Any changes in your rabbit should be taken seriously, since if he exhibits indications of illness, he is already in severe need of veterinary care. When it comes to rabbits, you can never be too careful. If you have even the slightest concern about your rabbit, see your veterinarian right away.

What Are The Signs Of A Rabbit Dying?

The signs that your rabbit is dying are:

1. Lack Of Appetite

When a rabbit is unwell, you’ll notice a lack of appetite very immediately. It may be a very serious sign. The health of a rabbit is dependent on the regular action of their digestive system.

Thus, if the rabbit isn’t eating, its condition can swiftly worsen. The rabbit is in a dangerous scenario if it goes without eating for longer than ten to twelve hours.

If you discover your rabbit isn’t eating and take them to the clinic as soon as possible, they should be able to recover. The doctor will be able to establish the reason of your rabbit’s lack of appetite and treat the underlying disease to restore your rabbit’s health because this is a sign of so many ailments.

2. Seizures

Rabbits who reach old age and die of natural causes are more likely to have seizures. Seizures are frequently caused by unknown causes.

Infections, blood clots, poisoning, head traumas, and have all been associated to aberrant brain activity. E. Cuniculi, a common parasite, is sometimes the culprit.

This can survive within the rabbit for a long time. However, it isn’t a concern until the immune system deteriorates with age. The bacterium that causes snuffles in rabbits might be the same.

It’s crucial to remember that many rabbits may have long lives even if they have epileptic disorders. To minimize additional harm, you can handle the symptoms with a lot of care and observation. If this is a symptom that appears suddenly in old age, it’s usually an indication of a serious sickness.

3. Movements That Are Erratic

Unpredictable movement is also prevalent. This is when the rabbit appears to run in a straight path for a few paces before nearly collapsing.

Then they’ll do it again, this time in a different direction. Because they are unable to regulate their movements, the rabbit may collide with nearby items.

4. Deficiency

When your rabbit is about to die away, you’ll see them straining to walk about or even stay in an upright seating position. When their muscles can no longer support them or keep them balanced, they cannot move.

5. Breathing Problems

You’ll observe that many rabbits have trouble breathing. This is frequently due to the rabbit contracting a respiratory illness. Wheezing, shallow breathing, or excessively deep breaths are all symptoms of illness.

You may also observe your rabbit breathing through his mouth. This is a strong indicator that he is in discomfort because rabbits do not ordinarily breathe through their mouth.

You may notice that your rabbit’s mouth is open or that their lips are wide apart while they take a breath. Drooling is also caused by mouth breathing, thus you may notice a damp chin.

Respiratory infections may be treated. So, if your rabbit is having difficulties breathing, take them to the doctor right once. Rabbits in pain, on the other hand, can occasionally breathe unnaturally.

It isn’t necessarily a sign of a respiratory infection. It might be one of your rabbit’s coping techniques for dealing with the agony of another major illness.

6. Abnormal Feces Pellets

Because a rabbit’s digestion is so vital to their health, you’ll most likely notice a difference in their excrement if they are sick. Even when your rabbit is healthy, it’s typical to see a couple of these unusual forms of excrement in their litter box.

However, if the majority of your rabbit’s fecal pellets are malformed or decreased in size, something is amiss. You should seek medical attention for your rabbit.

These symptoms can indicate a variety of conditions. You’ll need to receive a diagnosis from your veterinarian to figure out what’s wrong.

7. Shift In Behavior

You’ll notice a difference in a rabbit’s behavior if they’re critically unwell. Typically, they will become quite low in energy.

The rabbit will not want to walk around, and any attention you provide them may be ignored. You may also notice the rabbit losing interest in grooming, resulting in a dull, raggedy coat.

In other circumstances, the rabbit may turn violent at any time. Even if they had previously been quite friendly, the rabbit would suddenly snap at you if you got too close.

8. Screaming

Rabbits aren’t known for their loud vocalizations. They may, however, make a disturbing, high-pitched sound when screamed. Only when a rabbit believes they are about to die or when they are gravely hurt and in excruciating agony will you hear them cry.

9. Bloody Urine

Although seeing blood in a rabbit’s pee is unusual, it is never a good indication. When you notice this in unspayed female rabbits, it’s usually a sign of uterine cancer. Blood in the urine is more usually associated with a urinary tract infection or severe bladder sludge.

It’s worth noting that crimson urine does not necessarily imply blood. Urine that is golden yellow or orange in color is the most prevalent. However, red urine is also common. It’s mainly caused by the rabbit’s diet. However, it can also be caused by a round of antibiotics.

10. Body Temperature

Rabbits’ vital signs will change when they become unwell and start to decline. Low body temperature and fast breathing are common symptoms.

The temperature and pulse of a rabbit may be determined by looking at their ears. Locate the long vein in your rabbit’s ear and squeeze it between your fingers to check their pulse. A fast rabbit pulse should begin to appear.

The warmth of their ears can provide some insight into their body temperature. A decline in body temperature is indicated by very chilly ears. You can use a rectal thermometer to test your rabbit’s body temperature if you need a particular number.

11. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a symptom that occurs more frequently in young rabbits. This is particularly frequent in rabbits who have not been properly weaned from their mothers.

Diarrhea can affect adult rabbits as well. This is mainly caused by consuming poisoned food and is a life-threatening condition.

12. Change In Litter Behavior

When rabbits get really unwell, their litter box habits may begin to deteriorate. This might be related to incontinence, which occurs when your rabbit is unable to retain their urine. When the rabbit has to go to the toilet, it may be too uncomfortable for them to get up and go to the litter box.

You could also notice that your rabbit isn’t eating its cecotropes very well. Cecotropes are a high-protein rabbit faeces that rabbits eat directly out of their anus. Healthy rabbits will quickly consume them, and you shouldn’t see them very often.

However, if your rabbit isn’t feeling well or is unable to bend over correctly, you’ll see a lot of these cecotropes.

13. Limbs That Are Paralyzed

Some rabbits will become paralysed unexpectedly. It affects older rabbits and their rear legs more frequently. A rabbit, on the other hand, can become paralysed and unable to move at all.

Some rabbits will recover, while others will be able to live a normal life despite being partially paralysed. This, on the other hand, might be a sign of a serious injury or neurological issue that won’t heal quickly. In these situations, the rabbit’s life expectancy is likely to be short.

How Do I Comfort My Dying Rabbit?

When your rabbit is dying, the only thing you can do is console him or her. Of course, the first step is to establish the severity of the condition. In many instances that appear hopeless, an emergency veterinarian visit and some medicine might help.

There are a few basic things you may do to comfort your rabbit pass away quietly when the time comes:

• Maintain a pleasant environment for your rabbit. Maintain a comfortable temperature for your rabbit.
• Provide a blanket to keep them warm, and assist them in staying clean.
• Make sure your rabbit has everything he or she requires close at hand.
• Give your rabbit a mound of hay, some leafy greens, their pellets and anything else they need so they don’t have to move around too much.
• Stroke your bunny and pay attention to them. Pet your bunny and offer them a gentle massage if they desire it.
• Feed some pain medicine if you can. If your rabbit has been prescribed pain medicine by a veterinarian, make sure they take it to help them feel better.

Maintain a tranquil setting for them. Make sure there aren’t any noisy or irritating distractions in the area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

You may be concerned that your rabbit is nearing death if it is becoming old or if it has been unwell. You’ll have learnt what your rabbit’s regular behaviour is as you’ve cared for and come to know it. Changes in behaviour might indicate a shift in health or even death.

Death is a normal part of life, no matter how much we love our bunnies. It’s critical that you recognise the warning signals that your rabbit is dying.

This will assist you in determining when to take your rabbit to the veterinarian for treatment. It will also prepare you for the worst-case scenario.

Drop down your doubts and queries regarding your small furry friend in the comment section below. We will answer them soon!

References

• https://www.fq.math.ca/Scanned/7-5/hoggatt.pdf
• https://arxiv.org/abs/0710.2216