Why Does My Rabbit Shake and Tremble?

Does your rabbit suddenly start shaking for no apparent reason? Out of nowhere, thumping and tremors take hold of your pet bunny. They may frantically scratch their ears one minute, then seem lethargic the next. While seeing your rabbit quiver can be alarming, don’t panic yet. Shaking and trembling in rabbits can arise from many explainable causes. From heat stroke to mites, GI stasis to ear infections, this comprehensive guide covers all the potential reasons your rabbit is shaking. You’ll learn expert tips to diagnose the source of your rabbit’s tremors and find the right treatment. Read on to uncover the facts about this concerning symptom and how to help your bunny. With the right information, you can take action and get your pet rabbit back to their normal, healthy, hopping selves in no time.

Why Is My Rabbit Shaking?

It can be concerning when you notice your rabbit shaking or trembling. However, there are a number of potential causes for this behavior. Rabbits shake for many of the same reasons as other animals – they may shake when they are too hot or too cold. Stress, fear, illness, or neurological issues can also cause rabbits to shake and tremble. While shaking is not necessarily normal behavior for rabbits, it does not always indicate a serious health problem. Being aware of the common causes can help you determine if your rabbit's shaking requires veterinary attention.

Rabbits Shake When It’s Hot

One of the most common reasons rabbits shake is because they are too hot. Rabbits are very sensitive to high temperatures and cannot tolerate heat as well as some other domestic pets. As rabbits only have a limited ability to sweat, shaking is one way they try to cool themselves down.

If the ambient temperature rises above 85°F, rabbits are at risk of overheating. Unlike dogs who can pant, and cats who can sweat through their paw pads, rabbits do not have efficient ways to evaporate moisture from their bodies to aid cooling.

Any temperatures nearing 90°F can cause heat exhaustion in rabbits. And if your rabbit's body temperature reaches 105°F, they are at risk of fatal heatstroke.

Signs your rabbit is shaking due to overheating include:

Stretching out flat to maximize contact with cool surfaces
Refusing to eat, due to panting or discomfort
Increased breathing rate or panting
Wetness around the eyes, nose, or mouth from saliva
Pressing ears flat against the neck to expose blood vessels for cooling

If shaking is accompanied by any signs of heat stress, immediate action is required to prevent injury or death. Move your rabbit to a cooler area, offer cool (not cold) water, and call your vet. Seek emergency veterinary treatment if shaking persists for more than a few minutes.

Your rabbit's environment plays a major role in regulating their temperature. Make sure their habitat stays under 80°F at all times. Providing ample shade, air circulation, and ice bottles or ceramic tiles for snuggling can all help rabbits stay comfortable when temperatures climb. Monitoring the temperature and your rabbit's behavior will allow you to make adjustments as needed.

With proper housing and supervision, shaking due to overheating should not occur. Be proactive in protecting your rabbit from temperatures that could cause heat-related illnesses. Recognizing the early signs of heat stress and responding quickly can prevent serious harm.

How to Treat Heatstroke in Rabbits

If your rabbit is displaying signs of heatstroke such as heavy shaking, panting, lethargy or loss of coordination, immediate action is necessary. Here are some steps you can take to treat heatstroke in rabbits:

Move the rabbit to a cooler area – Bring them indoors or into the shade. Turn on air conditioning or fans to aid cooling.
Offer cool water – Provide fresh, cool water in a bowl or bottle. Do not use ice cold water which could shock their system.
Apply cool water to the ears and paws – Use a damp towel to wet the rabbit's ears and paws. These areas have blood vessels close to the skin surface, allowing heat to dissipate. Never immerse your rabbit in water.
Give electrolytes – Oral electrolyte supplements can help replenish vital minerals and prevent dehydration. Consult your vet on the proper dosage.
Seek emergency vet care – If shaking and panting persists more than a few minutes, immediate medical treatment is needed. Heat stroke can be fatal in rabbits.
Help them cool gradually – Monitor your rabbit's temperature and heart rate. Allow their body to return to normal temperatures slowly to avoid shock.

With rapid response, most cases of heatstroke in rabbits can be successfully treated at home. But recovery largely depends on how soon cooling measures are applied. Always contact your vet if you suspect heatstroke, as complications like organ damage can arise. Prevention through proper temperature control is key to keeping rabbits safe in hot weather.

Rabbits Shake When They’re Frightened

It's normal for rabbits to shake or tremble when they feel threatened or are in a stressful situation. In the wild, rabbits rely on their ability to freeze and flee from danger. This instinctive reaction can persist in domestic rabbits exposed to frightening stimuli.

Common triggers for shivering in frightened rabbits include:

Loud noises – Vacuums, thunder, construction sounds, or shouting can all be alarming.
Sudden movements – Being picked up unexpectedly, or a person or animal moving quickly nearby.
New environments – Traveling in a car, entering a new home, or visiting the vet may cause nervous trembling.
People or animals – Unfamiliar people or pets are often viewed as predators, eliciting a fear response.

When afraid, your rabbit might also thump their hind legs, hide, or attempt to flee. Shaking usually lasts only a few minutes after the frightening stimulus is removed. But very fearful rabbits may cower and tremble for much longer.

If your rabbit seems prone to shaking when scared, there are ways to help them feel more secure:

Provide a hiding place – A box or enclosed bed gives them a place to retreat.
Limit loud noises – Use headphones, close doors, or avoid slammed cabinets.
Give them time to adjust – Gradually introduce potentially scary stimuli.
Try calming herbs – Chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm may have mild anti-anxiety effects.
Consider medication – For severe cases, ask your vet about anti-anxiety medication.

With patience and a calm environment, most rabbits can become desensitized to frightening noises and activities. But prey animal instincts may always cause some degree of shaking in stressful situations. Monitoring your rabbit's behavior will help you identify and minimize their specific triggers.

A New Habitat

Bringing home a new rabbit? Moving your rabbit to a new house or room? Changing habitats is a common source of stress that can cause shaking. Rabbits thrive on predictability and familiarity. A new environment means:

New sights, sounds, and smells to interpret as safety threats
An unknown territory, without identified hiding spots or escape routes
Possible conflicts with other pets as they negotiate space

To help minimize shaking when moving rabbits to new housing:

Set up the new space in advance – Allow several days for your rabbit to explore while still in their old habitat.
Make the new area feel familiar – Move food bowls, toys, litter box, and bedding to help it smell familiar.
Take it slow – At first, allow brief, supervised explorations of the new space.
Provide hiding spots – Boxes or tunnels allow them to safely observe the new environment.
Limit stressors – Avoid introducing the rabbit to new people, pets, or activities right away.
Consider using a pheromone plugin – Rabbit appeasing pheromones may help create feelings of safety and calm.
Be patient – It takes most rabbits several weeks to fully adjust to new surroundings.

With time, positive associations, and a consistent daily routine, your rabbit can learn to feel relaxed and confident in new housing. Pay close attention during the transition period to minimize trembling and anxious behavior. If signs of stress persist beyond a few weeks, consult your veterinarian.

Unwanted Company

Sometimes rabbits shake in response to unwanted company, such as children or other pets. Rabbits are prey animals by nature and can view loud or rambunctious companions as potential threats. Some signs your rabbit may see someone as scary include:

Thumping when they enter the room
Hiding when they approach
Shaking, teeth grinding, or rapidly breathing around them
Lunging, nipping, or scratching if cornered

To help rabbits feel less fearful around certain people or pets:

Supervise all interactions at first to ensure gentle handling
Allow the rabbit safe hiding spots to retreat if overwhelmed
Teach children proper care and quiet voices around the rabbit
Pet or distract boisterous dogs/cats before rabbit playtime
Consider separate spaces if harassment persists

With training, socialization, and positive experiences, rabbits can learn which humans and animals are friends, not foes. But prey animal instincts may always translate roughhousing or loud voices into "threats". Creating a calm, soothing environment helps rabbits interact confidently with your whole family.

Not Spaying or Neutering Rabbits

Intact rabbits are more prone to shaking and anxiety-related behaviors. Why? Raging hormones. When unaltered rabbits reach puberty around 3-6 months old, surging reproductive hormones amp up territoriality, aggression, and overall excitability.

Signs that your unspayed/unneutered rabbit may be trembling from hormonal stress include:

More skittish or reactive to noises and handling
Excessive chin rubbing and urine spraying
Increased nipping, lunging, and scratching
Constant restlessness and pacing
Loss of litter box habits
Decreased appetite or lethargy from chronic stress

Getting rabbits spayed or neutered as early as 4-6 months old can prevent these hormone-fueled stress behaviors. Altering eliminates the urges to mate and protect territory that trigger constant agitation. With hormones in check, most rabbits become calmer and more snuggly lap rabbits.

If your adult rabbit is not yet fixed, schedule an appointment to get them spayed/neutered. Medicating raging hormones with drugs like Lupron can provide temporary relief of shaking and anxiety until surgery. Long term, altering is the best way to help frantic bunnies mellow out.

Hiccups

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle. In rabbits, they manifest as a distinct jerking shake. Hiccups can affect all mammals, including people. While the exact cause is unknown, possible triggers include:

Eating too fast – Gulping food or treats may irritate the diaphragm.
Sudden temperature changes – Quick shifts between hot and cold environments.
Stress – Nervous excitement or anxiety could play a role.
Gastrointestinal issues – Hiccups may accompany gas, bloating, or irritation.
Respiratory infection – Hiccups are sometimes seen with respiratory diseases.

For mild cases, hiccups in rabbits will resolve on their own within a few minutes. Offering fresh water and gently massaging the throat can help alleviate them faster.

See your veterinarian if hiccups last more than a few hours or occur frequently. Persistent hiccups are rare in rabbits and could indicate an underlying health issue needs attention. With proper diagnosis, most causes of chronic hiccups in rabbits are treatable.

In summary, occasional hiccups are normal and harmless. But recurrent hiccupping associated with other symptoms warrants a vet visit to identify and address the root cause.

Mites

Mites are tiny spider-like parasites that can infest rabbits' skin and ears. The irritation of mites crawling around leads to near-constant shaking and scratching. Mites spread easily in dirty hutches, bedding, or grass. Three common culprits of mite outbreaks in rabbits include:

Ear Mites

Microscopic ear mites feed on wax and oils inside the ear canal. Telltale signs include:

Head shaking and ear scratching
Black crumbly discharge in ears
Loss of balance, head tilt
Crusty scabs around ears

Topical ear drops containing ivermectin (eg. Acarexx) given 2-3 times over 2-4 weeks will kill mites. Be sure to gently clean all debris from ears. Follow up exams will confirm when mites are eradicated.

Fur Mites

Fur mites lead to dandruff-like skin flakes and intense itching. Look for:

Small bare patches of skin
Scabs around the face, feet, genitals
Dry flaky skin when petting

Weekly lime sulfur dips and injections of ivermectin are effective treatments. Topical selamectin products (eg. Revolution) also work and are easier to administer. Mites can be challenging to fully eliminate from hutches.

Burrowing Mites

These mites tunnel under the skin causing crusty scabs. Symptoms include:

Small raised crusts mainly on ears and legs
Skin thickening and wrinkling from tunnels
Loss of fur around lesions

Injectable ivermectin or selamectin every 2 weeks for 2-3 months will kill mites. Long term treatment is required, as burrowing mites are extremely contagious.

For any mite infestation, thoroughly clean and disinfect your rabbit's environment after treatment. Addressing mites quickly improves comfort and prevents contagion.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are common issues in rabbits that can cause head shaking. Bacterial or fungal infections usually begin when moisture gets trapped in the ear canal. Pus and inflammation quickly build up. Signs include:

Frequent head tilting and ear scratching
Discharge in ears – can be waxy to thick pus
Redness and swelling inside ears
Crusty scabs around ears
Loss of balance or appetite

See a vet immediately at the first signs of infection. Untreated ear infections can rupture the eardrum or spread to the brain. Medicated ear drops will be prescribed to clear the infection. Oral antibiotics may also be needed for advanced cases.

Keeping ears dry is key to preventing infection. Gently wipe ears weekly with plain gauze during baths. Check for any signs of discharge or odor daily, which indicates infection brewing. Aggressive ear scratching warrants an urgent vet visit to treat early.

Laying Down and Shaking Due to GI Stasis

If your rabbit is laying down shaking, it could be a sign of gastrointestinal (GI) stasis. This dangerous condition occurs when the intestinal tract slows down or fully stops. Toxins then build up and the rabbit becomes ill.

Causes include:

Stress
Dehydration
Dental problems
Pain from another condition
Side effect of some medications
Diet changes

Signs of GI stasis include:

Hunched over posture with minimal movement
Loss of appetite and decreased fecal pellets
Shaking or trembling when lying down
Distended abdomen that feels tight to the touch

GI stasis requires emergency veterinary care. It can quickly lead to bloat, bloody stool, sepsis, and death if left untreated. At the first signs of discomfort or shaking, get your rabbit evaluated.

Vets will administer IV fluids, gut motility drugs, and appetite stimulants. Supportive care and pain meds are given until the intestines resume normal function. Address any underlying trigger, like dental or diet issues. Monitor for recurrent stasis, as rabbits can become prone once an episode occurs. Prompt vet care for shaking episodes gives the best prognosis.

Eating Something Poisonous

Rabbits explore the world through their mouth. This leads to occasional accidental consumption of toxic substances, from household chemicals to poisonous plants. Depending on the toxin, shaking can be one symptom of poisoning.

Other signs may include:

Vomiting or diarrhea
Seizures
Difficulty breathing
Collapse
Blue lips/tongue
Loss of appetite
Lethargy

If you see your rabbit ingest anything suspicious, get immediate emergency treatment, even if they act normal. Many toxins damage rapidly as they are absorbed. Quick action is vital to survival and reducing permanent organ damage.

Induce vomiting only if directed by your vet or poison control. Otherwise, rush to a vet clinic. Bring the ingested material with you if possible for identification. Supportive treatments will be administered to maintain organ function and prevent dehydration until toxins clear the system.

Rabbit-proof your home to avoid access to toxins. Keep all chemicals, medications, and plants up high or behind secure cabinets. Monitor playtime to reduce nibbling risks. Being prepared to respond quickly can save your rabbit’s life in poisoning emergencies.

How to Prevent Shaking in Rabbits

While occasional shaking is normal, excessive trembling likely indicates your rabbit is fearful or unwell. Here are some tips to minimize episodes of shaking:

Maintain ideal habitat temperature – Keep housing between 60-75°F.
Provide safe hiding spots – Use boxes, tunnels, or cat beds.
Spay/neuter your rabbit – Altering reduces hormonal stress behaviors.
Clean litter box and bedding frequently – Helps prevent parasitic infestations.
Gently wipe inside ears weekly – Keep ears clean and monitor for infection.
Limit loud noises and rough play – Create a calm environment.
Introduce new experiences gradually – Give time to adjust to change.
Serve consistent diet – Avoid abrupt food changes that could disrupt digestion.
Schedule annual checkups – Vet exams can detect emerging health issues.
Bunny-proof your home – Reduce access to poisonous materials.
Monitor daily for signs of illness – Catch issues early when they are most treatable.

Most causes of shaking can be avoided with attentive care. Get to know your individual rabbit's stressors and health needs. With a steady routine, safe habitat, and veterinary guidance, your rabbit can live a long, shake-free life.