Rabbit positions

[StlCardinals]

Hi Everyone

I have a question. Casper is almost 8 years old and he has stopped laying in what we call the roo roo (legs kicked out to the side). He always used to lay like that. It has been months since he has done this. He is just alway in the classic bunny position. Does this have something to do with his age?

Another question. He can still easilyjump on to the couch. I try not to let him jump off of the couch. Is that agood ideaor am I being overly cautious?

 

[rabbitgirl]

It could just be easier to get back up from that position after sleeping. Mine tend to do the bunny pose when cold--they tuck feet in and puff up fur. The older ones do it more, maybe it's harder to maintain body heat.

I know my young buck tries some suicidal leaps up and down from high spots (climbing fences and falling off the top). I used to rescue him with panic, until I once saw him tumble back down and pop up like nothing. Then I figured that he probably knew what he was doing. His dad leaped about 1.5 ft. out of and into his cage almost every day until shortly before he died. He stayed quite limber in his old age, so I'd watch Casper get down once and see if he does ok, and if so, don't worry. Rabbits are pretty cautious in general. If he's done it for years, he is probably ok if he can still get up there. But be careful and observe just in case! If you're worried about it--you see him every day and know best--just continue what you're doing.

Rose

 

[Maureen Las]

If he has no other symptoms other than not throwing his legs outthen mabe it is his age. I was thinking back to my first rabbit Sheba. When she was younger I lived in an apt with wall to wall carpeting. Then I moved to an apt. with hardwood floors. I think after she was on hardwood floors that she spent less time "all flopped out"but maybe it was her age too. I'd watch him jump off the couch a couple times be fore I would start helping him. If he looks really cautious and scared to jump then I would help him off.

 

[JimD]

rabbitgirl wrote:

Mine tend to do the bunny pose when cold--they tuck feet in and puff up fur. The older ones do it more, maybe it's harder to maintain body heat.

Rose

I was just thinking the same thing, Rose. My buns are all inside. When I get up in the morning to check on them it's still a bit chilly. They'll all be tucked & poofed until I turn up the heat an the house warms up. After that they tend to flop or stretch out for the rest of the day.

I'll have to remeber to see if they act differently during the summer when it's warm.

~Jim