Rabbit Trancing – What is it? Is it Healthy?
Bunny trancing is when you place a rabbit on its back and due to its physiology as a prey animal, it seems to be fully awake but immobile and therefore said to be in a “trance” or partially hypnotized. Officially, the “trance” is known as tonic immobility.
Here at Hobby Farm Heaven, we view “rabbit trancing” as a biological phenomenon that is somewhat hard to understand.
On one hand we can understand that as a prey animal, the rabbit placed in a very vulnerable position on its back may play dead (like a possum plays dead). However, on the other hand, the rabbit has biologically evolved to be able to run from predators, in a zig-zaging motion and hide in a thicket.
If the rabbit feels threatened it does not want to be out in the open, highly visible, laying on it’s back.
Further, when on its back and in a “trance”, the rabbit really is not playing possum, it is actually in a state known as tonic immobility. In a state of tonic immobility the rabbit literally has no ability to right itself and run away, it can not move.
Citation: Gallup, G.G. (1974) Animal hypnosis: factual status of a fictional concept. Psychological Bulletin, 81, 836-853 McBride, A, (2015) Animals in trances: peace of mind or panic. Rabbiting On, Winter 2015 issue, 10-12
Scientific studies that monitor heart rate and stress hormone levels indicate that a rabbit in “trance” or in tonic immobility is well aware of what is going on around it, and is in a state of fear. The trance or tonic immobility is not calming to the rabbit, it is stressful to the rabbit.
Recommendation: Do not Trance your rabbit thinking that you are cuddling the rabbit and that the rabbit enjoys it.
Some rabbit caregivers promote the idea of trancing your rabbit in order to perform grooming tasks like clipping nails.
Again, we do not recommend trancing your rabbit in order to perform grooming tasks. Bunny Trancing actually creates stress in your rabbit.
Can a Rabbit Move When in A Trance?
No, a rabbit in a trance, a rabbit in tonic immobility can not move. The rabbit is fully aware of what is going on around it, but it can not react, can not flee. The rabbit still has all of its senses; it can see, hear, smell, taste and feel pain, but it can not move. It is literally immobile.
Bunny Trancing – Reasonable Exceptions
If your rabbit needs to be immobilized for a serious medical procedure, such as an x-ray or an MRI, then bunny trancing is a viable option to consider.
Trancing your rabbit for a serious medical procedure will help ensure that the rabbit gets the serious, high quality medical care that it needs and deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Rabbit Trancing
Why Do Rabbits Freeze on Their Backs
Rabbits freeze when placed on their backs due to “trancing”. Rabbit physiology has evolved in a way that rabbits go into a state of tonic immobility when they are placed on their backs.
Is It OK To Put A Bunny On Its Back
Placing a bunny on its back will stimulate the onset of tonic immobility also known as “Trancing”.
Generally, it is not OK to put a bunny on its back. Bunnies in tonic immobility have been monitored for heart rate and stress hormones. The measures of heart rate and stress hormones found when trancing a bunny are indicative of fear and stress.
What Does Trancing Mean in Rabbits
Rabbit “Trancing” is when you put your rabbit in a state of tonic immobility. The rabbit is rendered immobile. Please note that rabbit trancing causes stress in your rabbits.
How To Trance Your Rabbit
The most common way to trance your rabbit is to place your rabbit on its back in your lap. The rabbit can be placed on its back in the groove between your two legs. This supports the rabbit and the groove between your legs helps keep the rabbit in a nice furrow between your legs.
Again, we do not recommend trancing your rabbit on a regular basis. Bunny trancing causes stress in your rabbit.
Final Thoughts on Bunny Trancing
Laying a rabbit on its back will trigger a state of tonic immobility or “trance”. The rabbit literally is immobile and can not move when in this state of “trance”.
When in a trance, the rabbit is still aware of what is going on around it and can still feel pain. Strangely, the “tranced” rabbit is immobile and not able to flip onto its feet and run to safety.
Rabbit trancing is stressful to the rabbit. It does not calm a bunny. It should only be done when necessary, such as to immobilize the rabbit for an x-ray or other medical procedure that benefits the bunny.