{"id":1894,"date":"2021-02-08T19:22:36","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T19:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rabbitinformer.com\/?p=1894"},"modified":"2021-09-10T20:56:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T20:56:13","slug":"can-you-carry-your-rabbit-like-a-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rabbitinformer.com\/can-you-carry-your-rabbit-like-a-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Carry Your Rabbit Like a Baby?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Rabbits are adorable and soft creatures, and humans tend to want to baby them because of their size and cuteness. It sounds charming, but it can be very dangerous<\/strong> for a rabbit, especially when they are being held like a human baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holding your rabbit like a baby is not a safe or responsible practice. Putting rabbits on their backs sends them into a trance state which is actually a defense mechanism and is not safe to put your rabbit into voluntarily. The baby-carry is unsafe, but there are other carrying styles. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It\u2019s Dangerous <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Carry a rabbit on its back is dangerous for two reasons<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Their spines are susceptible to breaks<\/strong> – Rabbits’ instincts as prey make them nervous and skittish <\/strong>creatures. That nervousness makes them susceptible to panic attacks, which, in the worst case, can be fatal. Their fear causes them to thrash, and though their muscles are incredibly strong, their skeletons are not, and the thrashing can lead to skeletal damage, most often in their backs.<\/li>
  2. They can be sent into a “rabbit trance” which is highly dangerous <\/strong>– This trance-like state is what is known as “tonic immobility<\/strong>.” It is a trait many kinds of animals possess and is also known as “playing dead.” Tonic immobility in rabbits is a defense mechanism that protects them from potential predators. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    While rabbits appear to be relaxed when entranced, they are actually in a state of extreme stress<\/strong>. Tonic immobility is something a rabbit would never voluntarily put itself in, and you shouldn’t either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other dangers involve your pet rabbits fighting. If your rabbits are fighting a lot, and that is the reason you are trying to hold and comfort your rabbit more often, check out my article Five Reasons Pet Rabbits Fight and How to Stop Them<\/a>. This article will help you do the best for your rabbits.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Overcoming Dangers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Pet rabbits do need to be held from time to time. You can help your rabbit adjust to being held and pet by being gentle and patient<\/strong>. And of course, each rabbit has different preferences, and it’s up to you to know what your rabbit likes and what it can handle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The size of the rabbit means they will need to be held differently, but all rabbits need support in their back and legs. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This is not a safe practice!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    How to Safely Hold Your Rabbit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The key is to support their back and make them feel<\/em> safe. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n