Why is Rocky always shaking?

[Little Lion Head]

I’ve been noticing this for awhile but wasn’t really concerned until my husband mentioned it the other day too.

Whenever Rocky is at rest (stretched out with legs behind him or to the side) he shakes. His whole body moves a little, but especially his head. Like a constant jolt. Does he just have a fast heart rate? 

Like I said, I never really thought much about it, but the other day hubby asked if I thought he was okay. He’s totally fine and acts normal otherwise. Thoughts?

[JackRabbit]

Any way you can get a video of it? You’d have to make sure the lighting is really bright since he’s so dark.

[Kyrkogrimr]

Both my boys do it, though they don’t do it every time, I assumed it was normal, like that twitchy thing they do with their front paws before they wash their faces.

[Little Lion Head]

JR–I’ll try to get a video but I’m not sure how well you’ll actually be able to see the shaking with the dark hair and all the fur.

Kyrkogimr–that’s kind of what I was thinking too, or like nose twitches.

[HappyHollandDays]

Does the shaking resemble trembling from cold? I know in dogs that’s a somewhat common normal behavior. Especially in small dogs (think Chihuahua size. My old dog used to do it and we asked the vets about it, they said it was normal. So maybe it’s the same for rabbits? As long as everything seems normal and you don’t notice any troubling behaviors, I would say it’s just a thing he does. Kind of like when humans bounce their feet.

[Sr. Melangell]

Is he dreaming? Animals do dream, but we will wait for the bunny VT
VT= Video tape.

[Little Lion Head]

I don’t think it’s a being cold thing. He loves to lay in front of the air conditioning vent so if he were cold I don’t think he’d do that.

Will wait till he lays down in the living room and try for a video!

[The Law Bun]

I am sure its not this, but you could consider something scaring him in the room? Maybe outside? When I first brought Lilith to my parent’s house, and the dog would be roaming around, she would flop out and her ears head would be like shaking and her nose was going a mile a minute. The reason I know this, is because when I also saw it a few times the first few weeks in my apartment either when people were in the room talking, or if I had just finished her.

From your posts, doesn’t sound like he gets spooked and sounds rather socialized. However, something to consider (could also just be a fast heart rate).

[Robert]

Whenever elly lays down she looks like she’s shaking but she’s actually just breathing fast, could be something to consider

[Little Lion Head]

Law Bun I don’t think anything is scaring him–you are right he’s pretty socialized and brave. And I see it no matter whats going on around him. But maybe he’s just super aware of his surroundings which is making him breathe heavier?

I tried to get a video but whenever he saw my phone he came running for food. *sigh*

[LBJ10]

Leopold “rocks” sometimes and it seems to coincide with his breathing. Could it just be that Rocky breathes through his stomach instead of his chest. You know they tell people to do that. Use that diaphram! LOL

[Little Lion Head]

LBJ that makes sense! It does kind of look like that and rocking is a way better way to describe it! Thank you!

[LBJ10]

We are always joking that Leopold is rockin’. LOL I really do think it is the way he breathes. It isn’t noticeable all the time, but he does it quite often.

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