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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Do rabbits react to injuries or illness in their humans?

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    • Ellie from The Netherlands
      Participant
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        Have any of you noticed your buns reacting whenever you have physical problems? I know dogs do, but is this seen in rabbits as well? I think I’m seeing a pattern here, but I can’t confirm it yet.

        I woke up this morning with a very stiff and painful left shoulder, it was so stiff that I had a tingling hand on that side and couldn’t move the arm properly. After taking my painkillers movement returned a but, but it’s till not optimal. I just brushed Breintje, and he kept sniffing and licking my arm and shoulder. He also kept bumping his nose and front paws into the part of my shoulder where the pain comes from (on the back, between arm and shoulder).

        He reacted on other occasions as well, whenever I was exhausted or very stressed. When I’m very tired he cuddles up to me, and when I’m stressed he tries to get my attention in either a cute or annoying way.

        Have other people seen these kinds of behaviours as well? My BF’s hypothesis is that they see us as group members, and investigate whenever a group member is unwell. He says Breintje can surely notice that I can’t move the arm normally.


      • Azerane
        Moderator
        4688 posts Send Private Message

          Yes absolutely, some more than others depending on the bond they have with their human of course If you are closely bonded with your rabbit, of course they will sense when you’re not feeling well and will look out for you and want to be there for you when you’re feeling off colour. I think it’s very sweet


        • Mikey
          Participant
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            Yep! One of my rabbits is my emotional support animal. He knows when my anxiety or PTSD is acting up even if im hiding it, and will be overly friendly towards me. He will groom me, sit on me, nudge me, poke me a thousand times, ect


          • Ellie from The Netherlands
            Participant
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              How beautiful Mikey. I’m sorry to hear about these problems, but it’s great to see that you have such a strong bond with the rabbit. He must trust you fully to interact with you like that. It also says something about you: gaining the full trust of a rabbit is a long process which needs a lot of patience and love. So even though you are experiencing these symptoms, you’re able to connect emotionally and share love and care. I hope that this bond with your rabbit will help you heal


            • Sr. Melangell
              Participant
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                Oh yes, bunnies know, sometimes little hamsters and mice know, my little boy knows that my eyesight is really bad, I have tunnel vision and low vision and when I got him a water dispenser and was doing it wrong all the water was going everywhere, I didn’t know until he pushed my arm away and put his paw in the water then on my face, he knows when Mummy has a migraine, he kisses mummy’s head, he rubs himself against my knees when I have a bad time with Arthritis, so yes they do know, so when your bunny shows you some love and care give bunny a love and say thank you and tell bunny you’ll be OK.


              • Mikey
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                  Thank you Ellie! Training with him only took a few months. Hes a natural caregiver and im lucky to have gotten a bunny so sweet. My panic disorder causes me to pass out often, and he has taught himself out to wake me up. I cried a little when i first saw him wake me up, because i did not know he would learn to do something like that on his own. Hes just as caring to his two younger brothers too I call him Mama Blue with how he takes care of us all, lol


                • LittlePuffyTail
                  Moderator
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                    My bunnies usually seem to notice when I’m upset or unwell. Animals are WAY more in tune to emotions and physical distress than humans are.

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                Forum BEHAVIOR Do rabbits react to injuries or illness in their humans?