Bunny sleeping with head against the wall

[Spindly Hoomin]

Hey all!

First time bunny owner here, and proud hoomin of Token the diva lop, lol. 

 I came home today and found him sleeping with his head against the wall. I’ve heard it’s a serious thing with dogs and cats, but what about buns? It’s so easy to chalk it up to him being funny, but with bunnies being experts at hiding illnesses. Any advice/sharing your experience will be much appreciated!

[LBJ10]

Is he really pushing his head into the wall though? It just looks like he’s loafing with his nose to the wall in that picture.

[Wick & Fable]

Congratulations on your pet rabbit! To your knowledge, is this something he does often? Wick prioritizes his leg comfort to face, so sometimes he’s sleeping with his head in my elbow, or his face hanging off the sofa edge. If I saw Wick like this, I’d assume he started away from the wall, then leaned forward for comfort and decided he didn’t mind the wall.

If it’s something he’s doing often, does he have any what may seem like odd behaviors involving his head? Whether it’s tilting, itching, or anything else?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Spindly Hoomin]

I went by his face fur and they didn’t look especially squished. He apparently does this a few times when I’m out of the house.

[Spindly Hoomin]

Thanks!

He’s slept like that a few times apparently. I’m not sure if it’s because that wall is colder than the other in my room and it actually helps him sleep better. I haven’t noticed anything weird in particular in his behavior either. He itches/grooms a lot (sometimes 20 minutes straight!) though that’s normal for him.

[Wick & Fable]

It’s good to have a grooming-focused rabbit; less work for you, haha! If his overall temperature regulation/condition is fine, then it could just be an odd preference. Wick really likes to sleep with either a foot by his side, or even better, if someone commits the 45-minutes to lay uncomfortably on the floor and nuzzle their head into his side. Like people, rabbits have odd preferences.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Q8bunny]

Just judging by the photo, he’s not in any discomfort. Bunny eyes get squinty in a weird way when they’re in pain and their facial muscles tense up. I’d chalk it up to bunny strangeness, but do keep a loving eye on him

[vanessa]

You have a weird bunny 😉 This evening I actually saw my little guy Lancelot lying on his side with his head againsed the wooden hay box. His back half was in his corrugated tunnel. I heard what I thought to be Guin running through the corrugated tunnel, but it turned otu to be Lancelot, who is blind, deaf, and has weak limbs, and I’m sure he got into it by accident. When he got to the other end, he was up against the hay box, and couldnt figure out how to turn the corner so down he went. Once he is on his side, he can’t stand up. At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Then when I petted him he didn’t move and I thought he was dead… but I felt his chest rise, so I pulled him out of the corrugated tube, and he was really happy to be back on his fluffly fleece bed.
De ja vue.
But your bunny might just like resting like that. I’d get him a stuffie. Maybe he would enjoy resting against a stuffie? Lancleot likes to nap with his head draped over Guiniveres back, and if she is in her hidey-hole, he props his head up on his stuffie.

[Azerane]

If it’s a frequent thing it may be worth getting him checked out, just in case. As you mentioned, head-pressing in cats and dogs can be signs of serious illness disease within the brain, neurological disorders etc. That’s not to say that it is that, but if it’s happen several times a day, I would probably be concerned. My buns have been sleeping with their head pressed against something, but it’s coincidental once every so often.

[Spindly Hoomin]

I kept an eye on him for a week– it helps loads that he comes and sleeps in my room now. He seems super healthy, if not a bit lazy with our crazy weather changes lately lol.

[Spindly Hoomin]

It seems super likely now that it’s a quirk of his! I’ve kept an eye on him for over a week and he seems normal (no discharges, healthy poops, blah blah)

[Spindly Hoomin]

Haha, awwe way to both worry and amuse you! He sounds like a bundle of fun

 I could give the stuffie thing a try… I have a few on my bed that he enjoys using as chew toys though lol. Thanks for the tip!

[Spindly Hoomin]

So far he hasn’t been displaying any weird signs of possible illness, but I am taking him over to his bunny vet in a week for his annual check up. I’ll mention it so she can see if she needs to give him a look over to be sure.

[Q8bunny]

Glad you haven’t noticed anything else to give you cause for concern. Good idea mentioning it to the vet during checkup though

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