You’ve probably observed many rabbit behaviors. In the wild, rabbits are prey animals, so their body language is solely instinct-based. That helps with understanding your pet’s body language. Signs such as shaking, twitching, and trembling show the owner that their rabbit is uncomfortable.

The usual causes of shaking are stress, fear, and nervousness. A less apparent cause of trembling is heat, as rabbits do not endure high temperatures very well. If your rabbit is lying on its side and shaking, it could have a digestive issue. Also, it may have eaten something intoxicating.

Hiccups are mainly confused with shaking in rabbits, but they shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Sometimes, you will have to look out for other physical symptoms, such as scratching (in the case of mites), to determine the underlying cause of your bunny’s malaise.

Is It Normal for Rabbits to Shake?

Shaking is quite a wide term that includes lots of different behaviors.

Some types of shaking can be regarded as “normal,” whereas others are more concerning. There is a minimum of four types of shaking that can be seen in rabbits. These include:

Convulsions are never regarded as normal. Skin rippling, on the other hand, is considered very common in rabbits.

Trembling and twitching can be both normal and abnormal, depending on whether there are any extra symptoms. For instance, heatstroke causes trembling, but it also causes drooling and intense lethargy. But trembling can be considered a sign of fulfillment in some contexts.

How to Know if Rabbit Shaking Is Normal

Shaking is not always a cause for concern. It can be regarded as normal in the following scenarios:

• During Sleep – When rabbits are in deep sleep, they may shake or tremble. They’ll make a faint clucking chime. So, if your rabbit is lying on its side and gently shaking, this could be the cause. Certain rabbits sleep with their eyes open, so you may not notice they are snoozing.
• Delight or Gratitude – Rabbits shudder and ripple their skin when they are pleased. You’ll usually notice this after your rabbit has been outside or after you’ve given them their favorite treat.
• Dissatisfaction – Angry rabbits often twitch their heads or tremble. This is normal If the behavior isn’t prolonged. You’ll be sure your rabbit is annoyed cause it’ll also thump its hind feet.
• Hiccupping – Rabbits, especially babies, occasionally get hiccups. These can make the rabbit shake or tremble, and they usually last a few minutes. Hiccups are normal unless they happen too often.
• Recovering from a Fright– Rabbits shake when frightened. However, the shaking should diminish after a couple of minutes.

So, shaking doesn’t always mean there’s a cause for concern. However, you need to recognize various behaviors to know if your rabbit is all fine or not.

Diseases that Cause Rabbits to Shake

If your rabbit starts shaking too often, or the shakes become very fierce, this suggests there is a hidden illness. These diseases can cause rabbits to shake and convulse:

• Overheating and heatstroke
• Sniffing or ingesting something poisonous
• Parasite infections, especially E. Cuniculi (Encephalitozoon Cuniculi) and Ear Mites
• Various bacterial infections
• Strokes
• Gastrointestinal stasis
• Nearing the end of their life cycle

These diseases usually create additional symptoms alongside just shaking. That’s how you can determine if the shaking is critical or not.

Heatstroke and Rabbit Trembling

When rabbits overheat, they begin to tremble. Rabbits are more vulnerable to heatstroke than cats or dogs, so they must be kept cool.

Once the temperature reaches about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius), heatstroke is much more expected to occur. Rabbits can also be afflicted on cooler days. For example, if bunnies are moved from a cold to warm environment too quickly or vice versa, the results could be severe. Besides trembling, rabbits with heatstroke tend to:

• Have an increased heart rate (220 beats per minute or more)
• Drool
• Lay down and become very inert and exhausted
• Fit or convulse

A rapid heart rate is an obvious symptom of heatstroke, especially when it is paired with trembling. This combination is an immediate cause of worry and it should never be ignored.

If you see those signs, call your vet right away. In the meantime, you can cool your rabbit by placing it near a fan, patting its fur with a damp, cool towel, and trying to get it to drink water. Do not in any case pour cold water over an overheated rabbit as this can cause shock and a stroke.

Can Stroke Cause a Rabbit to Shake?

Trembling is one of the first stroke signals in rabbits. Heart attacks are quite rare, and trembling can be caused by many other conditions, too. Strokes will usually be paired with these symptoms:

• Nystagmus – side-to-side eye movements
• Paralysis to parts of the body – usually the back legs
• Instability and dizziness
• Facial muscle weakness – usually on one side

Strokes are becoming more usual now that rabbits’ lifespan is prolonged, but they are still rare.

Is Rabbit Shaking a Sign of Death?

As rabbits near death, some will shake and convulse. These convulsions are automatic muscle contractions. The rabbit probably has very little awareness that these are happening. Some rabbits also scream just before death. This process of “shutting down” can be extremely sad to witness.

If death is nearing the convulsions shouldn’t last long. Nothing can be done at this stage to bring your bunny back.

To conclude - rabbits shake for all kinds of reasons. Some are perfectly normal, but others can be severe.

If your rabbit is shaking and has other symptoms too, go to the vet immediately. Convulsions are a medical emergency and they should never be ignored.

Other Questions

Why is my rabbit shaking and breathing fast?

Your rabbit might be shaking and breathing fast because it is scared. Fear makes the rabbit shake and begin breathing fast.

It could be because the rabbit has been picked up or handled at a time when they didn’t want to be picked up. Since rabbits are mostly prey, they have sharp hearing and their legs are very strong so they can escape predators easily.  

Therefore, when you pick the rabbit up as a predator would, it will fear for its safety and start shaking. Another reason why your rabbit could be frightened is when someone new comes to your house. If the stranger makes a sudden movement or tries to hold it up, that could scare the rabbit.

What are the signs that my rabbit is dying?

Usually, pet rabbits live for between 6 and 12 years. There are several signs that let you know that your rabbit is dying. Sometimes it is a quick process, other times your rabbit might be sick for a long time before it passes away.

The signs that your rabbit is dying include, refusing to eat or drink, an excessive level of lethargy, breathing issues, or a rapid shift in vital signs.

The body temperature should be between 100 degrees Fahrenheit and 104 degrees Fahrenheit for a rabbit, and the heart rate should be between 180 and 250 beats per minute. Skin disorders such as myiasis, or "flystrike," are also signals that the life of your rabbit is at risk. Some rabbits also experience involuntary muscle spasms when they are near the final minutes of their life. 

Do rabbits die easily?

Yes, rabbits can die easily therefore you need to be very careful with them. Rabbits can even die of fright and loud sounds can lead to a heart attack causing sudden death.

Moreover, large dogs and cats can also frighten them and induce shock leading to death.

Rabbits have very delicate bones so if a stranger picks them up, they will try to jump, and if they fall they may end up breaking their neck or backbone. A drop in the temperature can also kill the rabbits because of their sensitive system therefore they should stay indoors where the temperature is warm.