Trancing

Trancing is exceptionally bad for your rabbit.

People think it is cute, but it is not.

What is Trancing?

Trancing is when you flip a rabbit over on its back fully, so that the head is on the same level or close to the same level as the bum. The rabbit then goes into a trancelike state and lies very still. It is your rabbit "playing dead".

Why is trancing bad?
It can permanently damage the heart muscle and brain.
When you flip a rabbit (and hare, as this goes for them too - even more!) over, the head must alsways be 45 degrees above the bum.

What happens inside the rabbit during trancing?
A rabbit that is flipped onto its back incorrectly will go into a "trance" and trancelike state: it will become catatonic, as the reflexes cut off its heartrate, brain function and breathing to "play dead" . This is because rabbits and hares are prey animals - and this reflex is a last resort in fear from a predator in the hope that if they play dead, the predator will release them. Also, should the death blow come, the brain will be cut off and the fear and pain will be gone.
- Your rabbit's brain will get too little oxygen because of too little oxygen in the blood,
- Blood is slowing down everywhere in the body, this can harm organs,
- If your rabbit had a run just before, the muscles cannot get rid of the CO2 and this will cause lactic acid buildup,
- The gut comes to a stand-still and food can get blocked, which leads to stasis.
- The lungs do not operate fully and pulmonary embolisms (air bubbles) can form, causing strokes or a heart attack
- The heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen and will get damaged
- Blood that slowed down can clot and form a bloodclot that can cause "infarctions" (bloodclots that block and damage muscles, organs, the brain or the heart).


Why do rabbits have a trancing reflex?
Some predators will go for the stomach, and when the rabbit's brain and heart is basically shut off, it will lessen the pain, anxiety and suffering, as an animal can live up to 10 minutes while other predators that flip their prey over, like ferrets etc, will go for the throat, and thus the front paws are stiffened in order to "ward off" that fatal strike as the stomach is being eaten.
Yes, we are talking very graphically now, but this is so you can realize the fear and pain your rabbit can go through.
Each trance cuts off blood to the brain and weakens the heart muscle. Thus trancing your bunny or hare will cause permanent brain damage and a weakened heart muscle.
Hares seldom get tame enough to be handled, but a rabbit that trusts his owner enough to be handled and then is tranced is doomed - his owner is killing him slowly and it is cruel to misuse that trust.
Yes, many bunnies goes to sleep on their backs on their own, but the front paws are always flipped down and relaxed, and the breathing is normal. It is very rare for a rabbit to sleep with outstretched front limbs when they sleep, as the outstretched limbs are usually a sign of distress.
Tranced bunnies will have stiffened front legs, and the breathing is very slow.

Please love your bunny enough to never trance him or her. Many people say" My rabbit trusts me fully, and nothing will happen". This is not true, instinct and reflexes during trancing do cause heart muscle damage, and the slow breathing starves the brain of oxygen. Some rabbits do trust their owner enough to lie on their backs, but the chance that something strange outside may happen, even the bark of a dog, can suddenly cause a full trance which will cause damage. Do not take the chance, for your bunny's sake.