Bunny moves head slowly side to side
by Connie
(Pierre SD. USA.)
Since I got her at 8 weeks my holland lop bunny does this, when sitting still.
She slowly moves her head from side to side, looks almost neurological, but as soon as she starts moving it is gone.
She has developed normally in weight and body, looks like she is following movement with her head as if she were watching something move, from one side to other, never turns her head, I wonder if it is inherited.
It is not wry neck. I have never seen this in any bunnies I have ever raised. Anyone got suggestions or seen it in their rabbits? Thanks.
***** Karen Sez *****Yeah, what you're seeing is kind of spooky-looking, but as far as I know, this is visual, not neurological. The rabbits I have seen "panning" their environment have all been either red-eyed white or blue-eyed white rabbits. Is your rabbit white, or does it have very light-colored eyes?
I am told that the head movement helps the rabbit see its environment better. You've seen animals cock their head. And perhaps you yourself have needed to shift your own vision just slightly to better see something in the distance.
I am not sure why some white rabbits do this but others do not. Perhaps other rabbit breeders can shed additional light on the behavior of panning side-to-side with the eyes/head.