Rabbit rescues are spreading some of the worst, most outdated, and dangerous care advice—because they refuse to update their knowledge. Most are still operating off 30–35 year old information that’s been debunked, disproven, or outright condemned by modern research. I'm here to share correct, evidence-based care—because I’m tired of watching pet owners fail their animals due to bad advice. 😠📚🐾 #PetCare #AnimalWelfare #Education #Responsibility 🚫 House Rabbit Society: Still Stuck in 1994 The House Rabbit Society has been rehashing the same flawed messaging for decades. Their page on nutrition is a prime example—citing: A human fetal alcohol syndrome researcher with zero rabbit studies Two authors on Oxbow’s payroll Studies that have been misrepresented, taken out of context, or based on outdated, cruel methodology And it doesn’t stop at nutrition… ⚠️ “Trancing” ≠ Trauma — It’s About How You Handle Them One of the most dangerous myths still pushed by pet rabbit circles is the idea that any rabbit placed on its back is being "tranced"—as in forced into a tonic immobility state caused by extreme fear. But is that really the case? House Rabbit Society (HRS) loves to weaponize this myth to demonize breeders and show rabbit handlers. Why? Because flipping a rabbit onto its back is a standard part of a proper health check and showmanship exam—allowing us to inspect feet, toes, nails, genitals, and teeth thoroughly and safely. Their claim? That this is inherently abusive. The “inversion is abuse” narrative pushed by HRS relies on outdated neurobehavioral studies, like Woodruff (1977), which involved violent restraint and forced immobility. These studies were never designed to evaluate humane handling methods or animal welfare—and using them to criticize breeders is completely misleading. Summary of the Outdated Study (Used to Justify Trancing) Study: Limbic Modulation of Contact Defensive Immobility in the Rabbit Authors: Woodruff, 1977 Focus: Neurophysiological mechanisms behind tonic immobility (TI) and how limbic system structures control fear-based immobility responses. Key Problems with This Study (for rabbit handling purposes): 🧠 Purpose was neuroanatomical mapping, not humane handling. The study was intended to observe fear-induced behaviors and electrical activity in the brain—not explore stress-free restraint. 🔬 Methods included harsh induction techniques: The rabbits were forcefully restrained and flipped onto their backs until they became immobile. Researchers explicitly induced contact defensive immobility—not the kind of gentle inversion used in breeding, vetting, or shows. 🚫 No regard for stress minimization or welfare metrics: No measurement of cortisol, heart rate, pupil response, or other welfare indicators No investigation into long-term behavioral or physiological harm Designed solely for behavioral neurology, not husbandry applications The truth? The study they and other lay advocates often cite comes from the 1970s [1], where researchers violently slammed rabbits onto their backs repeatedly until the animals stopped resisting. That is trauma. But that has nothing to do with the controlled, gentle inversion breeders use during health checks and shows. 💡 Current research from 2021 tells a very different story: When rabbits are gently inverted—like during a show pose or calm vet exam—they actually show lower cortisol levels and more stable heart rates than rabbits examined in an upright position.[2] Study: Wilczyńska et al. (2021) examined how tonic immobility (TI) affects stress-related physiological markers in pet rabbits. Twenty rabbits were split into two groups: one examined in the normal upright position, and the other examined while gently inverted to induce TI. Key Findings: Heart Rate: All rabbits in the TI (inverted) group showed an average 12% decrease in heart rate, compared to more variable or elevated heart rates in the upright group. Respiratory Rate: TI group rabbits showed an overall drop in respiration, indicating lower arousal or stress. Pupil Size: Pupil diameter decreased by 9% in all inverted rabbits, a marker of relaxation. Blood Glucose: 70% of TI rabbits showed lower glucose levels after handling—a marker often associated with lower stress. Cortisol (Stress Hormone): 6 out of 10 rabbits in the TI group showed decreased cortisol levels 4 rabbits showed increases (average +53%) In contrast, all upright-handled rabbits had elevated cortisol, averaging a 78% increase Conclusion: The study found that gentle inversion (used in TI) caused less measurable stress than upright handling in the majority of rabbits. It supports the claim that when done properly, inversion is a safe and even calming method for health checks—unlike the violent methods used in outdated "trancing" studies. Let’s be clear: “Trancing” = Slamming a rabbit on its back and forcibly restraining it with pressure on the chest. That’s trauma. Proper inversion = Gentle handling used by experienced breeders and show judges. It's calming and respectful. Don’t confuse abuse with proper technique. And stop letting outdated or misrepresented science dictate what’s best for the animal. 🥕 Nutrition: HRS Is 30 Years Behind The House Rabbit Society has been parroting Dr. Susan Brown’s 1993 opinion piece on rabbit nutrition for decades—refusing to update their information despite massive advances in rabbit science. Meanwhile, the rest of the world has moved on. 🧬 REAL rabbit nutrition research: Dr. F. Lebas, former head of the World Rabbit Science Association, led a 10-year international study on rabbit nutrition starting in 2001. This collaborative project included hundreds of researchers and was updated every 4 years. It covers diet management, ingredient utilization, and tailored nutrition for different physiological needs. Key texts include: COST 848 The Nutrition of the Rabbit Rabbit Feed Utilization Feedipedia (used by global ag institutes) 🥕 Nutrition: The Real Route Forward Let’s be blunt: rabbits thrive on complete pellets (with hay as a supplement)—not the other way around. Here’s evidence-based recommendations: Complete pellets should constitute 80–100% of the diet, with 16% protein and 15–20% fiber. Hay is still useful, but secondary ● Timothy hay is low in protein (4–9%) and nearly useless as a primary food source—hay-only diets can lead to malnutrition and dental issues ● Alfalfa hay has more protein (18%) but is calcium-rich, which rabbits need,a nd balanced in pellets ● Pet Pellets, with only 14% protein and higher fiber, aren’t adequate—resulting in dull fur, muscle breakdown, and outperforming health ( oxbow ,small pet select) ● Nutritional needs vary by rabbit type: Pregnant/nursing does: 16% → 18% complete pellets Weanlings (8–20 weeks): 17–20% protein, free-fed Non-repro adults: 15–17% protein, supplemented with hay Show animals: additional fats, proteins, enzymes, beet pulp, and digestive support ● These recommendations stem from MMC Bun Club guidelines are backed by global collaboration and constantly updated science 💡 Bottom Line HRS has pushed outdated “hay-first” propaganda—heavily influenced by Oxbow. Scientific care is pellet-centric, nutritionally complete, life-stage specific, and supplemented with hay—not replaced by it. You deserve and should demand real evidence—not recycled pet-store marketing or 1990s ideology. Even today, these works are the gold standard for feeding rabbits responsibly. @Vesper Eveningstar is currently reviewing one of the best new books on the subject—modern, balanced, and based on actual field-tested data. 🐰 Modern Rabbit Welfare = Low Stress, High Performance The agricultural world has had to evolve—because it has to. A stressed show rabbit fails on the table A stressed brood doe doesn’t breed A stressed meat rabbit tastes bitter Across the board, minimizing stress leads to better outcomes—healthier animals, better productivity, and stronger genetics. That’s why farms and show breeders are leading the way in welfare-focused husbandry. 💥 Hot Takes from @MMC Bun Club Let’s cut through the fluff: 🔸 Rabbits don’t bond. They’re solitary, territorial animals. Forced cohabitation often ends in bloodshed. Keep them separate. 🔸 Binkies are dominance behavior. What looks like play is often low-level sparring. Pet owners misread it due to anthropomorphism. Bottom line? Stop treating outdated pet advice like gospel. Start listening to real research and breeders with boots on the ground. Because the rabbits deserve better than old myths and feel-good misinformation. _________________________ 📖 Citation [1] Woodruff, Michael. LIMBIC MODULATION OF CONTACT DEFENSIVE IMMOBILITY ("ANIMAL HYPNOSIS". [2] Wilczyńska, A., Ziętek, J., Teodorowski, O., Winiarczyk, S., & Adaszek, Ł. (2021). Effect of tonic immobility induction on selected physiological parameters in Oryctolagus cuniculus f. Domesticus rabbits. Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 77(6), 295–299.