Are you worried that your rabbit is deaf in one or both ears? This can be a common concern with a growing rabbit that is not responding as well to specific sounds as you would expect. It is quite possible for a rabbit to be deaf and it is essential to learn more about your rabbit’s condition right away so adjustments can be made. This si why it is best to learn how to tell if your rabbit is deaf immediately.
If you wish to tell if a rabbit is deaf check how its ears move. If the ears move in the direction of the sound, this means the rabbit can hear.
This is the bare minimum you can to as you figure out how to tell if your rabbit is deaf.
Key factors include:
- Age of the Rabbit
- Genetics
- Response to Specific Sounds
You have to realize rabbits are anxious animals, which means they are going to be sensitive to noises. If you have a rabbit that is ignoring everything, this isn’t always going to come down to comfort.
Yes, some rabbits do become quite comfortable in your presence, but they are still responsive to sounds that are happening around them.
This is why it is essential to test the rabbit’s hearing at all times. This is going to let you know whether adjustments should be made in how the rabbit is raised.
This guide is going to teach you how to tell if your rabbit is deaf while also offering insight into how you can improve the rabbit’s quality of life.
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Tips on How to Tell If Your Rabbit is Deaf
1. Pay Attention to the Ears’ Movement
The first thing you should do is look at the rabbit’s ears.
The goal is to see if the ears move all the time. If the rabbit’s ears are flopped to the side and unresponsive regardless of the noise around it, this might be a sign of deafness.
You have to pay attention to this because a healthy rabbit’s ears are constantly on the move.
Since rabbits are often prey in the wild, they use their ears to stay ahead of the predators.
If their ears are not moving with your snapping fingers or any other type of noise, this might be a sign that something is wrong with the rabbit’s hearing.
You may have to go to a vet to get a detailed checkup done on the rabbit’s ears.
2. Make Directional Noises to See their Reaction
If you want to learn how to tell if your rabbit is deaf, you have to take advantage of directional noises.
This means you are going to look to make multiple noises from different spots around the room. Just pay attention to whether or not the rabbit moves its ears as the sounds are made.
If they turn to the sound, this means their hearing is okay. If not, you will have to get the rabbit’s ears checked out.
It is all about continually testing the rabbit’s hearing.
If you are not focused on trying this out, you are going to find it hard to pinpoint what the underlying issue is. A healthy rabbit is always aware of not only the sound but where it is coming from.
This is what you have to look for.
3. Look for an Increased Use of Whiskers
When learning how to tell if your rabbit is deaf, you will have to also look at the rabbit’s whiskers.
Rabbits tend to rely on other senses heavily when they are deaf. This not only includes their eyesight, but also their whiskers as they can use the vibrations around them to pinpoint what is happening.
This is something they adapt to due to the deafness.
Final Thoughts
These are the tips on how to tell if your rabbit is deaf.
It is normal for some rabbits to be deaf, but it is essential to make adjustments to their lifestyle. This includes the types of toys they are playing with and where they are living.
You have to speak to a vet to learn more about your options too. A deaf rabbit is just as much fun as any other rabbit as long as you are aware of their condition throughout the process.
Here is more on rabbits to read through – dealing with untrained unspayed rabbits, managing vibrations in a rabbit’s foot, getting rabbit to eat lambs lettuce, and quality dianthus flowers to give to rabbits.