19d ā¢ Health and Wellness
š Tonic Immobility (āTrancingā) ā What the Research Actually Says
Letās clear this up, because this one keeps getting recycled like itās gospel.
āTrancingā as people describe it online is a misinterpretation of tonic immobility (TI)āa physiological response that was studied under very specific lab conditions that do not match normal handling.
Older studies (1970sā1990s) were intentionally designed to induce a fear-based immobility response using:
ā ļøforced inversion
ā ļørestraint
ā ļøthoracic pressure
ā ļørepeated induction
That is not how rabbits are handled in veterinary exams, shows, or routine care.
š What modern research shows
More recent work (2016ā2023) looking at:
cortisol
heart rate
respiration
glucose
ā¦does not support the claim that a brief, supported dorsal exam is inherently harmful.
In fact, some studies show:
ā”ļø lower physiological stress markers compared to upright restraint
ā”ļø improved ability to safely perform exams
ā”ļø reduced risk of injury during handling
ā ļø The problem
People are taking outdated lab protocols and applying them to modern handling practices like theyāre the same thing.
Theyāre not.
Thatās like taking a crash test and saying ācars are unsafe to sit in.ā
š So whatās the reality?
Forced, prolonged, or repeated inversion with restraint = stress response
Brief, supported dorsal positioning for exam = standard veterinary practice
Those are not interchangeable.
š¬ Letās talk
What have YOU been told about ātrancingā?
Have you ever actually read the study being referencedāor just the claim?
Drop your thoughts below š
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š Tonic Immobility (āTrancingā) ā What the Research Actually Says
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