After watching a movie or cartoons, which shows how some magician deftly pulls a rabbit out of his hat by the ears, many have the impression that this is the way to take the eared one. However, this opinion is incorrect.
Breeders periodically need to move their pet from one place to another, take it out of the cage, take them to a veterinarian.
In the article we will tell you how to take the rabbits correctly and why you shouldn’t touch their ears.
Why rabbits can not be taken by the ears
Have you noticed that an animal, when it is taken by the ears and lifted, begins to wriggle, scratch, resist. This fact alone indicates that he is unpleasant. The fact is that in this case it is experiencing a wild pain. After all, his ears are very tender, covered with thin skin. 
When lifting, it is easy to inflict eared irreparable harm, for example, to tear ligaments or muscles. Just imagine how your ears will stretch, for example, if you lift a large crawl weighing 6-7 kilos. And for the ears of a decorative baby, his body at 1.5-2 kg will seem like a very heavy burden.
Did you know? The length of the rabbit's ears of an average breed is 10–12 cm, and that of a large one, up to 18 cm. However, in world practice, a record holder with ears that have reached a length of 79 cm was registered. The record holder was called Nipper's Geronimo.
In addition to injury to the ears, when lifting a crawl it is possible to cause him more serious harm. The fact is that the muscle of the diaphragm, which separates the chest and abdominal cavities, is not able to withstand the pressure of the organs in hanging eared. When lifting the animal, the abdominal organs tension the diaphragm and thereby impede its movement.
As a result, respiratory failure occurs, because in the crawl it is diaphragm.
When lifting a crawl in this way, there is also a risk of damage to the vessels of the ears, brain, and displacement of the vertebrae.
The reason that many people think that it’s right to take the rabbit by the ears is in the historical plane. Indeed, before these lagomorphs were kept on the farm only for meat and skins. 
Therefore, when they were thus removed from the cage for slaughter, the owner, and even the animal itself, did not care how it would affect the health of the animal.
We want to warn that, unfortunately, today and some veterinarians are of the opinion that it is correct to keep the crawl this way, moreover, this is exactly what they do at the reception during the examination than they show their complete incompetence.
At the same time, they also assure their clients that they are right. Our advice to you is to not trust the examination of your pets to such veterinarians.
Did you know? The reproductive system of the female crawl is designed in such a way that it can carry 2 litters from different males at the same time. Her uterus has no body, but consists of 2 horns, each of which opens into the vagina, and 2 necks.
Is it possible to take the withers
If you look at the photo below, you will see that it is also not recommended to take an animal for a fold of skin on the neck or back. This is not as dangerous as with the ears, but there are other, safer ways. 
The fact that this method is more comfortable for an animal is evidenced by the fact that, as a rule, in this situation it does not break out and does not scratch. Most often, the crawl just hangs down, while his neck and head are somewhat pulled back.
If you use this method of lifting, it is necessary to support the body with the second hand in the area of the sacrum.
By the way, it is for the withers of the rabbits that their parents suffer. Some breeders advise taking animals at the same time with two hands: one - in the neck, the second - in the back. So it will be in a horizontal position, and the weight of the body will be evenly distributed.
It is important to ensure that the animal does not accidentally burst out and fall from a height. Rabbits have very fragile bones and a delicate spine. Therefore, any careless fall can cause serious injury in the form of a fracture, displacement, stretching or other damage.
Important! Whatever way you take an animal, with one hand its body must be supported from below.
How to raise and hold rabbits
There are several options for how to take an eared pet in your arms. In this case, two hands are always involved. 
Option 1:
- Carefully turn the pet tail to the cage door.
- At the same time, constantly stroke it and say soothing words in a gentle voice. It is important not to frighten him away and not to panic.
- Gently slide one hand under the front paws. Act calmly, avoiding sudden movements.
- Place your other hand under your hind legs and lock them. If the animal becomes frightened, it will begin to kick and forcefully beat with the hind limbs.
- Pull the hind legs out of the cage first, and then remove the whole body with the second hand.
- Press the animal to your back so that it calms down and feels safe. Hold it as tight as possible.
- If you take a pet for the first time, then after he calms down, give him a treat - he should get used to the fact that such manipulations with his body do not bear him evil and are safe.
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So that the animal does not scratch you, you can first put a cloth over its back, then deftly tuck it under the belly and cover its paws. There are also special carriers that allow you to conveniently transport rabbits.
In order for the rise to be successful, it is first desirable to teach the animal that your hand will periodically slip under his chest and raise its front paws, or put a hand on the withers, form a fold and also lift it slightly. 
Such manipulations can be done daily, and then feed the pet with something tasty. When he gets used to your touch in the chest area, he will no longer react so sharply to lifting or removing from the cell.
Option 2 (suitable for calm, non-resistant animals):
- Substitute the elbow to the back of the animal.
- Stick one hand under the front paws.
- Knock the pet on its back so that it rests on the crook of the elbow (like a newborn).
- Hold him tightly against his chest so that he feels safe and realizes that resistance is useless.
Option 3:
- Hide and lock the animal's head in the crook of the elbow.
- Wrap the bottom of the case with the bottom of the hand.
- With your other hand, clasp the body around your shoulders and firmly hold the animal to you.
- You can also skip the arm between the hind limbs, pointing the paws outward.
You can see in the video clearly how to take an animal with two hands by the neck and under the hind legs:
Note that small rabbits are often not taken into the hands. During each such manual contact, they experience stress, which can affect their growth, development and longevity.
When approaching a cage for taking a crawl on your hands, you should make sure that he is in a good mood. If the animal is aggressive, as evidenced by the fight with its hind paw along the bottom of the cage, it is better to refuse to touch it for a while.
Focus on reassuring and appeasing the animal.
If you need to transfer a pet to another person, then it is strictly prohibited to do this in the air, with arms outstretched. It is necessary to seat the animal on the surface and press it, not allowing it to move. Fixing it should continue until another person takes it in hand.
Important! If you bought a rabbit as a pet for a child, then first of all teach him how to take a rabbit in his arms. This is necessary for the safety of both the animal and the child. After all, crawls are very active and have long claws that can inflict deep wounds on your child.
So, we found out that in no case should the rabbit be lifted by the ears and not recommended to be taken by the scruff. It is fraught with harm to his health, causing various injuries and even stop breathing. 
If necessary, the animal can be taken with two hands on the withers and skin fold in the back area or stretch one hand under the front and the other under the hind legs. An important point is the fixation of the hind legs, which should be positioned towards the head and firmly pressed against the stomach.
Before you take the pet in any other way, you should imagine if you would like this treatment and what you would have experienced if someone tried to hang you by the ears or turn it upside down. Remember, respect for the pet and proper treatment with them will allow him to live next to you a happy and long life.
