Bunny Body Language

     Bunnies cannot talk so they express how they feel through actions. For example, if a bunny is upset, sad, or there is something wrong, it cannot speak to you. Instead, your bunny may be lethargic or cower away from you. I cannot even begin to express how important it is to watch your rabbit for changes in behavior.
       Mabel, my first rabbit, died when she was eight weeks old. I didn't know how a rabbit was supposed to act at the time, so I didn't realize there was something wrong with her when she hid from me and would not let me pick her up. I thought she was just adjusting to her new and unusual home. When she began to grind her teeth, which is a sign the rabbit is in pain (of course I didn't know this at the time) I still didn't think there was anything wrong. I began to suspect there was a problem when I realized she wasn't eating. This is not good as it can be a sign of a pain in places such as the stomach or intestines. She was not pooping at all, so I thought she might have been constipated. Constipation can be deadly in a rabbit if left because the poisonous gas build-up in the intestines can affect the rest of the  body and ultimately lead to death. We decided to take her to the veterinarian in the morning but when we woke up she had already died. It turns out she had had a hole in her heart: a birth defect. You should always listen to your rabbit's body language and if you see any drastic changes, like I did, call your vet immediately.
       As a prey species rabbits will try to hide their illnesses, so it will not always be easy to tell if your rabbit has an illness. In order to ensure that your rabbit is healthy, it is a good idea to examine your bunny daily. Watch him while he eats, check the litter box/cage for average amounts of poop, and let your bunny run around. You know you bunny best, so only you can decide what is normal.
To list, the main things to watch out for are:

Tooth Grinding: Loud tooth grinding is a sign that a rabbit is in pain. Quieter tooth grinding is usually normal for a relaxed and happy bunny.

Wet Chin/ Drooling: This can be a sign of tooth problems in rabbits. Aside from the drooling, you may notice that your rabbit is unable to eat hard foods such as large vegetables. This should not happen if your rabbit is given a steady supply of chew toys, but if it does, contact your vet as you may need to schedule trimmings.

Ear Temperature: Rabbits ears are what regulate their body temperature. If you notice that your bunny's ears are extremely cold or very warm, this could indicate a change in body temperature/fever. If your bunny experiences this with other symptoms, contact your vet.

Labored Breathing, Runny Eyes Nose, Sneezing: These factors together could indicate allergies. Labored breathing could indicate some kind of respiratory infection (possibly from the type of bedding you are using). The runny eyes may be caused by blocked tear ducts. Contact your vet about all of these problems.

Head Tilt/ Loss of Balance: This can be caused by an inner ear infection known as wry neck. It is important to catch this early on so that it can be treated properly.

Lethargy/ Loss of Appetite: Once in a while every rabbit has an off day, but if your rabbit will not eat or participate in usual activities, you should contact your vet. However, only you know your rabbit, and only you can decide what is abnormal.

Fecal Matter: Your rabbit should be using his litter box regularly. The feces left in it should be round and normally colored. Abnormally shaped, colored, and amounts of feces can indicate an illness. If any blood is excreted by your rabbit, call your vet immediately. This could be a sign of something less serious, but it can also be a sign of cancer.

   Rabbits can use body language to express emotion:
  Angry/ Scared: Among other actions is thumping.  This is when a rabbit hits the ground with its hind legs. This usually means "Get away from me!", "Stop doing that," or "Leave me alone." Thumping can be a sign that your rabbit is afraid or angry. You can also look towards your rabbits ears if you think they are afraid. They will be pinned back, but not in a completely straight manner. If your bunny is extremely scared or in extreme pain he may scream.
    Happy/ Relaxed:  Rabbits will also jump in the air and kick there feet together. Informally, it is called a "binky." This is a sign of a very happy rabbit. My bunny Charlotte loves doing this all the time when she is let out of her cage. Other than binkies, a happy and relaxed rabbit should not have their ears pinned back, but should have them in a normal upright position. Happy rabbits will also wiggle their noses.
     Territorial: Territorial behavior can be demonstrated by rubbing of the chin.
     Curious: A curious rabbit will look around intently and may sometimes stand on his hind legs.
     I know this sounds cheesy, but honestly listen to your rabbit. You are in charge of taking care of him. Only you can decide what is normal and abnormal as far as behavior because each bun is an individual. Your bunny is always talking to you. Are you listening?

For more information, click here to watch a video on bunny body language.
Source(es): House Rabbit Society