Humans sweat. Pigs roll in the mud. Dog sticks out tongue. Rabbits don't do these things when they're hot. In the wild, rabbits will hide in bushes and dig holes in the ground to escape the sun. The rabbit's entire body is covered with fur except for the eyes. This means finding shelter is the only option your rabbit has to stay cool. If you adopt a rabbit as a pet, be sure to keep the rabbit in a cool place. Room temperature is fine with your rabbit, but hotter temperatures can cause your rabbit to overheat.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Creating a Cool Environment
Step 1. Monitor the temperature of the rabbit's surroundings
The ideal temperature for rabbits is between 13° C to 21° C. Rabbits can tolerate temperatures up to 29° C, if really pushed, but higher temperatures increase the rabbit's risk of heat stroke.
- If you keep your rabbit outdoors, pay attention to the temperature. The dry season is a worrying time. If the rabbit is left outside in its cage during the dry season, the rabbit's fur will trap heat in its body so that the rabbit will overheat soon.
- Keep the rabbit cage out of the sun. Cover all windows with curtains if needed. If this doesn't make a significant difference, consider moving the cage to a cooler part of the house, such as the basement. If your type of AC is Window AC, you should close the door to the room and keep the rabbit there. If you have Central AC, it's a good idea to close all air vents and direct cool air into the bunny's room to save on electricity bills. You can also buy Standing AC for certain rooms.
Step 2. Make sure the rabbit cage is well ventilated
Use a fan to cool your rabbit. Position the oscillating fan so that it points toward the rabbit's cage. That way, cool air will reach the rabbit's cage and can keep the rabbit cool. Make sure the rabbit can avoid the wind from the fan if he wants to. You can make a hiding place for the rabbit with a cardboard box.
- Wire cages can allow air to flow freely from all sides. If your rabbit is in a cage outdoors, keep it protected and don't let the enclosure cover block the air vents. The bedding in the rabbit cage must also have good absorbency and be non-toxic such as straw, aspen sawdust, CareFresh (recycled paper), or Eco-Straw made from wheat. These materials can circulate air easily and do not retain air.
- A ceiling-mounted fan above the cage is another good option. By combining a standing fan and a ceiling fan, your rabbit's area will be well ventilated.
Step 3. Hang a wet towel over the rabbit's cage
This method is very effective when combined with a fan that is on. Not only does this towel serve as a cover, but the cool humidity can also help keep the rabbit's cage cool.
Use a normal sized bath towel (about 75 x 105 cm). Wet it in cold water, wring it out, and place it on top of the cage. Try to cover the entire cage with a towel. You must make sure not to interfere with the ventilation of the cage. Also make sure that the towels used do not drip. You should never wet your rabbit
Step 4. Use ice to cool the cage
Place a few packs of ice under the rabbit's cage. This will cool the bottom of the cage. You can also freeze water bottles and place them in a cage to create a cool place for your rabbit to lie down in hot weather. Do not apply ice directly to the rabbit's body as this can lower the rabbit's temperature too quickly.
Step 5. Limit your rabbit's playtime to mornings and evenings when it's cooler both indoors and outdoors
Rabbits should play for at least a few hours outside the cage. However, rabbits may not be as eager to run and play if they are too hot.
Method 2 of 2: Caring for a Overheated Rabbit
Step 1. Check for common symptoms when your rabbit is overheating
Rabbit ears are the most important part to pay attention to. When the rabbit is overheated, the blood vessels in its ears will swell and cause a reddish tint to appear in the rabbit's ears. This is an indicator that can be used to detect whether the rabbit is experiencing heatstroke or not. An overheated rabbit will also have some symptoms, such as:
- Wet hair under nose
- Heavy and fast breathing
- Enlarged nostrils
- Lying on the floor
- Hot ears and feet
- Being inactive and not alert before (lethargic)
- Half closed eyes
Step 2. Comb the rabbit's fur
Rabbits can shed a lot of hair. Normally, your rabbit will clean itself and get rid of all the extra hair and dandruff on its body. If your rabbit's hair is shedding and he's not grooming himself properly, this extra fur can act as an insulating layer. In the rainy season, this fur can be useful for rabbits. In the dry season, this fur can cause the rabbit to limp due to the heat.
Comb the rabbit from the head to the back. Comb gently, and don't remove too much hair, as this could hurt the rabbit. Do it during the dry season on a regular basis
Step 3. Keep the rabbit dehydrated
Put small ice cubes in a drinking bottle to lower the temperature of the water in the bottle. If you have to leave your rabbit for extended periods of time in warmer temperatures, this is a good move. For a full day, the water in the cage will remain cold until the ice cubes melt. Dehydration can make it easier for heatstroke to strike your rabbit. If your rabbit is overheating, he will seek water and drink more to cool off.
Give your rabbit some vegetables to keep him from getting dehydrated. Dip small carrots, celery sticks, and other vegetables your rabbit likes in the water and place them in the rabbit's cage. That way, the rabbit will get extra water from the food he consumes
Step 4. Do not submerge the rabbit in ice water
It's okay to just dip the paw in the water, but don't submerge the rabbit's entire body in the ice water. Rabbits are not very good swimmers. You might think that a short bath will cool the rabbit down, but in fact, it will actually make the rabbit's condition worse. The shock of being exposed to water will cause excessive worry which will increase the rabbit's body temperature.
You can spray the rabbit with water, but don't get it wet (see next step)
Step 5. Spray a little water or a mixture of alcohol and water
Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol with 3 parts water in a spray bottle and spray a small amount onto the outside of the rabbit's ears and back of the hand. Wet both parts sufficiently and the vapors of the solution will cool the rabbit's body (alcohol only serves to speed up evaporation).
Step 6. See a veterinarian
Try calling your vet first. He will suggest some cooling methods you can try before bringing your rabbit in for inspection. He will probably suggest most of the tips listed above. If you've tried all the tips in this article, tell your vet and take your rabbit to the vet's clinic.
