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- Give your rabbit a couple of hard-shelled freezer packs(to avoid damage by teeth), or freeze water in old bottles and place them where your rabbit likes to lie. Even if the rabbit doesn't want to lay against it, it will cool the air as it evaporates.
- Provide a fan that your rabbit can sit near. Some rabbits do not like a direct breeze, so position the fan to create a cool air flow, but make sure your rabbit can move away from it if he wants to. Fans helps with air flow but otherwise don't much help rabbits because, unlike us, they don't really sweat. A good idea is to drape a cold wet towel near the rabbit and aim the fan at the towel: this will cool the air as the water evaporates.
- Make sure your rabbit is hydrated! Easy access to several water sources is ideal, and if your rabbit will drink from a bowl you can try leaving a handful of ice cubes in the water to keep it cool for an extended period of time. Drench your rabbit's salad greens in water, too.
- Air conditioning. This may seem obvious, but if you can afford a cheap a/c unit for the room where your rabbit spends most of its time, your rabbit will be more comfortable.
- Chill ceramic or stone tiles in the freezer for the rabbit to lie on
- Mist the rabbit's ears with cold water
- Maximize air flow and shade in the area. Keep your bunny out of direct sunlight.
- Keep your bunny well-groomed. Excess fur will increase body temperature. But don't brush your bunny much during a heat wave or the hot part of the day: the friction will increase body temperature, too.
Your rabbit's fur coat is the equivalent of you wearing a sweater at all times - if you think you'd be too warm in a sweater, chances are your rabbit is already too warm.
Pet rabbits are bred from the European Rabbit, which is adapted to mild, Mediterranean climates, where it never gets too hot. Pet bunnies are most comfortable between 50-75F (10-23C), and when it gets over 78F (25C), they're at risk of deadly heat stroke.
If your rabbit is overheated and can't be cooled down by the above methods or a shallow bath in a lukewarm water (i.e. if the rabbit has heat stroke, not just heat stress/exhaustion), you may have a medical emergency on your hands.
Signs of heat stroke (be prepared to visit the vet immediately!)- Panting
- Lethargy
- Salivation
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Convulsion
If your rabbit has heat stroke, do NOT put him in a bath!This would actually make the problem worse (the cold water shrinks the blood vessels, making it even harder for the body to cool itself down). It could also put the rabbit in shock. Instead, dampen the ears with cool water, and seek immediate veterinary help.
See the related questions below for more info and helpful links.
What else can I help you with?
Do pigs die from being in the heat too much?
They may die or get a heat stroke.
How does a sheep get sunstroke?
A sheep will get heat stroke/sun stroke. The sheep need adequate shade on hot and humid days. They also need a constant water source.
Can rabbits sweat?
Rabbits can and do sweat but only on a very small percentage of their body. Their ears radiate heat away from the body and this is how they usually regulate their temperature however in extreme heat they sweat around the lips, nose and chin and to a lesser degree at the feet. Also they will lick themselves at the wrists and ankles to transfer moisture to these areas where there are major blood vessels near the skin. This helps to lower the body temperature. Rabbits do not sweat any where else on their body however and are prone to heat stroke in temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius). So it is important to help keep your pet rabbits cool in the summer.If it is warm and your rabbit is wet around the mouth and breathing heavily she may be suffering from the heat and possibly developing heat stroke. You should immediately moisten the ears with room temperature water via a wet wash cloth or a water mister, moisten the wrist area as well if the rabbit allows it. See the ideas below about keeping your rabbit cool. Do not soak the rabbit in cold water because this can make the problem worse (it causes the blood vessels to narrow and prevents heat from escaping the body; it can also stress the rabbit out).If your rabbit does not seem to improve at all after 15-20 minutes and continues to breath quickly and heavily you should take her to the vet to be treated for possible heat stroke.Because rabbits don't sweat on most of their body, aiming a fan at the rabbit will not help to cool it down (also, fans bother most rabbits). When the temperature edges into the late 70s (mid 20s Celsius), care needs to be taken to ensure rabbits do not become overheated. If you don't have air conditioning, other methods to keep a rabbit cool include:You can place a large plastic bag filled with ice next to the rabbit, she may even choose to lay on it which will cool her significantly. Placing any large piece of ice near the rabbit is helpful in an emergency situation, some ideas are a frozen bottle of water, bag of frozen peas, corn, etc.Drape a towel soaked in really cold water over the cage (but not dripping on the rabbit), and aim a fan at the towel. This helps cool the air.Chill a ceramic or stone tile in the freezer, and then give it to the rabbit to lay on.Make sure the rabbit always has plenty of cool fresh water to drink; serve her salad greens dripping wet, too.Wherever you keep your rabbit, make sure it has plenty of space in the shade at all times, and good airflow.
What do you do if your rabbit is dehydrated?
If it is during the heat of summer, first help him by giving him a damp, cool towel to make sure he does not get into heat-stroke. Then you can give him cool water as well, and mixing it with unsweetened apple or pineapple juice might get him interested in drinking more. If your bunny simply refuses to drink or eat during an extended period of time (+- 48 hours) please phone/get to your rabbit-savvy vet as soon as possible : it might be a symptom of a more important illness. By then the rabbit should be better!!! If not then take it home and put it on the cold air conditioner! That should help! =D
What does it mean when a rabbits ears get hot?
it means that they are either getting scared or angry. or even meaning they want to be left alone. If your rabbits ears are hot it is either over heated (too hot and trying to cool it's self off by circulating the blood thru the large veins in it's ears) or it has a fever. If it is too hot you can help it cool off by putting a cool cloth on it's ears and a frozen coke bottle in it's cage for it to lie down beside. If it has a fever you should check it over for source of infection or take to vet.
Is heat wave and heat stroke the same?
no. a heat wave is weather, a heat stroke is a health condition.
What to feed a rabbit with a stroke?
Nutri-stat, and yogurt.
Is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency.?
heat stroke
Is the most severe form of heat illness and you a life threatening emergency?
heat stroke
How do you stroke something?
Using a hand to stroke a cat, dog or rabbit, is reputed to have a calming affect on a human.
What heat emergency would you apply cool packs to the neck and groin and armpits?
Heat Stroke
What do you call a heat attack?
A heat stroke.
How does alcohol cause heat stroke?
alcohol causes dehydration which makes you more vulnerable to heat stroke
How serious is heat stroke?
Heat stroke can be life threatening and because the percentage of victims dying from heat stroke is very high, immediate medical attention is critical when problems first begin.
Is a heat stroke contagious?
no
Another name for heat stroke is?
heat exhaustion
Can a Alaskan malmute die from a heat stroke?
yes it is possible, any animal or human can die from heat stroke
