Rabbits are a popular pet all over the world, found in all climates, weathers, and types of housing. They are usually very good at keeping comfortable in cooler weather, as they have nice thick fur coats and, as long as provided appropriate bedding material and shelter, can make a nice cosy nest to hide from the cold in. Rabbits are nowhere near as good at adapting to the hot weather however, as they can’t take off their fur coat, and can only lose so much heat through their big ears and trying to hide somewhere cool. This article will highlight things to look out for when looking after your rabbits in hot weather, and also how to keep them cool and comfortable.
How hot is too hot for a rabbit?
The ideal temperature range for an outdoor rabbit is 12-21 degrees Centigrade (55-70 Fahrenheit), however when temperatures start to become warmer than this, they start to struggle. Temperatures over 30 degrees Centigrade (85 Fahrenheit) will put rabbits at risk of heat stroke, however depending on how they are housed, lower temperatures can also pose a threat.
There are a number of factors that can increase your rabbit’s risk of heat stroke, and so consider these when making deciding if you need to adjust the way you look after your rabbit in the heat.
These factors include:
- Being housed in direct sunlight and not having access to shade
- Having excessive amounts of bedding
- Not having access to fresh water (or running out of water)
- Being housed in a small wooden hutch without much room to move around
- Having a thick fur coat (which may be breed related or if they are not regularly groomed)
- Being housed in an area with poor ventilation
What are the signs of heat stroke in rabbits?
Rabbits will show heat stroke in a way similar to other animals, however because they are smaller and quieter than most animals we keep as pets, you will need to keep an extra close eye on them, especially at times of year when they are at risk of overheating.
The signs of heat stroke in rabbits includes:
- Being lethargic or weak – this may be difficult to tell depending on the activity level or your rabbits, but if they seem to be much less active than usual or are choosing to lay down instead of sitting up then they may be feeling a bit hot.
- Panting – Rabbits do not pant in the same way as dogs, they don’t have their mouth open and will not have their tongue sticking out, however they will be breathing much faster than normal with more obvious respiratory effort. If your rabbit is suffering from heat stroke, you may find them laying on their side in a cool area if they can find one, breathing rapidly with lots of chest movement.
- Reddening of the ears – The main tools that rabbits have for helping them with heat loss are their large ears, and when the blood vessels in their ears dilate they can lose more heat to the air. When their blood vessels dilate, their ears may appear more red, however this will be extremely obvious if they are suffering from heat stroke.
- Salivating – This is an unusual thing for a rabbit to do, however if they have been panting for a long time and are struggling to deal with the heat then they may start to drool saliva.
- Seizures – As with all animals suffering from heat stroke, if it lasts too long and they are unable to cool themselves down, then they may start to have seizures as a result of being too warm. If this is the case then it is an emergency, and you should take your rabbit to your local veterinarian immediately.
How can I help my rabbit cool down?
If your rabbit is showing any signs of having heat stroke and is struggling to move around, or is not very responsive to you, then you should take them to your local veterinarian as an emergency so they can be given supportive treatments whilst they are cooled down. If your rabbit is bright and moving around, but is still struggling with the heat (for example panting or trying to hide in cool areas), then you can try and cool them down at home.
If your rabbit is showing signs of distress in the heat, then the first thing you should do is move them to a cooler environment, and this can include inside your house or garage, or maybe even just a cooler area within the garden. Ideally this area should be in the shade and your rabbit should have room to move around normally. You can also increase the ventilation in this area by using a fan or air conditioning unit, or by opening a window to allow a breeze through.
You should also ensure that they have sufficient cool water to drink, and can provide this in either water bottles or water bowls depending on their preference.
You should NOT submerge them into cold water, as this can cause them to go into shock which is dangerous for them, especially if they are already overheating. Instead, you can apply small amounts of cool water to their ears and their fur coat to help remove some of their heat, allowing for evaporation of water from their ears which will mimic sweating.
If you try these methods and your rabbit is still visibly distressed by the heat, or is not showing signs of cooling down sufficiently (e.g. panting stopping and becoming more active), then you should contact your local veterinarian immediately for further advice.
How can I prevent my rabbit from getting heat stroke?
The best thing you can do for your rabbit when the weather is hot is to make their environment as cool and comfortable as possible. In the wild rabbits do this for themselves by burrowing underground where the temperature stays relatively constant and they can hide from the sun, so making adjustments to their housing is key in preventing heat stroke.
- House your rabbits somewhere cool – this can involve moving their hutch and run out of a sunny spot into a shaded area, setting them up inside a shed or garage that stays cool during the day, or providing shade through the use of a gazebo or parasol. In some cases moving your rabbits into the house may be the most appropriate option, especially if you have air conditioning or can provide a cool breeze with fans or open windows.
- Provide easy access to fresh water at all times, making sure you top this up throughout the day – you can also use ice cubes to keep the water cool for longer, and provide bowls of water in addition to bottles to make sure that they have enough.
- Frozen water bottles or cool packs – many owners freeze a partially filled bottle of water and wrap it in a small towel before placing it in their rabbit’s enclosure. This can provide a cool place to lie down, and suck some of the heat out of their warm environment. Be careful it doesn’t leak!
- Make sure that your rabbit is appropriately groomed – if they have matted fur or large amounts of loose fur stuck in their coat then they will be prone to retaining more heat, so if you remove this excess fur they should be better able to regulate their temperature.
- Provide ventilation – by increasing ventilation in your rabbits enclosure, for example using a fan, or moving it to an area where there is more of a breeze, you can help your rabbit cool down more easily by helping with heat loss through their ears, and also moving the hot air within their enclosure out.
Watch out for flies!
At the times of year when heat stroke is an issue, flies are also out to cause problems. Fly strike is a problem where flies will lay eggs onto your rabbits, and when they hatch out into maggots they can eat your rabbits alive, often causing shock and large wounds – this can be fatal! In order to prevent this, you should closely inspect your rabbits for fly eggs, twice a day during the summer is best, and make sure that they are kept nice and clean, including their enclosure. I have an article that explores fly strike in more detail, make sure you check it out!
Hopefully this information will allow you to keep your rabbit cool in the summer, however if you do have any concerns about your rabbit or think that they are suffering from heat stroke, then you should contact your local veterinarian immediately.