Back to contents
#BestForPets
Rabbits regulate their body temperature through their ears. Help them to stay cool by frequently dampening their ears with cool water. This can be done by either using a damp flannel or a gentle spray bottle. Top Tip
When it’s too hot to hop
Tunnels
Umbrella
Carrier cases
What are some good ways to provide shade for my rabbit? You could try some of these practical options:
Bunny enthusiast and owner, Charlotte Puddephatt, delivers some practical hints and advice for when it comes to keeping your rabbit cool through the summer months.
Hideouts
Cardboard boxes
Can rabbits tolerate hot weather? A rabbit’s ideal environmental temperature is 12-21 o C, but rabbits can tolerate heat up to 30 o C with the right care and husbandry techniques. If temperatures rise above 30 o C, rabbits can be at risk of suffering from heat stroke, which can be fatal, so important measures will need to be taken to prevent this. How can I help my rabbit stay cool? To help a rabbit stay cool, one of the best methods is to provide them with shade. Also, providing them with cold objects is another successful way to help a rabbit stay cool, for example, providing them with frozen water bottles for them to lay next to (always wrap frozen items in a towel to avoid ice burns from direct contact), cold slabs of concrete for them to lie on and cool mats. For indoor rabbits providing them with a rotating fan can also help to keep them cool.
What are the health risks if my rabbit gets too hot? If a rabbit gets too hot, they are at risk of suffering from heat stroke. It’s important to take them to a veterinary surgery as soon as possible if heat stroke occurs so that they get the correct medical treatment that is needed. Common signs include drooling, very fast breathing, excessive lethargy and collapse. Heat stroke can be fatal even with quick treatment, so prevention is much better than cure! As mentioned previously, rabbits can tolerate hot weather but if they get too hot then this can also cause them to become stressed. Therefore, it’s important to provide them with the correct care and enrichment to help them be comfortable.
Bed sheets or thin and light-coloured blankets (can be hung and placed in the right areas to provide shade)
Do rabbits need prescription medication during the hot weather? Keeping your rabbit up to date on parasite treatment is recommended during hot weather as this can help to prevent other emergencies such as flystrike. This condition progresses very rapidly so rabbits should be checked twice daily through the warmer months for signs of fly eggs or maggots. Also, if a rabbit is overweight or geriatric, they may struggle to groom themselves properly, making them more appealing to flies; this is another flystrike risk.
Did you know?
A membership to The Healthy Pet Club’s Rabbit Club can help you to take care of your rabbits everyday health care and needs. Their plan will include all flea and worming treatments, Rearguard to help protect against Flystrike and other amazing benefits such as their annual vaccinations and important health checks. Find out more about the Rabbit Club >
Medications can be prescribed by your veterinarian to help protect your rabbit.
6
7
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online