Summer Tips

     If you choose to house your rabbit outdoors, you must be aware of the risks that you face. A common killer of rabbits is heat stroke. Heat stroke can come on fast, and rabbits go downhill quickly if they are not treated immediately. So there are several important steps to follow in the prevention and treatment of heat stroke.

Prevention

1. Place the hutch so that it is out of direct sunlight. A spot beside the house or under a tree which will be in the shade during the hottest parts of the day is important.

2. Give your rabbit fresh water daily. This is the most important and effective method to preventing heat stroke.

3. May people freeze a liter bottle with water each night. During the day, your rabbit can lay against this to cool off.

4. You can also choose to put ice in the water dish or bottle during the hottest part of the day. Or, freeze some veggies in a block of ice as a cool treat for your rabbit.

5. Ceramic tiles are also used in some rabbitries. These can easily be stacked and placed in the freezer without taking up too much room, and then can be given to the rabbits during the day. The tiles stay cool for awhile, and the rabbits enjoy laying on them to cool off.

6. If the area has access to an electrical outlet, a fan on the cage can create a nice breeze for the rabbit. Be sure to clean out the fan often, and keep it clear of fur and hay to prevent any electrical malfunctions.

Symptoms and Treatment of Heat Stroke

Symptoms: The rabbit will be lying with his head tilted upward, ears laid back, and obvious panting. If the heat stroke has progressed, you may find wetness around the nose and mouth.

Treatment: The goal is to get the rabbit cooled down as quickly as possible. Using room temperature water, wet your hands and massage the water into the rabbit's fur. Or, soak a towl and wrap the bunny in it. DO NOT use cold water and DO NOT dunk your rabbit right into the water bucket, as this could cause shock and even death. Make sure you cool down the ears quickly, as the rabbit uses his ears to regulate body temperature.

As you rabbit recovers, offer him a cool vegetable treat, and let him hop around in the air conditioning or by an indirect fan to continue to cool off.

Some say that once an animal has suffered heat stroke and recovered, he will be more susceptible to it in the future. For this reason, it is important to keep a close eye on your rabbit during heat waves and make sure they have enough cool water, shade, and a breeze to keep them from over-heating again.