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HOT WEATHER RABBIT TREATMENT

Hot weather is not a laughing matter, rabbits restricted to hutches and cages can not escape the heat. IN NATURE THEY WOULD NORMALLY HIDE UNDER THE GROUND DEEP IN WARRENS TO HIDE FROM THE HEAT AND BURNING SUN, A HUTCH IS NOTHING LIKE A WARREN . As soon as you know that the weather will exceed 30 degrees you must assist your pet no matter what it is to remain cool. If you have a small hutch bring it inside or move it into a place where it has all day shade. Drape cool wet towels or woollen wet blanket over hutch/cage so as the evaporating water cools the air inside the cage (REMEMBER TO KEEP IT WET AS IT WILL DRY WITHIN THE HOUR) and also provide frozen bottles of water for the rabbit to lie on to cool its core body temperature. Make sure that the drinking water stays cool all day as rabbits will not drink even slightly warm water EVER. I change the water bottle / bowl every hour, as the water heats up very quickly on hot days and rabbits no matter how thirsty will NOT drink warm water. If you can direct a fan into the cage to provide a breeze and air movement do so. But always try and bring buns inside you don't want to be out in the heat and nor do they. 3 years ago when I did not have an air conditioned palace for the rabbits I had over 200 rabbits in small cages in my kitchen and dinning room because it was over 35 degrees for more than a few days. I did not want to loose them so they came in. Even though I had to endure a very smelly house for about a week in the end all my rabbit survived the heat wave. This year (2009) 11 days over 40 degrees here in S.A. I have had word that over 300 pet rabbits have died due to neglect and that's what it is. I have no time for people who are stupid to think their little pet bunny can cope better than them in searing heat and leave then in hutches with no protection even from the sun. SHAME ON YOU IF YOU HAVE DONE THIS.

EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR HEAT STROKE

In the event that you have found you rabbit alive but in a state of heat stress e.g. rapid or heavy breathing, wet looking mouth, nose area or that it is in a state of collapse but still with eyes open and responding, then you need to take the animal inside your home to a cool dark area. You then need to either put the rabbit into a cool water bath just 3 cms of water in bath, sink, kitty litter plastic box or even a large bowl. You need to stay with the rabbit so that in its weakened condition it does not drown, With a flannel or sponge wet the rabbits face and back. If you have no containers drench a towel and place over the rabbit, you may need to re- wet the towel as it heats up from the body temperature of the rabbit. This treatment cools the core temperature of the rabbit. (DO NOT PLUNGE RABBIT INTO VERY COLD WATER THIS WILL PUT THE ANIMAL INTO SHOCK)
If your rabbit responds and becomes more active encourage your animal to drink, I have given water firstly and then used sports drinks, that are sweet to assist in rehydrating. If however your bunny is slow to recover you will have to take it to the Vet for treatment, but you have done the first and most important thing in lowering the core body temperature. WARNING please take your rabbits to the vet as heat stress can damage the internal organs. Some people think they have saved their bunny in time only to find it dies days later. This is because the body temperature during the heat stress rises so much its almost like the internal organs are cooked and within days after the initial heat stroke they die from organ failure. Do not put you rabbit back out side after heat stress keep it inside for a least a week and check on it regularly

Soft drink bottles are great to freeze for rabbits an assortment of sizes are great to use for rabbit to lie on or to drink. For every one rabbit freeze 4 bottles so you can change them during the day and re-freeze.

Rabbit resting on a frozen bottle.

Family of bunnies resting on frozen bottles x 2

Heat stroke rescue recovering under wet towel and eating a frozen carrot to cool core temp.