Along the hot weather, some animals might experience heat stroke. Pets, such as dogs, cats, and rabbits are also possible to get heat stroke. Heat stroke is very dangerous to pets, specifically rabbits.
It is as dangerous as heat stroke in cats and heat stroke in dogs. Rabbit is more prone to get heat stroke than humans. Just imagine when you’re feeling hot, then how your rabbit feels.
The ideal environmental temperature for rabbit is between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, rabbits are not adapted to cope well with sudden changes of temperature and will start showing symptoms of heat stroke, even at 22 degrees Celsius.
Heat stroke is commonly experienced during summer time, so you can find the ways to keep rabbits cool during summer time.
That’s why as a rabbit parents, you must know the symptoms of heat stroke in rabbit and how to cope with it.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Rabbits
The common symptom you can easily notice is the rise of temperature of the rabbit’s body. However, there are some other common symptoms of heat stroke in rabbits as follows:
- Panting.
- Lethargy.
- Reddening of the ears.
- Slow movement/feeling weak.
- Salivating.
- Acting confused.
If you see your rabbit exhibit any of the symptoms above, then try the first aid by misting its ears with cool water and call your vet. Never ever put your rabbit under a cold water or into a cold bath.
How to Treat Rabbits with Heat Stroke
Once you recognize the symptoms of heat stroke in your rabbits, call your vet immediately. Your vet will give you some advice that can help cure the heat stroke. There will be some ways to cool down your rabbit while having heat stroke.
However, cooling down the rabbit who has heat stroke cannot be done immediately. You need to take it slowly so your rabbit will not get shock which will become another serious problem.
Here are some ways of treating a rabbit with heat stroke:
- Wipe water onto your rabbit’s ear.
- Freeze bottles of water or ice packs and wrap it with towel. Place the cold bottle or ice packs on its body.
- Let you rabbit lay on the area of stone or ceramic tiles. The surface of stone and ceramic tiles helps to cool down the body.
- Remove your rabbit from the hot place. Move your rabbit to the cool and shady area out of the sun.
- Damp its fur by using a cool and wet towel. Never ever pour water onto your rabbit’s body as it may make it shocked.
- Place your rabbit near a fan so it will cool down. You can also buy a specialist cage fans to keep it cool.
- Let your rabbit drink small amount of cool water.
Once you see your rabbit is fully recovered, still, you need to bring it to the vet to check whether there is any delayed problem or even lasting damage on your rabbit’s body.
How to Prevent Your Rabbit from Getting Heat Stroke
Once experiencing your rabbit is getting heat stroke, you must have wished not to get that experience again. That’s why knowing how to prevent heat stroke in rabbits is very important. Here are the ways:
- Make sure to place your rabbit in a place that is out of direct sunlight. Give a place that provides shade as it is able to make big difference in temperature.
- Grooming is also important. Getting rid of the excess fur from your rabbit’s body will also help to cool it down.
- Provide plenty of water in the cage or in the place where your rabbit usually roams about. Keep your rabbit hydrated is also important to prevent heat stroke. Add some ice cubes too and watch your rabbit happily are licking at the cubes.
- Let your rabbit access the area that has ceramic tiles or stone. It will give your rabbit cool sensation on its belly.
- If possible, put your rabbit in an air-conditioned room. It is helpful to alleviate the warm feeling.
- Allow breeze to come inside the place where your rabbit is. You can do this by opening the window or purchase a special fan to be put in your rabbit’s cage.
- Freeze some water bottles and let your bunny lay in the cooled air where the bottle is around. Your rabbit may even lick the condensed water off the sides of the bottle.
- Feed your rabbit a lot of vegetables. Vegetables help keep your rabbit hydrated too. You can also leave a bit of water on the vegetables after washing them to add to your rabbit’s water intake. Also look at the food that are beneficial for gaining your rabbits weight.
Besides heat stroke, there are also some causes of sudden death in healthy rabbits.