How to Keep a Rabbit Cool in Summer

During the hot summer months people escape the heat by going into air conditioning, finding some shade or jumping into a pool. Your rabbit needs to escape the heat as well, but they require your help to do it. As a pet owner it's up to you to keep your rabbit cool in the summer. These steps will help you keep your bunny cool.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Empty plastic milk jug or 1 liter pop bottle
• Fan
• Spray bottle filled with water
• Ceramic tile

1. Provide plenty of water because it's essential for keeping rabbits cool in the summer. Add ice cubes to help keep the water cool.
2. Keep your rabbit out of the sun. Whether they have an indoor or outdoor cage it's important that they have adequate shade so they can keep cool in the summer.
3. Mist your rabbit's ears. Rabbits regulate body temperature by dissipating heat through their ears.
4. Give your rabbit a breeze to help it beat the summer heat. Place a circulating fan near the rabbit. If you have air conditioning make sure your rabbit is not directly in front of the cold stream of air so you don't freeze him out.
5. Groom your rabbit as an important step in keeping your rabbit cool in the summer. Brush the rabbit to get rid of any excess hair and if you have a long-haired rabbit consider giving him summer hair cut.
6. Feed the rabbit plenty of fresh vegetables to keep them hydrated in the summer.
7. Freeze a plastic milk jug or one-liter beverage container and place it in the cage to help keep the rabbit cool.
8. Put ceramic tiles down for your rabbit to lay on. You can put these tiles in the freezer first to get the tiles really cool.

Tips & Warnings

• Hot weather is hard on rabbits. Optimal temperatures for rabbits are 50 to 70 degrees F.
• A rabbit's normal body temperature is 100 to 103 degrees F. You can tell if a rabbit is overheated by taking its temperature rectally.
• Never leave your rabbit in the car. Temperatures raise quickly in automobiles even with the windows down. Automobile temperatures can become dangerous very quickly.
• Panting, lethargy and feeling warm to the touch are signs of your rabbit being overheated.
• When providing a fan to help your rabbit stay cool in summer make sure it's in a safe place so that he won't try to chew on the cord.