How to Keep Rabbits Cool in the Summer
Whether you keep rabbits as pets or livestock, it is important to keep their health in mind; this includes their tolerance for certain temperatures.
Keeping rabbits at a comfortable temperature is not only in the best interests of the rabbits, but also of the owner, as an uncomfortable rabbit can lead to health concerns and lack of quality in livestock.
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Can Rabbits Handle Hot Weather?
In short, no; most breeds of rabbits do not do well in hot weather.
Here are some examples of negative outcomes that can occur with rabbits due to hot weather:
Heat stroke
Heat stress
Seizures
Brain damage
Organ damage
Sterile bucks
Low fertility rates
Small litters (when litters are born at all)
Death
Below is a link to a YouTube video that elaborates on the effects that hot weather can have on rabbits and also gives some insight into how to keep rabbits cool.
Why Don't Rabbits Like the Heat?
There are two primary reasons why these animals are not designed to handle hot temperatures. The first is that most rabbits have thick fur coats. This densely-packed fur is ideal for keeping the animals warm; however, it can prove to be an issue if temperatures become too hot.
Although many rabbits will molt a layer of fur in the summer, it is still not enough to stay cool in extreme heat.
The second reason why rabbits are not adept at handling hot weather is that they do not have the ability to sweat. Sweating is an efficient way for the body to cool itself down—without sweat, it is difficult for a body to cool itself without intervention.
Can Rabbits Stay Outside in Summer?
Although it is important to make sure they have proper enclosures or cages, rabbits can stay outside in the summer. In the wild, rabbits often dig themselves holes in the ground where they can lie down to cool off.
Similarly, they will take shelter and build nests under large-leafed plants, in hollow trees, under porches, and in other similar areas. When caged, rabbits won’t have the choice to find shelter, so it is your job to ensure they have shelter at all times.
Those who raise rabbits or keep rabbits as pets will commonly keep the animals outside all year, including summer. Since this is a common practice, there are many options out there for helping rabbits stay cool when temperatures rise to dangerous levels.
I will discuss ways to keep your rabbits cool here shortly—keep reading!
What Temperature is Too Hot for Rabbits?
While rabbits are accustomed to living outside, there are limits to the temperatures they can endure. The ideal temperature for most breeds of rabbits falls between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In these temperatures, no intervention should have to be made to keep the animals warmer or cooled.
Once temperatures start to exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, however, it is time to start making some changes to the rabbits’ living situation to help cool them off (if you don’t already have these alterations in place).
Keep in mind that the listed temperature outside is not the only factor you should take into consideration when deciding whether or not it is time to cool down your rabbits. Direct sunlight can have a huge impact on the actual temperature that the rabbits are experiencing. While it may only be 70 degrees outside, direct sunlight into the cages or enclosures can still lead to overheated rabbits.
Humidity has also been known to play a role in causing rabbits to overheat even when temperatures don’t seem extreme. When humidity levels are high, rabbits have a harder time staying cool.
Therefore, it is important to take humidity levels into consideration when making the decision about whether it’s time to provide cooling measures for your rabbits.
How Can I Tell if My Rabbit is Too Hot?
When temperatures or high and you are worried about your rabbits overheating, it is important to check on them often. There are symptoms you can watch for that may help indicate that your rabbits need help cooling down.
Open-Mouth Breathing
One tell-tale sign that a rabbit is too hot is if it’s breathing with its mouth open. Rabbits don’t generally breathe with their mouths open, so it is an easy symptom to spot. Rabbits don’t have the ability to pant as many other mammals do, so open-mouth breathing is as close as they can get—in general, this is not an effective way for them to cool down, so intervention is needed.
Refusing to Eat
A rabbit that refuses to eat is a rabbit that needs help. While there can be a number of reasons why a rabbit doesn’t eat, overheating is a common one. Many animals—including rabbits—will stop eating when something is wrong, usually because they are in some sort of pain or discomfort.
When a rabbit doesn’t eat due to overheating, the combined negative symptoms can become amplified and cause the rabbit’s health to degrade quickly.
Warm Ears
We all know that rabbits have large ears—it’s part of their signature look. These ears have large blood vessels that run through them, so if a rabbit can get a cool breeze to run over their ears, it can start to cool its body as the blood from their ears cools and circulates to the rest of its body.
This also means that if your rabbits’ ears are warm to the touch, they are struggling to cool themselves off. Theoretically, the ears should be some of the coolest parts of the body due to the exposure of the blood vessels, so if the ears are warm, the rest of the body is even warmer.
Quickened Breathing
Another sign to watch for is quickened and shallow breathing. Breathing quickly is one way that an animal can attempt to cool itself down. The faster an animal breathes, the more water droplets it can expel, which aids in reducing body temperature. Unfortunately, breathing quickly can also lead to a quickened heart rate which can have a counter effect on cooling down the body.
Wetness Around the Nose
For a similar reason, wetness around the nose can be another sign of a rabbit that is too hot. Expelling any water droplets from the body can help cool a rabbit down, including the nose.
Rabbits may also dip their noses in water when they’re too hot as another way to attempt to cool their bodies. Regardless of the reason, a wet nose in a rabbit is always something to investigate, primarily if temperatures are starting to rise.
Lethargy
Lethargy, or a lack of energy, is another sign that should never be ignored. Have you ever been in a situation when you were warmer than you would have liked to be for a long period of time? It can quickly drain your energy, causing you to lose both motivation and enthusiasm to partake in any activity that may make you feel even warmer—a rabbit will act the same way.
Restlessness
Some rabbits might exhibit behavior opposite to lethargy—they may become restless when overheated. Many rabbits will appear restless because they are desperately trying to find a comfortable position to lie down—other times, it can be a lot more serious. A rabbit may become restless if it is having a medical emergency due to overheating. For examples, some rabbits will appear restless before having a seizure or other sign of heat stroke.
Unresponsive
An unresponsive rabbit can be a serious sign of overheating and requires immediate intervention, often medical. If you have taken action to cool your rabbit down and it remains unresponsive, it will need to be taken to an emergency veterinarian right away.
Heat Stress
The symptoms listed above can all indicate heat stress in rabbits. Heat stress is a serious condition that can have long lasting negative effects on your rabbits. Some of the dangers that heat stress pose include organ failure, reproductive issues in both male and female rabbits, a suppressed immune system, seizures, and even death when preventative action is not taken.
How Do You Cool Down a Rabbit?
Now that you know the importance of keeping your rabbits cool, it is time to learn ways to both prevent your rabbits from overheating and help cool them down if they do start to get too warm. Below are some of the most common methods to help keep your rabbits cool in the summer months.
Shaded Area
One of the easiest ways to keep your rabbits cool in the summer is to keep their enclosure or cages in a shaded area. Direct—or even too much indirect—sunlight can greatly amplify the temperature a rabbit experiences. By keeping your rabbits in the shade, you are taking one of the easiest steps in helping to prevent overheating in your rabbits.
Open-Bottom Cages
Another common tactic that many rabbit owners utilize is open-bottom cages. These are cages specifically designed for rabbits where the bottoms are a metal grate that is wide enough to allow airflow without the fear of a rabbit’s foot getting stuck. The airflow that the open-bottom cages provide can significantly reduce the temperature in your rabbit’s enclosure.
Another benefit to open-bottom cages is that they can help keep your rabbit’s living space clean of waste. Any bodily waste or spilled water falls to the floor or tray underneath for both an easier cleanup and cleaner space for your rabbit.
Frozen Water Bottles
Placing frozen water bottles in your rabbits’ cages or enclosure is a classic method to help them cool down. When placing frozen water bottles in with your rabbits, you are providing a place for them to lean against to cool themselves off if they start to feel too warm. Any breeze that comes through the enclosure may also pass along the frozen bottles and provide some cooling air in the area.
Frozen water bottles are one of the cheapest methods to help keep your rabbits cool—just be sure to keep plenty in rotation as they may melt quickly depending on the outside temperatures. You can also use a self-cooling mat pad like this.
Creating a Breeze
Another simple method to help keep rabbits cool in the summer is providing fans to help circulate air within their enclosure. The combination of open-bottom floor and increased air flow can be a very effective cooling method for your rabbits.
Misting the Ears
As previously mentioned, rabbits have large blood vessels in their ears. They can reduce their body temperature by allowing a breeze to move over their ears. In a similar manner, you can help your rabbits cool down by spraying water mist over their ears. As the water evaporates, the rabbits’ ears will begin to cool, and the cooled blood in their ears is then circulated through their bodies, giving them some relief from the heat.
Summer Cuts
Just as many humans do, you can give your rabbits a summer hair—or rather, fur—cut before temperatures rise too high. While many rabbits shed a layer of fur in the summer, there is generally still some hair that can be taken off to help reduce the chances of heat-related illnesses. Trimming the hair surrounding their ears and feet is particularly important if you are considering giving your rabbits a summer cut.
Final Thoughts
While rabbits can be kept outside year round, there are certain precautions that should be taken in the summer once temperatures start to rise. A rabbit that is exposed to heat above 80 degrees Fahrenheit can begin to have negative symptoms of heat stress which can lead to heat stroke if corrective action isn’t taken quickly. Watching your rabbits for symptoms of overheating is of crucial important to their well-being if you suspect temperatures may be too high.
While overheating can lead to serious health conditions in rabbits, there are ways to both prevent and treat this danger. Following preventative measures is a great first step in protecting your rabbits in the summer. However, if your rabbits do start to show any of the negative symptoms previously listed, you can attempt to cool them down, just be sure to have an emergency veterinarian on call in case they require medical attention.
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