Question
As pointed out in the question What temperature ranges are appropriate for a pet rabbit? temperatures above 85 °F (29 °C) are hazardous to rabbits. How can I help my rabbit stay cool in warm temperatures?
Answer
Domestic rabbits, are from rabbits native to Europe (Spain and Portugal), they are crepuscular, being most active around dawn and dusk. In the wild, they tend to spend the heat of the day in relatively cool underground warrens. Temperatures above 85F (29C) can be life threatening to them.
Optimally a pet rabbit will be kept in an air conditioned home, but this is not always possible. Options for supplemental cooling are:
- An electric fan that provides a breeze that the rabbit can enter and leave at will
- A bottle of frozen water that the bunny can snuggle up to (optional wrap in towel)
- A ceramic tile (available from DIY stores) provides a cool place to lay when temperatures temporarily get high during the day
- Ceramic tiles can be frozen and rotated in and out of the freezer for long hot spells.
- Cool water dabbed or wiped on a rabbits ears will moisten the hair and the evaporation will help cool the rabbit
When we are camping with our rabbits, we generally leave them in the air conditioned camper, while we go out and have adventures during the heat of the day.
Often a rabbit presence is required at an educational or fund raising event, where air condition is not available. Shade is important but is not enough when temp get high. In these cases we take a cooler with a few 1 liter sized frozen bottles. Some bunnies will snuggle next to them to stay cool, other bunnies dislike the condensation on the bottles. For the rabbits that don't like being next to the bottle of ice, I moisten my fingers with water (often the cool condensation) and rub it on their ears to help them cool down. A rabbits ears are a major part of their heat regulation system.
Answered By - James Jenkins