Treatment and Prevention of Heat Stroke in Rabbits

Whether your rabbit is indoors or out, one concern that all rabbits share is their rabbit's reaction to the sweltering summer heat.

Looking at the makeup of the common domestic rabbit, one sees that he is completely covered from head to toe in a thick fur coat. This leaves no way for the rabbit to perspire. There are virtually no means of which the rabbit can cool his body temperature. Not only is it uncomfortable for your rabbit, it can also be extremely dangerous to his health, even fatal. Rabbits and heat are never a good combination, and heat stroke is one of the leading causes of death in rabbits. Fortunately it can easily be avoided, even if you do not have air conditioning.

Before we venture into prevention and treatment, let us delve into the signs ans symptoms that help you recognize that your rabbit has or is beginning to get heat stroke.
*The rabbit is fully stretched out. The feet are sprawled apart and the tail is limp.
*Eyes are half closed. The rabbit has a sleepy or dazed appearance.
*The rabbit's tongue is hanging out. His breathing is rapid and possibly labored.
*The rabbit is reluctant to move.
*The rabbit refuses to eat or drink. -If your rabbit ever refuses to eat or drink for more then 6 hours get them to a veterinarian immediately!
Prevention against the summer heat is key to your rabbit's comfort and survival. Prevention will save you both stress and is simple enough to do.
WAYS TO PREVENT HEAT STROKE:
Fill two to three one or two liter bottles about eighty percent full with water and freeze them. Take one out, wrap in paper towels or with a thin, clean rag that you won't care to be chewed upon. Place this in your rabbit's pen. This will last between four and eight hours before you will need to replace it with a new one. Place the thawed bottle back in the freezer so that you may use it again. Your rabbit will lay next to, or even on this bottle and get great relief from the heat.
Place a 12 inch by 12 inch ceramic tile in your rabbit's pen for her to lie on. If you place the tile in the refridgerator for an hour beforehand it will provide even greater relief.
Put ice cubes in your rabbit's water crock. I recommend spill proof crocks in the hottest part of summer over water bottles as the crockery holds the temperature making it less likely that your rabbit will have to drink warm or even hot water. Keep your rabbit in clean, fresh water at all times.
Place a cold, damp towel over a fan directed at your rabbit's pen. As the water evaporates it will help keep your rabbit cool.
If your rabbit seems to already be suffering from the heat - try the following:
Rub chilled, damp fingers over the rabbit's ears repeatedly. Rechill the fingers every few strokes (ice cubes work best for this task). You may also try a cool, damp (not wet) cotton ball inside the exposed area of your rabbit's ears. Take care not to drip water down into the ears. A rabbit's ears are very sensitive and a major vasculatory structure. Cooling off the rabbit's ears helps to cool off the entire rabbit.
Soak a towel in cool (not cold) water and drape it over your rabbit. Colder is not better as it may throw your rabbit into shock. Hopefully your rabbit will not resist this process. If she does, do not fight her on it. The stress will only aggravate the situation.
As a last resort, dip your rabbit into cool water, taking care to keep her head and ears above the water. Most rabbits will not like this, and though it is effective, it will likely cause undue stress for your rabbit.
The advice here is not meant to supercede that of your veterinarian. I am not a licensed animal health care provider. I have been involved in raising rabbits for five years and have taken all measures to educate myself on their well being. These things have worked for me in providing my rabbits with a healthy, and hopefully, happy life.
Remember- an ideal temperature for your rabbit is in the fifty to sixty degree Fahrenheit range. Any day above eighty degrees is a potential problem for your rabbit. With care and prevention your rabbit and you will enjoy many years of happy, comfortable summers.

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