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.