It is the height of the summer here in the U.S. and in Georgia the heat index has been through the roof this past week. Most animals such as dogs and cats are able to cool their core temperature by way of fur and panting. Bunnies do not work in that manner, as a matter of fact, their ears are their thermostats, where they release excess heat.
Maybe that is why they are so big, huh?
Rabbits are very sensitive and require a way to stay warm or cool off during extreme temperatures. Whether your bun is outside part or full time, sweltering days can cause severe stress.
Since it is currently summer and the heat index is through the roof, we will concentrate on keeping him cool.
Wild vs Domestic
Why do I have to help my bunny stay cool? There are wild bunnies who do not have fans to help them!
Good question!
Wild rabbits, no matter the breed are able to take shelter in cool, shaded areas, as well as burrow themselves into the ground to help them stay cool.
Our domesticated fur-balls are stuck in whatever area we put them in; making it imperative to offer them supplemental cooling during these grueling months. They are completely dependent on our help to maintain their body temperature.
Most of us have our rabbits outside for a few hours of play time, some are outdoors 24/7; whatever works for your baby is fine. So here are some tips to help keep them comfortable.
Inside vs Outside
Don’t be fooled by the misconception that your outside hutched bunny can tolerate extreme temperatures better than an inside pet. Just as mentioned above, a bun in a hutch is unable to move to cooler locations or burrow for relief.
Once temps start creeping through the 80’s and above it is imperative to offer cooling supplements and monitor for signs of heat stroke.
Temperature Ranges
Depending on the website or article, there are some differences as to what temperatures are considered acceptable to your bun; but not by much. Using many different reputable sources, I have come up with a broad range in which bunnies can be comfortable and maintain homeostasis.
Although we will briefly touch on the colder temperatures, the main focus today will be the extreme heat and heat index.
The temperature range in which your bunny can survive and maintain homeostasis, is between 30°F (-2°C) and 85°F (29°C). Once temps reach either one of these extremes, monitor closely for problems that may arise if not offered heating/cooling supplements.
In addition to keeping your bun’s outside run area covered, you may feel tempted to wet the towels, or whatever material you are using. Although that sounds like a marvelous idea, be aware that wet and moist items will draw insects; i.e. horse flies, bot flies and mosquitoes, just to name a few.
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| The Perfect Temperature | 60°F - 65°F (15°C - 18°C) Most experts agree that this is the temperature range that your buns will be the most comfortable and happy in. |
| Lowest comfortable Temperature | 30°F (-2°C) Rabbits are cold weather animals and do thoroughly enjoy the cooler temperatures. Temperatures at or below freezing are still manageable for your bun; however at this point, one should consider making alterations to their buns area to help them keep warm. Covering and weather proofing hutches. Plenty of hay or bedding to burrow or make a warm nesting area. Once temps dip to this extreme, access to liquid water is essential to keep your bun hydrated. Consider a heated water bowl to help survival at these frigid temperatures. |
| Warmest pleasant temperatures | 85°F (29°C) This is the absolute warmest that a bunny can be comfortable in without some other cooling source. Although they are still able to maintain homeostasis, offering cooling sources at this temperature is highly recommended. |
| Too Hot! | Once temperatures start creeping into the 90's and above it is imperative to offer supplemental cooling or even keeping or moving your bunny inside. |
Treat heat stroke in bunnies
Check out our article on how to Recognize and Treat Heat Stroke in Bunnies
The first thing to always remember is to NEVER immerse your bun into or pour cool or cold water on him. Rabbits should never be submerged into water at all, but especially not when it is blazing hot outside.
If you are concerned that your fluffy butt may be hot, or experiencing signs of heat stroke; simply bring indoors to cooler temperatures.
Try to keep your bunny’s outside time to early in the day and late afternoon, when heat index is at it’s lowest. Remember that the hottest part of the day is between 12 noon and 4 p.m., so consider bringing them inside during that time. Splitting your bun bun’s outside time to two separate outings may be necessary during extreme temperatures.
Keeping Bunnies Cool !
| Shade | First and foremost, something that may not be thought about. Make sure that at least part, if not all of the play area has shade to allow your bun to escape the blistering sun. |
| Thermometer | We keep a thermometer inside the garage as well as hanging inside the play pen. This helps us make sure that temperatures are cool enough for them. Temperatures in the mid to high 80°F can cause extreme physical stress for your bunny. Most experts will tell you that 85°F is the highest temperature a rabbit can comfortably deal with and maintain homeostasis, any higher can increase risk of overheating and heat strokes. Check outside temperatures from the comfort of your air conditioning! |
| Fan | If possible keep air circulating in their run. We use two different types - a cooling fan to help lower the temperature, as well as an oscillating to help keep air moving. I absolutely love Lasko products. We have this exact one in our garage right now, it is worth every penny! When we are not using it for the animals, we are using it on the deck by the pool! |
| Ice Bottles | Save your small and large plastic bottles, fill with water and freeze. Place 1 or more bottles in play area. You may find them laying right up against it. Placing these frozen bottles in front of the fan will also help blow cooler air into play pen. |
| Tiles | These can be expensive if bought at the pet store, so take a look around your house or garage. We found several medium size tiles that were left over from our bathroom remodel. Some say you can freeze them and then give to your bun, but that is not a must. Tiles are generally cooler even without freezing. |
| Cooling Mat | There are these awesome self cooling mats available for your pets. This means there is no need to freeze or refrigerate them prior to use. Your bun will love taking a nap, chillin' one a hot summer day. *Be aware* - of the mats that require placing in fridge or freezer. These are filled with a liquid, just like your lunch box freezer packs. We learned the hard way when one of our buns decided to take a nibble. Thankfully no liquid escaped and our buck got away uninjured. Some may not have munchers like we do and those may be perfectly acceptable for you. In our case though, it was a no-go! |
| Cool Mist | This is an amazingly easy to set up misting system. Use it for your pets or even yourself! |
| Ice Cubes | Some owners find it helpful to place ice cubes into the water bowls - my buns just look at me cross-eyed! |
| Frozen Treats | Simply dice up your buns favorite herbs, greens veggies - (some of our favorites include Sage, Basil, Dill, Kale and Cucumbers). Divide into silicone muffin pans and ad just a pinch of fruit; Top with water and freeze. These are awesome treats to keep your bunny hydrated and cool. *Side Note* Bun tums are very sensitive and fruit should be limited. Adjust serving sizes according to your bunny! If you do not own silicone muffin pans I highly recommend you invest in a set. One of the best purchases I have ever made in my life, and will continue to do so. You can never have enough of these. I use these for everything! Muffins, Mini Meatloaf's, frozen pet treats; the sky is the limit. |
| Food and Water | As always, offer unlimited amounts of fresh, cool water and hay. The water may need to be changed or refreshed several times a day, depending on how hot is. If she does not seem interested in pellets during the day do not worry; it may just be too hot for her. |
| Bring them inside! | Really, if it is creeping into 90°F, consider bringing them inside. Maybe even the garage if you cannot bring him into the house. If your bun is outdoors 24/7, chances are he is more capable to deal with these temperatures; however, monitor and continue cooling methods during high heat. |
The frozen treats pictured below are actually for our ducks. It is the only picture I have at this time, but you get the point 😉
Easy, peasy pop them out of the pan and place unused portions in airtight freezer bag. I am not sure what the expiration date for these are, but they honestly never last long enough for that to be of concern.
And last but not least, if you are in need of a playpen for your little bun/s, give this a try. This has been by far the best run we have ever purchased for our bunnies. It is rust resistant and includes a waterproof cover to give shaded area!
Check out how to Recognize and Treat Heat Stroke in Bunnies
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Have fun and stay safe out there!
Toodles!
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