I wanted to ask a few questions, and also make sure I’m doing everything right to help my little guy.
Yesterday it was 83 degrees in the house, I know 80 is considered hot and that it could cause possible heat stroke in rabbits. My day was spent freezing water bottles, damp rags and other things to help keep him cool. I had a window open to let the breeze come through and a box fan on him (which I leave on over night.) He likes to lay in front of it and nap while cuddling a frozen bottle.
I took a damp rag and wet his ears down too. Before I went to bed last night I cecked his ears and they were only slightly warm, not as hot as they had been. i’m also in the process of getting the AC up and running so I’m hoping that will help. Usually have it set for 77 or 76.
Is there anything else I can do to help him beat the heat?
My second question was today I clipped his toenails for the first time. I felt horrible considering I didn’t know it was a monthly thing that needed to be done. I’d been taking him outside and letting him dig to help wear them down, but during the winter it was far too cold for me to take him out a lot of the time. I’ve had him for six months with out clipping his toenails. Surprisingly they weren’t as bad as I thought they would be.
The problem with March is, he knows how to break his semi-trance state rather quickly. He’ll turn his head slowly until he can get out of it. My mom helped me today with it and we managed to clip all four feet. He was fairly scared during the process, I tried to keep him calm. At one point he broke his trance and hid his head against me and cuddled. He was breathing hard so I sat in front of a fan with him and let him hide in my shirt until he calmed down and then we finished.
I know the guide on the site said to set him in your lap with you body and arm securing, but with him able to break his trance so easily I was concerned about doing this. I held him in my arms while my mom cut his toenails (and vice versa when he decided to run).
Do bunnies tend to cuddle their owners when scared? March isn’t one for being help, this is the first time he’s let me hold him close to me and actually didn’t try to jump out of my arms. I thought he was scared but after I put him down in my floor and let him run, he was perfectly fine and excited to explore my room since he’s never been let loose on the carpet before. (He does know doors mean outside though! lol.)
Any tips and advice on both of these would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance! : )