Heat injury?

[Noah]

Last week, there was a heat wave in San Francisco where I live. I turned on the AC, but it still got up to 89 degrees in the house for long periods of time on two consecutive days. Yesterday, there was another heat spike and the temp got up to 87. 

My rabbit, Cinnamon, didn’t seem to be hurt by the heat at the time. She was lethargic on the hot days, but she has continued to be very active, have a good appetite, etc. since then. But since last night, she has been showing signs of heat intolerance. Last night when it was only 75 or so, she was very lethargic. Today, when it’s 75 or 77, she’s sleeping on her side on a tile square that I got her – indicating that she feels very hot. Even during the heat wave she didn’t sleep like that.

I have never seen any signs of heat stroke, and monitored her carefully at all times except for 2 hours when I was out of the house yesterday. But could prolonged heat exposure have damaged Cinnamon in some way that now makes her less tolerant of heat? She’s been eating and drinking just fine, but I haven’t seen her lay on her side like that before.

[DanaNM]

Are you giving her any other ways to cool down? Frozen water bottles are good. Prolonged stress is harder to cope with than acute, so it makes sense that she is having a harder time. Anytime it gets over about 75 they can get uncomfortably hot.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[joea64]

I don’t know, but you should definitely see a vet if you suspect Cinnamon has taken some kind of injury due to the heat from last week’s weather.

[Noah]

I have been giving her frozen water bottles, a fan, ice bubble sheets for the fan to blow over, and a square of tile for her to lie on. 

But yesterday, when I was out for two hours, she didn’t have a fan or AC – just an ice bottle and tile square. And the heat spiked during those hours, well above where the forecast said it would. When I came back it was 87, so I assume it was at least that high while I was gone.

Anyway, she seemed fine after last week’s heat wave, but last night and today she seems to be more heat-sensitive. Should I take her to the vet and have her checked out?

[Luna]

It’s hard to tell if she is otherwise eating and drinking normally. I’ve read about buns overheating when it’s too hot, but it’s odd that she is acting affected only just now. Is your vet available to talk to you if you give them a call and ask them what they think is going on?

[Noah]

I’ll try, thanks!!

[Author]

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