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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum DIET & CARE Tips to keeping a bunny cool

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    • Deleted User
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        I thought this might be a good idea since the summer months are upon us and not everyone has air conditioning. If your bunny is “panting” feel their ears, they may be too hot. If your bunny is suffereing heat stroke, wet the ears with cool water and blow on them or use a fan (make sure the fan doesn’t frighten them). Here are some other cool bunny tips for the hot months in your area:

        • Lay frozen water or soda bottles in the cage for them to lay next to.
        • For a heat-stroke bunny you can also fill a plastic bag with ice cubes & a bit of water and hold next to them, be sure that they do not eat the plastic and do not leave them unattended.
        • Place natural stone or porcelain tiles in the cage, if natural ones or slick on the finished surface, flip them over to the “wrong” side so your bunny has traction. They stay cool and bunnies enjoy laying on it in the heat.
        • Wet a towel and hang on the side of the cage and place a fan so it blows through the towel into the cage. Voila, bunny air conditioning. = : )

        Anyone else have tips of their own?


      • BinkyBunny
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          Great idea.  It has been hot even around here! (San Francisco), so I use all those tips!

          Moistening their ears with water also helps them keep cool.     Of course, it dries up in about 10 minutes, but it can still offer a some temporary relief.

           

           


        • Shannon Marcum
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            Depending on where your rabbits are (inside or out).. Mine are outside right now in a poll style building with tarps shading the top and I lower the tarp on whatever side the sun is hitting.

            I have a mister and fan set up for temps over 80. The mister is set p in a way so that the air is cooled but the rabbits are not wet.

             We’re up in the 100’s right now and so I’m going out and taking my spray bottle and giving everyone a sprtiz every so offten. I keep a spray bottle in the fridge at all times.

            I also freeze tials and put them in the cages in the afternoon.


          • Gravehearted
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              Hareiette and I worked on a list for her myspace last month 🙂  Here’s our list of ideas.

              Hot temperatures
              are dangerous – keep your bunnies cool, here are some ideas…


              Add a tile to their house.
              – Freeze a bottle of water, wrap it in a sock and
              put it in the cage with them on hot days.
              – Make sure your bunny always has
              fresh water available.
              – A fan will help, but most bunnies don’t like air
              blowing directly on them.
              – Add some ice cubes to your bunny’s water
              bowl
              – Vegetables help keep bunnies hydrated so make sure they are getting
              plenty. Wash the vegetables and leave some of the water on them.
              – Make yummy
              popsicles in your ice cube tray with chopped herbs and water!
              – Even bunnies
              who live indoors should have shade from direct sun.
              – On really hot days mist
              your bun’s ears.
              – Bunnies should *not* live outside – it’s too hot, there
              are predators, and they can die from myxomytosis!

              Health Concerns

              During heavy shedding rabbits are
              much more susceptible to GI Stasis.

              – If your rabbit has not eaten or
              pooped in 24 hours – get him / her to the vet right away!

              – Brushing
              your bunny often helps cut down on the fur they consume
              – Adding an enzyme
              like papaya tablets can help and is a tasty treat
              – Make sure to give your
              bunny fresh hay every day, if they’re not eating much timothy hay- try adding
              some oat, brome or orchard hay too!

              Heat Stroke: If your rabbit
              gets heat stroke, mist his ears. Absolutely no cold baths or showers! Call your
              vet!

              Fleas: Call your vet for a bunny sized dosage of Advantage.
              Frontline is very dangerous for rabbits!

              Going on
              vacation? 

              Many rescues offer bunny sitting as a fundraiser. Let a
              bunny specialist take care of your bunny and help support your local rescue too!

              Helpful article about travel & vacation with bunnies
               (http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/travel.html/)

              If you have free time rabbit rescues are always
              looking for volunteers! Even an hour a week or helping out with transportation
              can make a big difference!



            • Deleted User
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                my bunny does not live outside but if your bunny does you can put a sprinkler on top of the hutch it cools your bunny down a lot.


              • Bunnies4ever
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                  What I did for my buns when it was hot was to place a marble stone in their cages for them to lay on.  I tried freezing the small water bottles, but they would try to eat the plastic so that was out!  I also have a fan that blows intermittant air so it’s not constantly blowing directly on them.  It was over 100 degrees in the Bay Area (California), so I was really getting worried.  I have two long-hair lionhead rabbits. But they went through it just fine.


                • BinkyBunny
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                    bunnies4ever – I couldn’t believe how hot it was getting here in the Bay Area either!  Some places outside of the city were over 115 C. That’s just insane to me.   I’m a real heat wimp

                    My bunnies love to hang out on ceramic tiles and slate when it gets really hot. Same kind of idea as the marble.  A great way for them to stay cool. 

                    That’s funny about the waterbottles.  My bunny, Rucy, can’t chew it, but she ends up nudging and pushing it around.  She’s not too fond of them either.   

                    Lionheads are really cute.  What color are your two? 


                  • Bunnies4ever
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                      My two buns are Kahlua and Chloe.  Kahlua is chocolate brown.  His foster mom is Hawaiian so that’s how he got his name.  At first she told me that Kahlua was a girl and when I took “her” to my vet for a check-up he told me that she was a he!

                      Chloe is silver gray.  She’s the feisty one.  She’s younger than Kahlua and gets into the most mischief. She even passed on her bad habits to Kahlua.  Kahlua is content just hanging out in his cage, or sleeping in his litterbox.  When they are in their exercise pen, Kahlua just binkies and Chloe likes to run through (and chew) on her cardboard tunnel.  She is always looking for stuff to get into.  They are about 4 lbs each and I love them to death!


                    • BinkyBunny
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                        They sound beautiful. 

                        Wow, what a surprise that must have been to find out she was a he.   I bet Kahlua is happy that everyone has finally got it straight.    That is so strange though about the mix-up.  I am figuring he was neutered, so the original vet had to know.   Wonder how that all happened. 

                        My Rucy is dark grey, and she can be pretty feisty too, but her rabbitude is mellowing with age.

                         

                         

                         


                      • Anita Stark
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                          Here’s how Sable keeps cool these days… dh took this pic and captioned it.

                          1818144328571.jpg


                        • BinkyBunny
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                            What an adorable picture, and Smarty Pants Bunny.  I’d love to put that up in the gallery.  With your permission, I can copy and save it to the right place.

                            Just let me know!


                          • BinkyBunny
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                              What an adorable picture, and Smarty Pants Bunny.  I’d love to put that up in the gallery.  With your permission, I can copy and save it to the right place.

                              Just let me know!


                            • Anita Stark
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                                Sure he can go in the gallery. 

                                It was so funny because we finally installed a door in his pen so he can come and go as he pleases when we’re there to supervise.  He discovered the a/c vent and flopped right down on it.  Obviously, with central air it isn’t that warm in the house to begin with, but I guess he likes to be one super cool dude.  Dh tried to chase him off of it because he was concerned about stuff getting down the duct but Sable wouldn’t be deterred so he decided to take a picture of him instead. 


                              • Gina Won
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                                  Sable is absolutely, positively one of the most adorable little things I have ever laid my eyes on! Such a great picture. =)


                                • Anita Stark
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                                    Thanks Ligeia.  I think all of the bunnies I’ve seen here are adorable, but I am of course biased toward my own little bun o’ fun.  He was stretched out on the vent again last night.  Sometimes when he’s running past it he stops and sticks his nose out over the air for a few seconds.  Bunnies are amazing!


                                  • Beeslee
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                                      I know this thread is a little old but summer is just around the corner again. I had a pic of Beelsee laying on her tile from this past summer and thought I would add it. It was very hot summer and with the tile and also some frozen water bottles (not shown) she stayed nice and cool. I would place an old sock over the frozen bottles and lay it on the back of the tile so the ice would keep the tile really cool. She just loved laying on it. I kept a few bottles in the freezer and rotate them day after day. One happy buns!

                                      122238970854.jpg


                                    • Scarlet_Rose
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                                        Great idea and we also have it in our FAQ section – I’ll ask Binky Bunny to post it on the Home Page when the time gets nearer too!

                                        Here is another discussion we had on it as well:

                                        Temperatures in the Summer: (How hot is too hot?)

                                        https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=1&postid=40288&view=topic


                                      • Beeslee
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                                          Thanks Scarlet Rose! I remember posting on a past thread but found this one that had lots of info nicley laid out. Hope BinkyBunny doesn’t mind me bringing up an old thread.

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                                      Forum DIET & CARE Tips to keeping a bunny cool