What You Need To Know About Overheated Rabbits

By Author: Adam Greenburg
Total Articles: 22
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Because of their fur, rabbits get hot easily. This is especially so during summertime when the air is hotter. It can become so hot that a lot of rabbits get sick. To prevent this from happening, the rabbit cage should be placed somewhere cool and they should be given plenty of fresh cool water.

Providing them with air conditioning or even just an electric fan to allow cool air to blow into the hutch or cage is a wise move but if the heat still goes unabated then the rabbit needs to be taken to the doctor for medication. You can see if your rabbits are overheated by looking out for the signs stated below.

The best way to check if your rabbit is suffering from overheating, take his temperature. If you don't know how, ask your veterinarian to teach you how to take it. Taking the rabbit's temperature usually takes two persons to do, one to hold the rabbit and the other to insert the thermometer an inch into the rabbit's rectum. This is hard to do at first but as you get familiar with the procedure, it will get easier.

For a glass thermometer, you need to leave it in for a minute and for a digital thermometer, ...
... you can take it out in lesser time, it is also safer and easier to use. If the rectal temperature of your rabbit is more than the normal 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then it is very hot.

By watching your rabbit carefully, you can see whether he is overheated or not. If he experiences difficulty in breathing and tilts his head, then he is feeling very hot and must be cared for and given medication immediately.

Give him emergency care before taking him out of the shade and into the car because the air is hotter outside. Squirt a little water on your rabbit taking extra care not to wet him too much. Do not spray into his face or ears and to help in lessening the heat, wet a cloth with cool water and apply to the rabbit's ears in order to cool him down even for just a little bit.

Giving the rabbit a bath when he is gravely overheated is also advised but do not submerge him into the water. Providing your rabbit with proper and prompt care will save your rabbit's life when he is seriously overheated.
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