Hot Weather Care

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Shade and airflow

Shade, airflow and hydration are all vital to keeping rabbits cool in hot weather.

Outdoor rabbits should have their enclosure in the shade during the hottest parts of the day if possible, or shade provided, like a parasol, or even a reflective cover to deflect heat.

Provide shade from direct sunlight for house rabbits, too. Keep curtains or blinds indoors closed with windows closed during the hottest parts of the day, but open them at night when the air’s cooler.

Aim fans at a frozen water bottle so that the air circulating around it will be cooler. A fan on its own only moves the warm air around, and that won’t cool your rabbit. Be careful that rabbits can’t chew any wires!

Hydration is vital; make sure that they always have fresh, cool water in a heavy ceramic bowl.

Body cooling

Fill empty bottles with water and freeze them. Keep changing them during the day as they thaw. Your rabbits may enjoy lying against them, but remember to wrap them in a towel to avoid direct contact with the rabbits’ skin.

Daffodils are toxic and wild rabbits know to avoid them

Also, remember that:

A cool surface to lie on – marble is the coolest, even on hot days, but grass is cool too. Allow them to dig! Warrens keep rabbits cool in the wild, but make sure that they can’t escape!

Spray water around your rabbits; some might let you spray their bodies, and especially their ears, but spray the back of the ear so water doesn’t run inside.