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  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

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Bunny with hot ears- what does that mean?

i think i read somewhere that they moderate their body temperature through their ears, if Smudge is outside and it is cold his ears are colder; if i bring him in for cuddles they often get warmer. I dont think it is a cause for worry just a way of regulating their body temp....
 
Rabbits are homeothermic which means they regulate their own body temperature (like us). If they're in a cold environment, capillaries in the extremities (ears) constrict, keeping blood from flowing into them, thereby maintaining the core temperature. Conversely, on a hot day, the capillaries are opened to allow blood to the surface for the maximum cooling effect.
 
Rabbits are homeothermic which means they regulate their own body temperature (like us). If they're in a cold environment, capillaries in the extremities (ears) constrict, keeping blood from flowing into them, thereby maintaining the core temperature. Conversely, on a hot day, the capillaries are opened to allow blood to the surface for the maximum cooling effect.

This :)

However, if bun's ears are extremely hot and bunny's body too then it can indicate that bun is either suffering from heat stroke (in summer) or has an infection and is running a temperature.
 
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