Helping keep buns cool

[RabbitNerd]

I was wondering if anyone had any info on keeping my bunnies cool during hot days. They are both angoras, and I don't shear them, so they get pretty hot. They are in a shady place and I give them frozen water bottles.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Shimmer]

Slabs of stone, marble or large ceramic floor tiles in a shaded spot - they can lie on them to keep cool.

Trees and bushes give good shade - I try to site the rabbit runs under overhanging branches where the soil is naturally cooler and they don't get direct sun in Summer.

Provide additional shade over any open area, but not restricting air flow - damp down if needed during the hottest part of the day to increase heat loss by evaporation.

You can get an ice pod version of microwave heat pads. Be careful that there's nothing toxic in them if they get chewed. The contents of standard freezer blocks may not be safe, so it depends on the rabbits. You could always put them under a thin stone slab / large ceramic floor tile.

Bring them inside to a shaded room if conditions outside are extreme.

If it gets really warm and they are struggling, I would shear them (or partly shear them). It also means that you can keep an eye on other potential issues, eg flystrike. Keeping them well groomed will help them to regulate their temperature to some degree (ie matted fur will be more insulating), but a huge coat can be a health risk if they can't cool down naturally.

 

[tonibun]

Good advice from Shimmer but I don't think we should be giving them frozen bottles.

 

[redmal]

We used to freeze half a bottle of water (on it's side in the freezer) for the dogs when we took them out in the car on hot days. We stood them upright and filled them with water, so they had cold water to drink and a cold bottle wrapped in a cold towel gave them somewhere to lean against. Rabbits could also have a fan blowing across the bottle maybe?

 

[tonibun]

The RSPCA do not recommend frozen bottles as it could be a shock to the Rabbit's system.

 

[RabbitNerd]

We used to freeze half a bottle of water (on it's side in the freezer) for the dogs when we took them out in the car on hot days. We stood them upright and filled them with water, so they had cold water to drink and a cold bottle wrapped in a cold towel gave them somewhere to lean against. Rabbits could also have a fan blowing across the bottle maybe?

Super smart, thanks!

 

[RabbitNerd]

The RSPCA do not recommend frozen bottles as it could be a shock to the Rabbit's system.

Oh ok.

 

[RabbitNerd]

Slabs of stone, marble or large ceramic floor tiles in a shaded spot - they can lie on them to keep cool.

Trees and bushes give good shade - I try to site the rabbit runs under overhanging branches where the soil is naturally cooler and they don't get direct sun in Summer.

Provide additional shade over any open area, but not restricting air flow - damp down if needed during the hottest part of the day to increase heat loss by evaporation.

You can get an ice pod version of microwave heat pads. Be careful that there's nothing toxic in them if they get chewed. The contents of standard freezer blocks may not be safe, so it depends on the rabbits. You could always put them under a thin stone slab / large ceramic floor tile.

Bring them inside to a shaded room if conditions outside are extreme.

If it gets really warm and they are struggling, I would shear them (or partly shear them). It also means that you can keep an eye on other potential issues, eg flystrike. Keeping them well groomed will help them to regulate their temperature to some degree (ie matted fur will be more insulating), but a huge coat can be a health risk if they can't cool down naturally.

I just don't like to shave them because I would have to do it with electric, which would definitely scare my buck and the temperature drop is not good for their system. But thanks for the advice, very helpful!

 

[Shimmer]

You could remove the bulk of the fur manually (scissors or hand shears), if needed.

 

[RabbitNerd]

OK