Rabbits are very sensitive to extremes of temperature.
In the wild, the temperature in their burrows only varies by a few degrees year round, even in the hottest summers or coldest winters.
Rabbits cannot sweat and the only way they can cool their bodies down is by dilating the blood vessels in their ears.
Causes Heat stroke in pet rabbits is generally caused by the rabbit being left in direct sunlight or close to a heat source e.
g.
a radiator.
It is obviously more common during the summer months but may also be caused by moving an outdoors rabbit indoors during the winter - the sudden change in temperature can cause the rabbit to overheat.
Symptoms A rabbit suffering from heat stroke will be breathing very fast and may be panting.
It is likely to be lying stretched out on the ground and may be trembling or shaking.
It will probably not show any interest in you or its surroundings.
What to do if your bunny has heat stroke Heat stroke is an emergency.
The first thing to do is move your rabbit somewhere cooler.
Place cool damp flannels across its ears, forehead and legs.
Offer it some water to drink - at room temperature, not too cold to avoid upsetting the rabbit's stomach.
When your rabbit's breathing starts to settle down and it is once again showing interest in its surroundings, offer it some leafy green vegetables recently washed in cool water.
Prevention During hot weather, ensure that the rabbit's hutch is in a shady area and that it always has plenty of water to drink.
Place frozen water bottles in the hutch and check on your rabbit frequently to ensure it is showing no signs of heat stroke.
When travelling with your rabbit, keep the car as cool as possible and stop at least once an hour to offer your rabbit some water and check on its condition.
Copyright 2011 Hannah Davis / Bunnyhugga.
com All Rights Reserved
In the wild, the temperature in their burrows only varies by a few degrees year round, even in the hottest summers or coldest winters.
Rabbits cannot sweat and the only way they can cool their bodies down is by dilating the blood vessels in their ears.
Causes Heat stroke in pet rabbits is generally caused by the rabbit being left in direct sunlight or close to a heat source e.
g.
a radiator.
It is obviously more common during the summer months but may also be caused by moving an outdoors rabbit indoors during the winter - the sudden change in temperature can cause the rabbit to overheat.
Symptoms A rabbit suffering from heat stroke will be breathing very fast and may be panting.
It is likely to be lying stretched out on the ground and may be trembling or shaking.
It will probably not show any interest in you or its surroundings.
What to do if your bunny has heat stroke Heat stroke is an emergency.
The first thing to do is move your rabbit somewhere cooler.
Place cool damp flannels across its ears, forehead and legs.
Offer it some water to drink - at room temperature, not too cold to avoid upsetting the rabbit's stomach.
When your rabbit's breathing starts to settle down and it is once again showing interest in its surroundings, offer it some leafy green vegetables recently washed in cool water.
Prevention During hot weather, ensure that the rabbit's hutch is in a shady area and that it always has plenty of water to drink.
Place frozen water bottles in the hutch and check on your rabbit frequently to ensure it is showing no signs of heat stroke.
When travelling with your rabbit, keep the car as cool as possible and stop at least once an hour to offer your rabbit some water and check on its condition.
Copyright 2011 Hannah Davis / Bunnyhugga.
com All Rights Reserved
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