{"id":520,"date":"2020-03-30T08:46:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T08:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bunnyparents.com\/?p=520"},"modified":"2024-01-07T15:34:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T15:34:40","slug":"top-11-ways-to-keep-your-bunny-cool-during-the-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bunnyparents.com\/top-11-ways-to-keep-your-bunny-cool-during-the-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 11 Ways To Keep Your Bunny Cool During The Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With summer around the corner, temperatures have already\nstarted to increase. Bunnies do much better in the cold compared to the heat as\nthey are unable to dissipate body heat effectively as their only mechanism for\ndoing so is through the ears. Temperatures over 29\u00b0C (85\u00b0F) can cause\nheatstroke in bunnies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ideal temperature range for a bunny is 12-23\u00b0C (55-72\u00b0F). There are many useful techniques to keep your bunny cool during the summer such as frozen water bottles and cooling mats. Many of them are techniques you would use on yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve tested out many ways to keep our bunny cool in the heat and these are our top 11 ways to make sure our bunny doesn\u2019t overheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shady Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Make sure your bunny isn\u2019t directly in the sun for long periods of time. If they live indoors, make sure your bunny\u2019s enclosure isn\u2019t in the direct sunlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you house your bunnies outside, make sure their enclosure is in the shade 24\/7. If it is a really hot day, move them inside so they don\u2019t overheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ice Cubes In Water Bowl<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a great way to keep your bunny\u2019s water very cool and\nalso gives them something to play with. Adding ice cubes to water also saves\nyou from having to change the water regularly as it warms up. Just plop a\ncouple of ice cubes in the water every so often and the water will always be\ncool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trim Your Bunny<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have a bunny with long fur, consider trimming their\ncoat in order to help them stay cool during the summer. If you have a bunny\nwith short fur, regularly brush them as extra loose fur is like having a long\ncoat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freeze Some Water Bottles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fill bottles with water and freeze them. Give these to your bunny to lean against while they nap and relax. If it is extremely hot and the bottles melt quickly, you can freeze gallon milk bottles which last longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also cover your bottles in a towel or cloth to keep them frozen for longer. This may be a preference for your bunny if they don\u2019t like the wet feeling of the bottle but want the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a bunny cage, you can freeze large glass food\ncontainers of water and place them inside the bunny enclosure or cage to keep\nthe base cool and give something for your bunny to lean against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also create a frozen bottle bed. Put a frozen bottle\ninside a blanket and roll it up for your bunny to lay against. It also keeps\nyour bottle frozen for 6-8 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to give your bunny the ultimate luxury, then\nplace your frozen bottle blanket next to your cooling mat or tiles for the\nultimate cooling experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooling Mats or Ceramic Tiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is something you should have around no matter what. Either a pet cooling mat (such as this PeSandy Rabbit Cooling Pad on Amazon<\/a>) or buying ceramic, stone, or marble tiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marble tiles can be found on Amazon (Marble 12×12 Tile<\/a>) if you don\u2019t want to visit your local hardware store. Marble tiles stay the coolest out of all of the tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tiles or cooling mat will remain much cooler than the air temperature around it and your bunny will love you for providing another cool space for them to relax on. You can even create most of the bottom of their indoor or outdoor enclosure out of the tile or cooling mat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cooling mat for bunnies is rather small and you may need to purchase multiple. This will be the same for the tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: You can even freeze your tiles like the water bottles. Just put them in the freezer for 5-10 minutes and you\u2019re good to go.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Circulating Fan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a very easy, affordable option. Just place a fan\nthat circulates air AROUND your bunny. Make sure it\u2019s not pointed directly at\nthem. If you hang a damp towel over the fan, it can make the air even cooler.\nEssentially a poor man\u2019s air conditioning unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Your Room Cool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep your air conditioning running if it\u2019s a very hot day.\nEspecially if you\u2019re not home for the day. Make sure your blinds are shut so\nthe sun doesn\u2019t heat the room up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frozen Fruit Treats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our bunny loves these and there are many different variations you can do. You can either freeze the fruit pieces themselves or you can place them in a little cup of water and freeze it all together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples you can try are banana, grapes, or even pineapple. If you want to give your bunny the gourmet treat experience, you can add herbs to enhance the flavour or add a little bit of juice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moisten or Dampen The Ears<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ears are where bunnies regulate their body temperature. Because of that, dampening the ears and face with your hands or a wet paper towel will help them cool down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure the water is cool. Do not immerse your bunny in water as they will panic and could be potentially traumatised from the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feed Wet Vegetables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is a good trick to keep your bunny hydrated sneakily.\nWash your vegetables you want to feed your bunny but keep them very wet. Even\nleaving a little puddle of water in the bunny food bowl. This will ensure your\nbunny is drinking enough on a hot day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terra Cotta Saucer Beds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is another trick that can be used in place of a bottle bed or cooling mats and tiles. You can use Terra Cotta Saucers (link to Amazon)<\/a> as cooling vessels when you place an ice pack under them. Turn the saucer upside down and place the ice pack underneath and make a nice cooling bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Know If Your Bunny Has Heatstroke?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s important to monitor your bunny\u2019s temperature and generally keep an eye on them during hot days. Excessive heat can potentially lead to organ failure so prepare for hot days with the above cooling ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While heat is the primary cause of heatstroke, there are other factors that increase the risk of your bunny getting hyperthermia. For example, obesity, cardiovascular disease, heat intolerance, and neuromuscular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a list of symptoms that may indicate your bunny has heatstroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n