WARM WEATHER CONCERNS

We all look forward to summer: summer is a time for warm weather and outdoor fun. However, just as we have to take certain precautions to protect ourselves from certain summer hazards, we also need to take some precautions to keep our pet rabbits healthy and safe. Here are some suggestions to help keep your pet rabbit safe and comfortable this summer.

HEAT STROKE
In general, rabbits do not tolerate heat well and are most comfortable in a climate that has low humidity, with temperatures around 20C or 70F. Although extreme heat is generally not a problem for those of us living in Ontario, the summer months can often be unbearable for your rabbit. Here are some tips for keeping your rabbit cool if you do not have air conditioning.

Keeping Your Rabbit Cool

• At home, keep your rabbit's cage out of direct sunlight. If you are traveling, keep your rabbit's carrier out of the sun. If avoiding the sun isn't possible, cover the cage or carrier with a white towel to provide shade.
  
• Put a frozen plastic 1 or 2 litre bottle filled with water in the cage with your rabbit. Always keep one bottle in your freezer to replace the bottle in the cage after it has melted. Frozen plastic bottles also work well in your rabbit's carrier for trips to the vet, etc.
  
• Put a couple of 12" x 12" ceramic or marble tiles on the floor of your rabbit's cage so that he has a cool surface to lie on. You can even put the tiles in your freezer briefly before placing them in your rabbit's cage.
  
• Cover the top and sides of your bunny's cage with a damp towel. Set up an oscillating fan to blow across the cage and through the towel. Do not allow the fan to blow directly on your rabbit.
  
• Gently wipe your rabbit's ears with a damp, cool cloth. Rabbits do not sweat like humans or pant like dogs to cool themselves. They lose heat through their ears. The blood vessels in the ears dilate when the rabbit is warm, allowing the air that passes across them to cool the blood as it passes through the ears. This, in turn, cools the rabbit.
  
• Your rabbit needs access to fresh, cool drinking water at all times, but especially during the summer. You may also feed him extra veggies (if he tolerates veggies well) for extra hydration.
  
• Watch elder rabbits and obese rabbits closely. Because these rabbits tend to be more sedentary, they may not drink as often or as much as they should to remain well hydrated.
  
• Brush your rabbit to remove excess fur. Sometimes it is best to keep long-haired breeds clipped short.
  
• Remember to keep your rabbit indoors and, if you do take him outside for supervised playtime, never take him outside during the hottest part of the day (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) or when the temperature is higher than the lower to mid-70sF (mid 20sC). Also, make sure that his play area has plenty of shade and that he access to fresh, cool drinking water. Remember to watch for signs of heat stress.

Dealing With Heat Stroke
Temperatures in the mid-80s F (upper 20s C) and above can potentially cause a fatal heat stroke for rabbits. Signs of heat stroke include lethargy, difficulty breathing, or heavy panting and lack of appetite. If your rabbit does show signs of heat stroke, NEVER submerse him in cold water. Instead, dampen his ears with cool water and seek the care of a veterinarian as soon as possible.

PREDATORS
Please remember to be very cautious of predators if you do take your rabbit outdoors for SUPERVISED playtime. A wandering neighbourhood dog or cat can seriously harm, or even kill, your rabbit if given the opportunity. Large birds can also be a threat, especially in rural areas. Sometimes the mere presence of a predator is enough to cause your rabbit to die of shock or panic and injure himself. NEVER allow your rabbit to play outdoors unsupervised, no matter how secure you feel his enclosure is. Each summer we hear too many new reports of pet rabbits being killed and mangled by stray dogs or cats.

THE DANGERS OF DIGGING
If you take your rabbit outside for supervised play time, please remember that rabbits do dig and burrow. Even if you have a fenced area for your rabbits to play in, they may still be able to dig their way out of the yard and towards danger. Also, be sure that all little holes and openings in the fence are plugged or blocked.

FLY STRIKE
Briefly, fly strike is a horrible condition where a fly lays its eggs on a rabbit. When the eggs hatch, the fly larvae (or maggots) consume external debris on the rabbit (like dried feces), and then they start to destroy healthy tissue. Upon penetrating the healthy tissue, they produce toxins, which put the rabbit into a state of shock. Warning signs of fly strike can include seizures, listlessness or laboured breathing. If your rabbit shows any of these symptoms, seek veterinarian attention immediately.

Dealing with Fly Strike
If you suspect fly strike, call your veterinarian immediately. This is an emergency situation! Removing fly larvae is an extremely difficult procedure, and one that is best performed by your vet. If your vet opts to rinse them off, make sure that the rabbit is THOROUGHLY dry, as flies are attracted to warm moist areas. Some vets will pluck the larvae off of the rabbit by hand or by using tweezers to keep the area completely dry. In either case, it is important that the larvae do not rupture as they are removed, which could be potentially fatal.

Prevention
While fly strike most often occurs in outdoor rabbits, or rabbits kept in unsanitary or dirty conditions, it does happen to clean, well-kept indoor rabbits as well. Below are some tips for preventing fly strike.

• Keep all areas of your house as free of flies as possible. Use a fly swatter to kill flies, or fly traps and sticky fly strips to catch flies. Make sure that all window and door screens are in good repair.
  
• Keep your rabbit clean and dry. Try to spot clean areas of your rabbit that get soiled, rather than bathing the entire area of your rabbit. If your rabbit has a problem with loose stools or is incontinent, it may be helpful to keep him shaved or the fur clipped short. This will help keep that area dry. Flies prefer warm, moist areas and are attracted to odour, so fur that is constantly damp from urine or feces will naturally attract flies.
  
• Check your rabbit often in the summer months for unusual bumps or swelling. Report any abnormalities to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

ENJOY THE SUMMER!

© 2000 - 2008 Ontario Rabbit Education Organization