Rabbits handle heat far worse than cold and can overheat quickly. Keep them out of direct sun, move air around them, and give them cool surfaces and frozen water bottles to lie against. On hot days, check on them often.
Why this matters
Rabbits can't sweat and can only lose a little heat through their ears, so they overheat much faster than people do, and heatstroke can be fatal. Temperatures that feel merely warm to us can be dangerous to a rabbit in the sun, which is why shade and airflow aren't a luxury in summer, they're safety. A frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel gives them something cool to press against and choose their own comfort.
What to watch for
- Shade all day, and blinds closed indoors during the hottest hours
- A frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel to lie against, and always cool water to drink
- A fan moving air near them (not blasting them directly)
- Early heat distress: fast or noisy breathing, lethargy, wet nose, red ears, drooling
When to see a vet
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. If your rabbit is breathing fast or open-mouthed, very floppy, or convulsing, move them somewhere cool, do not plunge them in cold water, and call your exotic vet now.
Sources: RWAF · Rabbit.org Foundation