Keeping bunnies cool in the summer

[Cocoa]

I live in Texas so sometimes it gets really hot. My two girls live outside. It is starting to get to be that time of year when it gets hot. I’m worried about them overheating. I’ve seen the idea of freezing water bottles but that would only last about 30 minutes. In one month we are moving and we will be able to set up a fan to help keep them cool. What else can i try to keep them cool. Here is a photo of the cage they are in. Any ideas for something i can hang in there or even just set in there. The section on the left is for when it gets cold. I stuff that with hay and blankets to keep them warm.

[BB8]

Hi, sorry I can’t see the pictures (not sure if it’s just my internet being slow again) but I’ve heard laying down tiles for the bunnies to lay on helps keep them cool. And of course keeping their hutch in the shade. Hope this helps! good luck

[Cocoa]

Okay thanks.

[sarahthegemini]

Frozen water bottles for them to lay near. Just change them regularly. Tiles, lots of hidey boxes for shade, ice cubes in their water bowls, changing water several times throughout the day so they don’t have to drink warm water.

[Cocoa]

A friend’s mom said she used to have a bunny any the would fill a milk jug with water and freeze it so it lasted longer. Would that work? Could i put the tiles in the fridge first so they are colder? They have water bottles instead of water bowls is that fine?

[BB8]

Great tips Sarahthegemini! And yes Cocoa I think a milk jug with water would work well. Also putting the tiles in the freezer before giving them to the bunnies would be great too. It’s recommend you give bunnies water bowls rather than bottles because they can drink more from bowls which is important in hot weather. I give my bunnies a bowl and a bottle just in case they tip over the bowl.

[DanaNM]

Yes to full gallon sized frozen water bottles! If you have 4, you can rotate them. A full gallon should last all day, and then has a full 24 hrs to freeze again. Growing up I lived in the central valley CA and it gets into triple digits in the summer… and I had buns outside.

Another thing that helps are these portable mister things that you attach to a hose. They are meant to be used by humans laying near the pool. You want to position so it’s not spraying directly on the bunny, but close enough to cool down the area. If the humidity is very high, it might not work that well though…..

The one we had was similar to this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Orbit-ArizonaMist-Hose-Attachment/3733069

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Cocoa]

I had one of those but I’m not sure if we still do. I’ll look for it when i get home. Thanks for the tips everyone!

[Cocoa]

Thank you!

[joea64]

I live in Northern Virginia, which often gets oppressively hot and muggy from June into September/October. I adopted Panda and Fernando in high summer (August) last year, so keeping them cool was a significant consideration for me. I had my A/C checked prior to bringing them home to make sure everything was in proper operating condition, and I plan to do so again later this spring before it gets really hot. Their foster mother gave me a couple of cooling tiles which I didn’t have to break out last summer, but we’ll see how it goes this year, as well as whether water bottles will be necessary. And of course I’m going to strictly limit outdoor travel for them; their next semiannual wellness checkup is coming up in a month or two and I’m going to get that done before the weather starts getting really hot (happily, the vet office is open early Saturday mornings).

[Author]

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