Need frozen veggie ideas

[fredalina]

i’ve had Checkers back at home for nearly 2 weeks now.  Checkers is a rescued bun who was adopted out and returned.  She was never meant to be a long-term pet, and due to my husband’s allergies (VERY allergic to her), i’m doing the best i can with a not-great situation.  She now resides in a very nice condo with decent run in the finished bonus room over the garage.  Things are starting to cool down, but it’s still a bit too warm in this room during late afternoons for her true comfort or best of health.

i’ve done things to make it easier on her, like construct a “chill box” with a homemade air conditioner and a ceramic tile, but she really doesn’t go in there except to get the food and treats i hide in there for her.  So i’m looking for other ways to keep her cool (she doesn’t seem to be in distress, by the way, but i worry). 

Frozen treats are no problem.  She loves frozen grapes, frozen strawberries, and her favorite is when i fill a Kong with an apple slice and then fill it with apple juice mixed with water and freeze it.  But i’ve tried frozen veggies and they aren’t as loved.  Frozen spinach she turns her nose up, whereas fresh spinach she loves (i do soak her greens so she stays hydrated).  i had hope that frozen broccoli would be a hit, but i really think she’s literally hiding from it!  Hiding raisins or craisins in it doesn’t work as she’s crafty enough to turn her crock over to get to the treats, leaving the broccoli to spoil.  The worst part is now my husband and i will have to eat broccoli lol.

Any ideas?

[JK]

Mmmmm if it is really not cool enough I would definitely get a portable air conditioner.  There are so many good ones on the market now that are not all that expensive.  I think you can get one for under $150 and I would think it would be worth every penny to make sure your bunny is comfortable.  I believe any temperature over 80 degrees is too hot especially if it’s constant. I personally think the makeshift air conditoning you have is not suitable at all long term. Re: the allergies, is your husband allergic to the hay? Most people that are allergic to hay are allergic to timothy hay and there are substitutes such as orchard grass.  My bunny sitter is very allergic to timothy hay and not at all to orchard hay.

[fredalina]

i can’t put in a portable air conditioner because the windows do not open (we are very near the airport and we have special windows). The room does have A/C but it’s not sufficient for the size of the room. i think it stays beneath 80 but it’s still very warm, and again, the temperatures are going down now so this won’t be long-term. While not ideal, the situation i have is what i have to deal with and she seems to be doing okay without much stress. Right now she’s lying down but not panting or breathing heavy at all, just sleeping. Now she woke up and is hopping around her run happily, no panting or other signs of stress at all. Still, i’d rather she be in an ideal home but i’ve gotten less than no help from the rescue who asked me to take her to begin with.

My husband is most definitely allergic to the rabbit dander/saliva, not just the hay. i’m allergic to timothy so i use orchard grass, which i have a small reaction to but not a major one. My husband cannot be in the same room with Checkers for more than a few minutes without having a sneezing reaction. i’ve been vacuuming daily and brushing Checkers in the garage and applying Allerpet-C twice weekly, which has helped some, but i can’t move her to another room because my husband goes in all of the other rooms in the house. And again, this is a foster rabbit and i can’t spend a huge cash outlay to have windows changed out, air purifiers and air conditioners installed for a temporary situation.

Again, i’d love some suggestions about frozen veggies. You’ll just have to trust me that i’m doing my absolute best with a less-than-ideal situation otherwise. See my thread in the Q&A forum if you’d like more background.

[Alicia Conklin]

What about just putting the veggies in some water with ice cubes…that way it’d be very cold but not frozen. 

 

Also, are you using frozen veggies like from bags or freezing fresh?  Frozen veggies in bags are usually precooked a bit, which might be why she isn’t liking those..

[fredalina]

Good ideas, thanks! And yes, i was trying purchased frozen broccoli vs. fresh frozen. i like the idea of the water with ice cubes. i also am looking for some ice trays to freeze water with herbs and or fruit in it, so maybe that kind of ice would entice her even more. Thanks!

[Sage Cat]

Another good way to keep your bun cool is to freeze a bottle of water – then put an old sock over the bottle – place the frozen bottle where your bun can lay down next to it. The sock will keep bunny dry and give her something soft to snuggle to.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You can freeze lots of veggies! You could buy some of those ‘europes’ best’ frozen veggies and give those, but most can be frozen, including parsley, carrots, celery (chop it first), broccoli, brussel sprouts…

There are other things too, liek Sagecat said, freezing a water bottle is a great idea. If she’s not going into her air conditioned room she’s likely not that hot though!

[Author]

Messages