In the Australian summertime, it can get pretty hot. With an average temperature of 25.8° C, it would be fair to say that it’s one of the hottest places on earth, and while we humans know what to do stay relaxed and healthy, our pets don’t always. For instance, animal care online learning shows that rabbits, don’t do particularly when in direct heat for long periods, so owners need to take into account it.
What Heat Temperature Can Rabbits Tolerate?
When it goes over 25° C, they can become overheated, leading to heat exhaustion and eventually, death. Rabbits can be particularly vulnerable to overheating in Summer when they’re:
- Overweight
- Very fuzzy (in terms of fur)
- Older (8 Years and over)
- Very young
What Happens If A Bunny Gets Too Hot?
Rabbits are known for regulating their body temperature through their ears, but it can be very dangerous for pet rabbits when it gets too warm. Take some short courses online in veterinary care, and you’ll see that heatstroke is a serious problem for rabbits, which is why the temperature of why enclosures should always be kept in the region of 10-20° C for best comfort.
How Do I Stop My Rabbit From Overheating?
As the owner of a rabbit, it’s incumbent on you to create conditions where your pet can be comfortable and happy. So, we’ll be looking at some practical measures you can take to ensure that happens. So, if you’ve got your notepad and pen ready, let’s see how things are done.
Ensure Plenty Of Shade Is Available
Shade is vitally important for your rabbit, as direct sunlight is the real killer - particularly when talking about metal hutches. As such, you need to ensure that their hutch offers lots of shade from the sun, which is easily achieved. Simply by placing their hutch in a shaded part of your garden under a tree, they’ll have all the protection they need.
A Fresh Water Supply Is Essential
Another vital part of keeping your rabbit cool in summer is to make sure they have access to a plentiful supply of water. This means providing a bowl that’s continuously replenished or a purpose-built water bottle that keeps them hydrated all day long. Offering both at multiple locations is often the best idea, especially if their home includes a larger ‘run’ across the garden.
Keep An Eye Out For Fly Issues
Unfortunately, when the heat arrives, Australia’s enormous fly population springs into life and as any Aussie will tell you, they can be persistent little blighters! They may be annoying to us, but they can be really bad for your rabbit. Fly strike in rabbits - as online learning in veterinary care teaches - can be lethal, so you should be meticulous during hutch cleaning to keep them away.
If you see that flies have laid eggs on your rabbit, the good news is that there are products to help you get rid of them and protect your fluffy friend.
How do I know if my rabbits are too hot?
Understanding the symptoms of heatstroke in rabbits is also important, as it will allow you to spot the problem and take the necessary action quickly. They include:
- Breathing faster than usual
- Breathing with an open mouth
- Warm feet and ears
- Unresponsiveness to your affection
- A lack of coordination
- A lack of appetite
- Restlessness
Any of these symptoms could indicate heatstroke, so if you witness any of them, and you’ve already taken the steps we’ve mentioned above, an urgent trip to the vet may be in order.
Get Your Career Moving With Job-Ready Short Courses Online
If you’re looking to get into the animal care industry, OCA short courses online represent the most stimulating and flexible ways to gain new skills and knowledge. From dog grooming courses to veterinary assistant training, we’ve got you covered, and our learning experience is next-level, offering industry-led content and 1-to-1 mentoring for every OCA student.
All of the courses in our full library (that covers 20+ industries) are CPD-Endorsed, with every hour completed equalling one valuable CPD point. They’re video-based and modular, too, meaning they can be consumed via your smartphone whenever and wherever you want. You can get a good feel for your overall experience with OCA by watching our Student Study Demo.
So, if you’d like to accelerate your personal development plan with what our students tell us is the best online education Australia can offer, visit us today at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au. There you’ll even find a choice of flexible payment options that all you to manage the cost of your training more easily.
Alternatively, to chat with a member of our friendly team about your learning needs, give us a call at 1300 611 404, and they’ll be happy to help. Failing that, email [email protected], and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
