Bunny care when temps rise

[Decon]

Hi everyone, I’m from Australia and here where now getting into the seasonal hottter months. My miniature lop is fine and has plenty of shade , water. But this is only the start of the notorious Australian summer’s and just after any advise to help little “kush” cope thanks everyone

 

[Blue eyes]

Can she be housed indoors? Rabbits don't do well with temps over 85F (30C).

 

[Decon]

It got to 32c today but I do have an indoor inclosure in a few months 40+c it will be cooler outside than in . He struggled a bit and slept in the shade all day. The yard is completely shaded by afternoon and he’s running round

 

[Decon]

Ps for some reason he just tipped over his own fresh water bowl

 

[Catlyn]

Ps for some reason he just tipped over his own fresh water bowl

He might sometimes do that to lay in the fresh water puddle. We got our lop on notorious blazing hot months too and he would not stop tipping over his bowl and flopping in the leftover water.
I got my bun a cooling pad meant for dogs, covered in a pillowcase and gave it to him. Making sure he won't chew on it, i let him use it and he seems pleased.

 

[Decon]

Must be a common bunny thing because I think that’s exactly why he did!!

 

[Niomi]

I used to freeze bottles of water, and put them out for my rabbits to lay next to them.

 

[Maki_p29]

The cooling pads in the above posts sound like a good idea, makes sure your bunny stays hydrated and keep a constant eye on them especially on extremely Hot days to make sure they don’t get signs of heat stroke. Sometimes I put a little cool water on the back of my bunnies ears if I notice they are too hot and to help them cool down.

 

[Blue eyes]

It got to 32c today but I do have an indoor inclosure in a few months 40+c it will be cooler outside than in . He struggled a bit and slept in the shade all day. The yard is completely shaded by afternoon and he’s running round

I assumed there would be air conditioning indoors. We get those hot temps in the summer too so our rabbits are all indoors.

Heat stroke is a real danger over 30C -- if humid, even 25C can cause heat stress. As already suggested, frozen bottles of water to lay beside are one option but keep an eye out. Some rabbits just don't understand that the bottle is cold and they just ignore it.

It's also good to know what the signs of heat exhaustion look like. Here is a good article that includes ways to keep bunny cool and what signs to watch out for:
https://rabbit.org/keep-your-rabbit-cool-in-the-summer/

 

[Catlyn]

Some rabbits just don't understand that the bottle is cold and they just ignore it.

Well my rabbit seems to be one of them clueless buns. He doesn't get that a full bale with a hole in the middle is for going in and keeping him warm, he doesn't get that iced water bottles are not for chewing, he doesn't understand that he shouldn't climb to places when he can't come down from them. He is a dumb bun but can follow my finger to treats and open lids to get his pellets...

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I put two water drinkers in the cages for my rabbits that overheat..one is regular water..one is half frozen water that I did the night before and the rest reg water...then at least I know the water stays ice cold and they have enough.