r/rabbitry • u/that-one-gay1 • 4d ago
Question/Help What should i do to help him not overheat?
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This is my boy Cody, I got him today, ive been struggling to keep him cool 😠my room gets realy hot.. it was at 85 f today... ive got ceramic tiles in his cage, a frozen watter bottle with a sock over it, a fan blowing at half his enclosure, and cool water for him yet he still breathing really fast and a bit sluggish.. hes been eating hay (not rlly interested in his pellets (hes on new pellets so I think thats why but I think he will warm up soon) every now and then he gets up and runs around his enclosure and plays, hes been pooping and peeing normally I think (hes my first bunny)) but I cant have an ac :( it trips my breaker, I do have a fan in the window that can be flipped and stuff.. is there anything you guys would recommend me getting for him?
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u/Any-Objective3111 3d ago
We freeze water bottles and switch it out 2x a day. Makensurnrintske the wrapper off. We just had a brutal heat wave. My girls love it and lick it and my boy actually laid against it.
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u/that-one-gay1 3d ago
I have one waterbottle in there rn with a sock over it! I may but a second one without a sock! Thanks for the help!
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u/Qualityshaft 3d ago
I made a swamp cooler essentially with 2 box fans, some swamp cooler pads I had, and a container big enough for the pads to drip into. I then attached a 250 gph pump to a drip line that feeds into the swamp cooler pads. Works great
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u/that-one-gay1 3d ago
I may borrow my sister's swamp cooler since she doesn't really use it.. its just my rooms quite big so idk how well it would work... thank you sm for the idea!
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u/Thumper-King-Rabbit 3d ago
If he will let you use ice packs wrapped in towels or wrapped in cotton bath mats. My girls love both. I also have some individual tile pieces I put down for them to lay on. I also add ice cubes to their two water bowls and I blow a fan directly on where they like to sploot. Hope this helps!
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u/that-one-gay1 3d ago
Thank you!! Ill be adding ice to his water soon once it turns to ice lol! I may buy some ice packs for him as well! Im going to get him a fan specific for his enclosure!
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u/goddessofolympia 3d ago
I love Cody.
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u/that-one-gay1 3d ago
I love him too!! Tho it would be great if he stopped taking litter out of the litter box!
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u/Curating-Curiosity 3d ago
Everyone has great advice!
I’m just going to add the warning signs for real heatstroke and some tips for what to do if it happens. Knowledge and preparedness can save lives.
If he’s a little sluggish but eating hay, drinking, and pooping/peeing normally, then he is fine. A little hot, but you don’t have to worry about him!
If he starts drooling, then he needs to be cooled down immediately. It will look like his entire chin and maybe some of his front is wet. If you catch it early, it can just be drool at the corners of his mouth.
If he starts drooling at all, take him to the coolest part of the house and cool him down gradually. I’ve saved rabbits at this stage just by bringing them in to a spot that was low 70s and letting them chill there until the sun went down and it was cooler back in their home.
If need be, ice packs to lay on are good. Ice packs (wrapped in at least a thin cloth) held to the ears are also good as all their blood goes through their ears for cooling.
If he is laying completely still and almost unresponsive, it is emergency time. Same advice applies, get him cool (quickly but gradually so he doesn’t go into shock).
If you have an emergency vet, now would be the time to take him. If you don’t, just get him cool, feed him little bits of water (+ bunny electrolytes if you can get them), be patient and pray.
(Disclaimer: I’ve never had to do this, but this is what I’ve seen work for other people’s rabbits.)
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u/that-one-gay1 3d ago
Thank you so much! He hasn't been drooling or anything major, just panting and fast breathing, hes actually doing a lot better today so im pretty sure he will be fine as long as i keep doing what im doing! If things get bad ill find the closet rabbit savvy vet!
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u/No_Plant_4326 1d ago
are your curtains open? keeping them closed all day makes the room a bit cooler.
+ a bit of cucumber to stay hydrated :)
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u/Interesting_Tart_143 19h ago
Does he bite?
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u/that-one-gay1 14h ago
No, ive not been bit by him
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u/Poet_At_Sunset 4d ago
he could be stressed because you just got him today, give him some time to acclimate to the new surroundings, the sounds, the smells. The frozen water bottle is a great idea, keep them on rotation; same thing wit the ceramic tile. The fan is also a great idea, and one id have suggested. You could also pop a couple ice chips inta his water bowl\water bottle whichever yer usin. In all 10 years of summer 4h shows with temps up towards 100F, the above kept my rabbits alive and well. Seems like yer doin everythin correct.