Heat Stroke in Rabbits - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Heat stroke in rabbits consists of a rise in body temperature that is generally associated with exposure to excessive heat. Lagomorphs are very sensitive to high temperatures, so it is essential to know how to identify the symptoms of heat stroke in rabbits, as well as to know the necessary first aid to avoid more severe complications that can lead to the sudden death of the animal.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Rabbits

Rabbits tend to tolerate cold better than heat , since the vast majority of rabbit breeds come from places that experience harsh winters, such as Europe and the United States. Exposure to high temperatures and sunlight can easily affect the body of these rodents, leading to the development of symptoms of heat stroke, and also increasing the risk of burns. In fact, heat stroke is among the most common health problems in lagomorphs .

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The normal body temperature of rabbits varies between 38ºC and 40ºC , and the optimal temperatures for their development should be between 18ºC and 24ºC. In the event that the environmental temperature exceeds 30 ºC, the rodent does not have an environment with shade and fresh water, or is directly exposed to solar radiation, its body temperature will rise and symptoms of heat stroke in rabbits may appear. , such as:

• Panting
• excessive salivation
• Weakness
• red ears
• Stretch leaving the belly in contact with the ground
• muscle tremors
• Tachycardia
• Lethargy
• slow movements
• staggers
• dizziness
• seizures

When identifying any of these symptoms in your rabbit, it is essential to act quickly and conscientiously to apply the necessary first aid to save the animal's life, avoiding sudden death from cardiac arrest. Next, we show you the steps to follow to pay immediate attention in case of heat stroke in your rabbit.

 

My rabbit is breathing very fast, is it heat stroke?

Rough breathing due to an increase in body temperature is one of the symptoms of heat stroke in rabbits, along with panting and dizziness. However, it should be noted that the fact of breathing very fast is not only associated with this problem, since stress can also cause alterations in breathing and abnormalities in the behavior of the rabbit. Therefore, if you notice that your rabbit is breathing very quickly, whether it has been exposed to sunlight or not, it is important to go to the vet quickly to find the underlying cause and treat it.

If you finally suspect that stress may be behind your rabbit's rapid breathing, do not hesitate to consult this other article with the " Main symptoms of stress in rabbits " that will help you confirm your theory.

First aid for heat stroke in rabbits

Before teaching you first aid in case of heat stroke in rabbits, we must remind you that this is an emergency measure to temporarily stabilize the animal's health. However, it is essential to take the rabbit to the specialized veterinarian as soon as possible to verify its health status and verify the need to apply some treatment to prevent the symptoms from returning.

With that said, let's go over the steps to take to relieve heat stroke symptoms, as well as ways to cool down a rabbit:

1. Provide a cooler environment: If your rabbit has symptoms of heat stroke, it has probably been in a very hot environment or has been directly exposed to solar radiation. To alleviate these negative symptoms, it will be essential to take it to a cooler room, with shade and good ventilation, to avoid feeling excessively hot. However, we should never lower the ambient temperature in an aggressive way, since this could cause a shock. If you want to better ventilate the room, only use a fan at minimum speed and do not point it directly at the rabbit, but seek to renew the air and refresh the environment.
2. Moisten his mouth : it is essential that your rabbit stays well hydrated to avoid kidney damage or collapse, so you should leave fresh, clean water available and close to him. But if your rabbit is already weak, chances are he won't want to drink water and you shouldn't force him. Simply moisten your mouth with the help of a diffuser or, if you don't have one, with clean gauze or cotton.
3. Gently cool its body – The next step is to gently cool the rabbit's body to bring its body temperature down gradually (never abruptly). To do this, moisten a clean cloth or gauze and gently wipe it over its belly, head, neck, chest, legs and, very carefully, in the hairless area of ​​its ears. Do not use ice to cool your rabbit, as this could cause shock from the sudden change in temperature.
4. Re-moisten his mouth – Re-soak your rabbit's mouth with the help of a diffuser or clean gauze and check to see if the symptoms seem to be easing.
5. Seek the help of a specialist veterinarian: after applying first aid, take your rabbit to an exotic animal veterinarian to check its health status and rule out the possibility of side effects from heat stroke.

How to prevent heat stroke in rabbits?

Preventing heat stroke in rabbits is not only possible, but necessary to keep your companion in good health, especially during the summer. To do this, we recommend paying attention to the following guidelines:

• Do not leave your rabbit locked up: either in a carrier, in the car, in a room that does not have adequate ventilation, or under direct sunlight. In closed and unventilated places, temperatures rise more easily and the animal is more susceptible to heat stroke. Remember to always provide a shady and well-ventilated spot for your rabbit.
• Leave clean and fresh water always at its disposal: on the hottest days, it is very important that you pay attention to your rabbit's water, since it can heat up quickly and your rodent needs to always have fresh and clean water at its disposal.
• Regulate their feeding times : during the summer, try to feed your rabbit in the less hot times and with less incidence of sunlight, such as at sunset. Remember also to provide a complete and balanced diet that meets your nutritional requirements.
• Prevents obesity : obese animals are more susceptible to heat, in addition to being able to more easily develop some pathologies associated with being overweight and/or sedentary. In addition to providing him with a balanced diet, remember to respect the amount of daily food appropriate for his size, breed, age and health status, as well as provide him with opportunities to exercise and express himself freely.
• Preventive Medicine – Rabbits also need to receive adequate preventative medicine to preserve their good health. We advise you to make a preventive visit to the veterinarian before the arrival of summer or in the first days of the season to certify that your rabbit is healthy and take the opportunity to update its vaccines and antiparasitic treatments .