Keeping Your Bun Cool on Hot Days

With the hot weather of summer comes a need for methods of keeping our bunny friends comfortable. Although our homes may be set at a cool 7o degrees, rabbits actually prefer even cooler temperatures. What can Bun-parents do to keep our beloved pets happy and healthy during the long. hot days ahead of us?

Large ceramic tiles chilled in the freezer are a good and safe all-over cold pack for bunnies to lay upon when the heat gets to be too much. Most of us have leftover tiles from a home improvement project that would be perfectly suited for this task, instead of collecting dust on a shelf where project leftovers go to die. Wash them between uses and store in a large, clean plastic bag while freezing, to keep your food safe and sanitary. When given a freshly chilled tile, you can practically hear your Bun sigh with pleasure.

Small-ish containers filled with cold water and a couple of ice cubes can be a refreshing treat. Bunnies may drink the cold water, or they may sprawl next to it and allow an ear to dip into the container. This is the rabbit version of a swamp cooler. Keeping their ears cool helps the rest of the body feel cooler.

Bunny popsicles are quick and easy to make. These cool treats involve crushing a bit of fruit (try blueberries, raspberries, or fresh pineapple) into a small container of water with some cut-up pieces of fruit, too. Pour the mix into ice cube trays and freeze. Serve the popsicle in a small saucer or bowl. The scent of the juice will pique the bunny's interest and entice him to begin licking the ice cube, which will lead to the reward of the fruit chunks as the ice is licked or melts away. This treat will help your bunny stay cool and hydrated!

Simply adding an ice cube or two to the bunny's water bowl or bottle can help her stay cool, too! When you add ice to your drink, take a minute to add some to your rabbit's water, too.

Frozen water bottles, milk jugs, etc. are another way of keeping your pet cool during the hotter weather. If you have space in your freezer, do some recycling by re-using plastic water bottles, juice or milk jugs, or any other food-safe container that can be sealed easily and won't leak. Clean the container and remove labels. Add water to the container, allowing plenty of room for expansion as the water freezes, and put the container in the freezer. Once frozen, give the "ice bottle" to your bunny, making sure to protect the floor where it is being used, as the area will become wet as it melts. Most bunnies lounge beside the bottles, but other rabbits begin to play with them as they melt. Rabbits may chew on this new toy, causing water to leak, so be mindful of what may happen if your Bun is a chewer. We have a freezer full of frozen bottles for the Buns and they really seem to enjoy them. We recycle bottles or jugs that have been used as a chew toy, being mindful to take the bottles away before the bunny can ingest the plastic.

Keeping in mind that rabbits will chomp on just about anything, we advise rabbit families to not give their bunnies ice packs or any sort of chilling mat. Most of these contain some sort of gelatinous substance that may be dangerous for your bunny to ingest.

We hope these tips will help you and your Bun have a cool and comfortable summer together!