
If you have decided to adopt a rabbit as a pet or you already have one, you should know that these lagomorphs need some special care with the arrival of winter to maintain their good health.
While rabbits endure cold better than heat, low temperatures and Climate changes can increase the risk of developing some common diseases in rabbits, such as colds and respiratory problems.They can also cause a hypothermia.
In this article of the Animals and Pets Online, we will explain how to know if a rabbit is cold and what you can do to help it regulate its body temperature, providing it with heat safely.In addition, we offer you some tips to take care of your rabbit in winter.
How many degrees of cold does a rabbit hold?
As we have mentioned, rabbits adapt better to temperate and cold climates than to very hot regions, where they can suffer a heat stroke quite easily.There are different breeds of rabbits , so the cold tolerance of your lagomorph companion can vary according to the characteristics of their organism and their place of origin.
In theory, rabbits in the wild can reach temperatures of up to-10ºC , as long as they have a shelter where they can protect themselves from the weather, but if your rodent is used to living inside the home at a stable temperature, exposing yourself to such a cold could severely damage your health.domestic rabbit should be exposed to extreme temperatures , let's talk about cold or heat.
How cold does a dwarf rabbit stand?
On the other hand, we must consider that dwarf rabbits are more vulnerable to cold and climate change s.Ideally, they live in an environment with average temperatures between 18ºC and 20ºC so as not to develop respiratory problems and other diseases that the cold can cause in rabbits.
rabbits hibernate in winter?
No , no known rabbit species currently has the ability or habit to hibernate.Therefore, you will need to pay special attention to feeding and the well-being of your partner during the winter.

Cold symptoms in rabbits
Now that you know that lagomorphs adapt well to temperate regions, you may wonder how to know if a rabbit is cold .The body temperature of rabbits is between 38ºC and 40ºC , and the optimum temperature for your environment should be around 18ºC.When the ambient temperature drops rapidly or abruptly, we can observe the following cold symptoms in rabbits :
- Tremors
- Muscle stiffness
- Snout and cold ears
- Cramps
- Dry skin
- Slower breathing
- Difficulty breathing
- Slow movements
- Clumsiness
- Inactivity
If the rabbit's body temperature is below 36ºC , symptoms characteristic of hypothermia may occur, indicating a more severe decay in his health condition.Some of the symptoms of Rabbit hypothermia s are:
- Per appetite loss
- Heart rate reduction
- Dilated pupils
- Stare
- Depression
- Disorientation
- Fainting
- Collapse
- Sudden Death
What to do if my rabbit is cold?
If you notice that your rabbit has cold ears or shows other cold signals, you must act quickly to prevent his body temperature from dropping and a hypothermia picture occurs.Many people they wonder what to put to rabbits for the cold.
A good idea is to wrap the rabbit with a blanket , to shelter it and transmit heat.You can also have it in your arms wrapped in the blanket, on a sheet or dry towel for a few minutes, using your own body heat to help you regulate your body temperature and combat cold symptoms.
If your rabbit has been wet with snow or rain, before wrapping it with the blanket, you will need to dry it with a clean, dry towel .Combined moisture cold can facilitate the development of symptoms of hypothermia.Do not use thermal pads, because the combination of electricity and humidity is very dangerous, in addition to the risk of burning your rabbit.
Logically, you should keep it in the inside the home in an environment with stable temperatures and not lower than 18 ° C.When your rabbit is restored, we recommend checking your body to see if there are burns or typical freezing spots If you identify any anomaly, no Feel free to take your rabbit to a specialized veterinary center to verify his health.
On the other hand, if you notice that your rabbit already shows symptoms of hypothermia, you can use the methods previous as first auxi mess, but you should go to the emergency department

Caring for your rabbit in winter
To prevent your rabbit from getting cold, you will need to give him some specific care during the winter, complementing the basic care that rabbits need to lead a healthy, active and happy life.Next, we summarize the main care of your rabbit in winter:
Conditioning the home .If the region where you live experiences very severe winters, the heating systems will help you provide optimal temperatures to your rabbit in winter.However, remember that artificial heating usually dries the air, so we recommend spraying water in the environment two to three times a week.Remember not to wet the rabbit, but to spray its surroundings. Prepare its cage or rabbit hutch : The rabbit's cage is its resting place and it is also its shelter, so it must be prepared to provide comfort and shelter during the winter.If your rabbit is used to living outside the home, it will be essential that your cage or rabbit hutch is protected from the weather.In addition to leaving a blanket at your disposal, also remember to cover the rabbit cage at night to prevent the entry of cold or wind.If your rabbit's cage is inside the house, remember to place it in a place without drafts and that has good lighting. Food : Like almost all mammals that do not hibernate, rabbits usually increase their food consumption during the winter.Its organism spends more energy to maintain its stable metabolism and fight the cold, so the animal needs a slightly more energetic diet.In Animals and Pets Online, we provide you with a complete guide on the feeding of the rabbit at each stage of its life. Physical activity and mental stimulation : Rabbits are very active and intelligent animals, who enjoy exercising even during the winter.Ideally, your rabbit has space to run, jump and explore his ent I pray freely, like a garden, a patio or a terrace.Remember to enrich your cage to stimulate your mind and give you the opportunity to develop your cognitive skills.Also, you can teach your rabbit a good variety of basic tricks and orders, thus enjoying his company while you stimulate your intelligence. Preventive medicine : In addition to maintaining excellent hygiene of your cage and environment, your rabbit will need to get vaccinated and go to the specialized veterinarian every six months to verify his health status.An excellent idea is to take your rodent to the vet before the arrival of winter to provide the necessary preventive care to protect it from the cold.
This article is merely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any diagnosis.We invite you to take to your pet to the veterinarian in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to know if a rabbit is cold? , We recommend that you enter our Prevention section.
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