Summer Care for Outdoor Rabbits

Rabbits make great pets, but they require special care. This is especially true in the summer if you keep your rabbits outside. We humans can escape to our air conditioned homes, but the rabbits have fur coats that make keeping cool difficult to accomplish. Fortunately there are ways to keep your rabbits comfortable during the hottest summer days. One of the most important ways is to always ensure your rabbits have fresh water; the likelihood of dehydration drops significantly if they always have plenty to drink. Another good way to keep them cool is to give them old soda bottles filled with ice. These frozen bottles act as miniature air conditioners, and the rabbits can lay against them to cool down. It is best to freeze at least two sets of bottles so they can be alternated if there's a string of hot days. Also, if the day is especially hot, you might want to change the ice bottles twice a day. This tactic works well for most rabbits, but some rabbits with longer or heavier fur than average might have to be brought inside for those 90+ degree days. You can temporarily move them to a small carry cage you might have on hand and put them in a cool area of the house--and don't forget to move their food and water with them, too. By following these steps, you can make summer almost as comfortable for your rabbits as it is for you.