Body heat & Heat Stroke: Rabbits regulate body temperature by their ears. Very cold or hot ears could indicate a fever or a drop in body temperature. This, coupled with other warning signs, could warrant a trip to the vet.
Symptoms include shivering (although this will suddenly stop when their temperature reaches dangerously low levels), pale lips and gums, low energy and a loss of coordination. Hypothermia is an emergency, so if you spot any of these symptoms, bring them into the warm and contact your vet immediately.
Sometimes Bam's ears are cold too. I've attributed it to him having been sitting still. No need for the body to pump a lot of blood out into the ears when a bunny is resting in an un-hot room, since bloodflow to the ears makes a bunny lose body heat. You know how you can be cold when you fall asleep on the couch f ex.
Lethargy. Bunnies are very curious and playful. Even if Floppy is on the lazy side, she should still be alert and respond to stimuli. If your cute pet is just sitting listlessly in her cage, she could be sick.
Being cold and wet can lead to your rabbit becoming ill and could be fatal if action is not taken. Older rabbits can suffer from painful arthritis, so need to be kept warm and dry. Rabbits that are thin, young or do not have a thick winter coat may also need special attention to ensure they keep warm and dry.
Indoor rabbits should ideally be housed in a room that does not have a heat source, because it eliminates the risk of the animals becoming overheated. Even without heat, a well insulated home can easily maintain temperatures of 45-50 degrees, which is perfectly comfortable for rabbits.
Signs of pain include: > grinding teeth > rapid and shallow breathing > pulling hair > decreased grooming > hunched posture > lethargy > increased thirst and urination > a reluctance to move > bulging, strained, staring, or unfocused eyes.
Your rabbits need deep bedding of shavings or Megazorb under their bed of plenty of straw. Straw is warmer than hay because it's hollow and provides more insulation. Buy good-quality soft straw that's not spiky or dusty, such as barley straw.
Your rabbit may be dehydrated if you see any of these problems: thick sticky saliva, crusty eyes, poor appetite, small amounts of dark colored urine, or hard dry fecal pellets. In order to correct dehydration, extra water must be given to your rabbit.
Their ears may be cool when they are trying to conserve heat, and their ears may be warm when they are trying to dissipate heat. Normal rabbit body temperature is about 101-104°F or 38.3-40°C, which can feel warm to a human's touch even if a rabbit is relaxed and just passing normal blood flow through their ears.
If your rabbits look tucked up and quiet with their chins tucked in and noses not twitching this can be a sure sign of them feeling unhappy or stressed, as this is not a normal position for a rabbit. Moving or running away. Your rabbits may turn and move away from you (or each other) if they're unhappy.
Indoor. House rabbits should never be kept completely confined to a cage. Exercise is vital for the rabbit's health. All too often we hear well meaning but poorly informed people describe rabbits as easy to keep because “they can be caged and don't take up much space!”.
Rabbits that become depressed will usually sit around for most of the day. They will often lose interest in eating, grooming, or even socializing. Some rabbits who become depressed will even resort to aggressive behaviors, such as biting and swatting.
The best way to gain your rabbits' trust is by simply spending lots of time being near them, while allowing your bunnies to approach you in their own time. By sitting quietly with them in a safe enclosure, you'll show your rabbits that you aren't to be feared and that you can be trusted.
Signs that your rabbit might be bored
Rabbits might start chewing things that they shouldn't, destroying their pen, or trying to dig out. They might also start to over-groom themselves to give them something to do.
Signs of stress may include: appearing nervous (freezing, hunched up with ears flat against the body) being excessively jumpy and watchful (bulging eyes) being aggressive to people or other rabbits, particularly if the behaviour is unusual.
The most common symptoms of a dying rabbit include a lack of appetite, a loss of strength, and erratic movements. Other signs will vary depending on the cause of death, and sometimes you will not notice any symptoms before a rabbit passes on.
It is clear from these results that teeth problems and digestive upsets are the two major killers of rabbits that die prematurely.
Rabbits need protection from extreme temperature and bad weather in all environments (including living areas and outdoor runs). The recommended temperature range is 10 to 25°C. Outdoor hutches should be covered with a blanket or carpet on cold nights (taking care not to block ventilation).
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory. They might even groom you with little bunny licks to show you love!
Expect your rabbit to be lonely.
In the wild, it would be with other rabbits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you only have one rabbit, you can give it some companionship, but it will still be lonely at night or when you are away at work. Sometimes a female rabbit will be fine on its own.