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Rabbit summer care
Quick answer
UK rabbits need **shade all day**, good airflow, and twice-daily rear checks in summer. Above 25°C, heat stress and flystrike risk rise sharply. Not eating for 12 hours remains an emergency — heat makes gut stasis more likely.
Key takeaways
- Rabbits struggle above roughly 25°C. Heat stress leads to reduced eating, gut stasis, and flystrike. Move hutches to shade and improve airflow immediately in heatwaves.
- Move to shade, provide frozen water bottles wrapped in fleece, damp tiles to lie on, and ensure constant fresh water. Never submerge a rabbit in cold water — stress can trigger gut stasis.
- The RWAF recommends bringing rabbits indoors to a cool room during extreme heat if possible. Outdoor hutches must have shade all day — sun moves.
The full guide
Causes, symptoms, treatment options and when to call your vet — in the complete plain-English guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What temperature is too hot for rabbits?
- Rabbits struggle above roughly 25°C. Heat stress leads to reduced eating, gut stasis, and flystrike. Move hutches to shade and improve airflow immediately in heatwaves.
- How do I cool down a rabbit in hot weather?
- Move to shade, provide frozen water bottles wrapped in fleece, damp tiles to lie on, and ensure constant fresh water. Never submerge a rabbit in cold water — stress can trigger gut stasis.
- Should outdoor rabbits come inside during heatwaves?
- The RWAF recommends bringing rabbits indoors to a cool room during extreme heat if possible. Outdoor hutches must have shade all day — sun moves.