First Aid for Heatstrokes

Heatstrokes unfortunately happen all too often in bunnies. In fact, heatstrokes kill more rabbits than illness does! A heatstroke is when bunny's internal body temperature gets extremely high. A fever is also an elevated internal body temperature, but a heatstroke is much higher and far more severe. It is very important that you are able to identify this so that you can help treat bunny in this emergency.

Preventing Heatstroke:
It is not very wise to let bunny play outside on a very hot day. 80+ degrees (or even lower) with high humidity is a recipe for a heatstroke. Bunny should also not be playing in direct sunlight. Not that bunny can't play in the sun, but she should have a nice place of shade to rest in.
But hot outdoor weather isn't just where bunny can get heatstroke. A bunny cage in direct sunlight, no air conditioning on a hot day, or her cage sitting to close to a heater in the winter can all make bunny get overheated. Always give bunny plenty of water (with ice cubes if it's hot), a nice cool, shady place to be in, or a small, simple fan can help keep him cool. (Bunny can also get heatstroke from sitting in a hot car. Bunnies are far more sensitive to heat then we are).

Recognizing Heatstroke:
.Rapid/labored breathing
.Panting/gasping/raspy sounds
.Limping
.Unresponsive
.Laying flat (This does not always mean bunny has heatstroke. Sometimes bunny will do this to cool  off)
.Slow/no heartbeat OR fast heartbeat (again, does not always mean heatstroke. Rabbits do have a      naturally higher heart rate than people)
.Elevated body temperature (bunnies do, however, have a higher body temperature than people as  well)

First Aid for Bunny:
Get bunny indoors to air conditioning, or shade ASAP. Keep a small fan by her blowing cool air on a low, delicate setting. If she is conscious give her some cool water. Take a small hand towel, dampen it (not soak it wet!) with cold water, and wrap the towel around the tips of her ears. If bunny is not conscious or does not seem to be responding to your first aid within 15 minutes take bunny to the vet immediately.

Do not ever dump water on bunny as if it were the Ice Bucket Challenge, spray her with a hose, put her in a pool, or wrap her whole body in a wet towel. This will not work in cooling her down and may shock her body.