Wet rabbits can also catch a chill and suffer from pneumonia, respiratory infections, hypothermia, and other life-threatening conditions. You should only bathe a bunny when specifically instructed to do so by a knowledgeable veterinarian who specializes in rabbit care.
Their fur usually protects them very well, but they lose that shield when they are wet. For this reason, rabbits will often have severe skin irritation that could even lead to an infection. Rabbit skin is also delicate enough when wet that it can tear more easily. A small cut can turn into a large wound very quickly.
Whilst it's fine for a bunny to be out in the rain, they need somewhere that they can come and dry off when they're ready. Their housing should be waterproof, draught proof and well ventilated to ensure your rabbit is comfortable at all times.
Avoid getting your rabbit wet.
Baths are not necessary for rabbits and can potentially lead to shock from the sudden contact with water. In addition, rabbit fur does not dry off quickly, making it more likely they will develop hypothermia and shock when they are wet.
Rabbits are meticulously clean and almost never need a bath. Bathing them can even be harmful, since they tend to panic in water and may fracture a limb or their spine if they thrash around.
Some rabbits enjoy swimming and some don't. Rabbits can swim however that doesn't mean that they should always swim as rabbits tend to swim only when they are in danger. If your rabbit enjoys swimming, for their safety, we recommend not to make them swim in anything deeper than a foot of water.
Most of a rabbit's body heat is released through their ears, so you can help them cool off by spritzing a little bit of cool water right behind their ears. You don't want to make them soaking wet. Just a light misting to help them out.
Drying your rabbit
You can towel dry the rabbit, gently rubbing the fur to remove as much of the excess water as possible. Be very careful as rabbit skin tears very easily. Use a hair dryer on a warm, but not hot and on a gentle setting to carefully dry the rabbit.
It is always best to prevent your rabbit from getting too wet, as he is a delicate animal and doesn't even need to be washed by his human keepers for reasons of hygiene (at most, some localised baths could be useful).
Runny Stool: When Things Go Wrong
True diarrhea (unformed, watery feces) is relatively rare in adult rabbits. It can be caused by intestinal parasites, such as coccidia (Eimeria spp.), roundworms, tapeworms, or anything that inflames the intestinal lining.
Rabbit urine can be removed from most surfaces using pure white vinegar or a diluted white vinegar solution. Tough or dried stains may need some time to soak, or they will require the use of stronger chemical cleaners.
Because their fur is not waterproof, rabbits groom a lot to keep the hair in good condition.
If your rabbits get wet from being outside in the rain or snow, rub them dry with a towel and ensure they have plenty of warm bedding to rest in when returned to their home. If the grass is very wet, consider moving your rabbits' exercise area onto a paved area or into an outhouse or unused garage.
Rabbit spritzer
You can use a plant spray/mist bottle to gently spray water on your rabbit's ears which can help them to cool down.
Grooming can be a self-comforting behavior for rabbits. If they are stressed, anxious, bored, or even a little sick, a rabbit might try to feel better by self-grooming more often.
Keep your rabbit cage well-ventilated.
Position an oscillating fan so that it blows in the rabbit cage, but not directly on the rabbit. This will create a breeze to cool your rabbit down. Make sure that your rabbit can escape the fan if it chooses.
Rabbits regulate body heat through their ears. They do not tolerate extreme heat and can die from becoming overheated. Temperatures above 77° F (25° C) are dangerous for rabbits. In summer, heat exhaustion can be an issue for all rabbits but the fuzzy, overweight, old and young are at special risk.
Many bunnies enjoy cuddles and affection
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.
Compared to humans, rabbits have more rods than cones in their retinas. This means rabbits can see better than we can in the dark but are limited to two-color vision.
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.
They should be brought inside overnight. They can only stay outside at night too from mid-May when there is no longer any ground frost. If your rabbits have first been gradually accustomed to being kept outdoors, they can stay outdoors all year round from then. Even the ground frost won't bother them after that.
Hay. Most rabbits will prefer to sleep on hay because it is soft and something they can play with. This type of bedding can be grown on a farm or backyard.
As rabbits have become increasingly popular domestic pets, rabbit allergies experienced at home or at the workplace have become more common. Physicians should be aware that rabbit exposure may cause severe respiratory allergic reactions even in non-atopic individuals.