I have a lot of people ask me how do you take a Rabbits temperature and when. Well I figured it is time to make a educational post.
Items needed:
Digital Thermometer
Vaseline - Petroleum Jelly
When taking your rabbits temperature make sure you sit and cradle your rabbit. You may need someone to hold your rabbit while to take its temperature.
Make sure to apply Petroleum Jelly to the tip of the Thermometer. Insert the Thermometer in your Rabbits rectum aka butt. Not too far but enough so you can get a reading. If your Rabbit moves to much you might have to stop and try again.
Now a NORMAL Temperature for a rabbit is 101-103.F. Now you if see your rabbit not acting like itself, not eating or drinking, acting lethargic, etc. it is defiantly good to take its temperature and than call the vet.
🔻IMPORTANT: When trying to Lower or Increase your rabbits body temperature it can take 2-3 Hrs.
HIGH TEMPERATURE:
A high temperature is above 103.F which means your rabbit it fighting some type of infection. High temperatures can lead to death in rabbits.
***This Tip will also help with Rabbits that have Heat Stroke***
If your rabbit has a high temperature you need to bring it down ASAP and get your rabbit to the vet!
The BEST way to bring down a high temperature is using Rubbing Alcohol! You might be thinking what?! However it is safe and it works! When using Rubbing Alcohol it will cool the rabbit faster and the Alcohol will evaporate.
Steps to take:
▪️Apply Rubbing Alcohol to Ears & Back
(Rabbits regulate their body temperature through their ears)
▪️Make sure to recheck the rabbits temperature every 15-20 Mins to see if the temperature is dropping
▪️Once the temperature is back to the normal range, continue to watch your rabbit and recheck temperature every hour to make sure it doesn’t get high again. If so repeat steps.
LOW TEMPERATURE:
A Low Temperature is BELOW 101.F which means your rabbit has Hyperthermia. You need to get your rabbits body temperature back up ASAP and get to a vet!
Low body temperature in Rabbits causes their organs to shut down, death can follow.
There are a few ways to bring your rabbits body temperature back up and you have to act fast.
Items:
Towels and your Dryer
Hair Dryer
Heat Lamp (after stabilizing)
Towels are a great way to bring your rabbits body temperature back up.
Steps to Take:
▪️Run towels in your dryer and get them nice and warm.
▪️While you are waiting get your Hair Dryer out and blow warm air all over your rabbit. (DO NOT HAVE IT ON HOT AND FOCUSED ONLY ON ONE AREA) you don’t want to burn your rabbit.
▪️Once your towel is warm wrap your rabbit up, it is alway good to have one towel in the dryer warming up while another is on your rabbit. That way you can swap them out when one cools. (Good to have two people so one can run back and forth). You can still use the Hair Dryer over the towel to keep warm also.
▪️Check your rabbits temperature every 15-20 Mins to see if the temperature is rising. Once it gets back into the Normal range you can move your rabbit under a heat lamp. However continue to check your rabbits temperature to make sure it doesn’t drop, if to repeat steps.
Now these tips comes in handy if you can’t get your rabbit to the vet due to the offices are closed or your appointment isn’t right away.
I do a lot of my own medical care for my rabbits and also have my vet on call if it is someone that is beyond what I know.
Doing these steps can make a difference and save your rabbits life. I have successfully done this many time and it has worked every time.
Now I do also have a Bunny Supplies and Emergency Kit I have put together that is very helpful and has more tips and things you should have on hand, if you would like I copy please PM me and send me your email!
Thank you,
Beau’s Maple Leaf Rabbitry