Sweating makes our body cool when the heat outside is extreme. Also, sweat takes the toxin out of our bodies. But not all mammals have this system of keeping the body cool and saving from heat. The creatures that have fur on their skin are usually created in such a way that they can keep their body warm in cold weather but not vice versa.
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Do rabbits sweat?
Rabbits do not have sweat glands on them so they can never sweat. They are unable to bring down their body temperature even if the weather or their body is too heated. There is no cooling-off system so it will be rather difficult for the little creature to stay in a hot area. The owners need to take care of the hutch area and another surrounding areas to ensure that the rabbit is not facing too hot weather inside the hutch.
Where are rabbits’ sweat glands?
They have sweat glands in their mouth. This is inside their mouth and it does not have the capacity of producing enough sweat to cool down the body. When your rabbit will be overheated, you can see it panting and huffing, which is its way of cooling itself. They try to cool their body by the means of panting and huffing.
The furry body of the rabbit is not suited for sweating. Unlike the mammals like us, rabbits never sweat from the skin, as they do not have the sweat glands located there. We, humans, sweat the whole body and that is how we survive through harsh summer. But the rabbits have a dense fur coat on their skin which prevents them from cold winters. It does not become useful when the mercury is rising outside.
Why is it difficult for the rabbits to sweat?
As the sweat glands are set inside the mouth of the rabbit they have much difficulty sweating. They mostly breathe through their nose and that makes their sweating even more difficult. If the weather outside heats up, the body of the rabbit struggles to keep up with that and maintain the natural body temperature.
This is why the summer season is always harsh on the rabbits and they are unable to live a content life in a hot region. Sometimes they are seen huffing and puffing and that is how they are sweating, that is, through their mouth. But they are unable to lose the body heat through this process as this takes longer than the whole body sweating.
Can you clean rabbits’ sweat glands?
The sweat glands, as we mentioned, are present in the mouth and cannot be cleaned that way. When the rabbits start stinking, which is not a normal and regular thing, people start worrying that their rabbit is sweating too much. But when it comes to sweat management, it can be done by cleaning the scent gland of the rabbits.
The scent gland is completely different than that of the sweat gland and it is not located in the mouth. Rather it is located near the anus and it sometimes gets clogged, which results in a stinking smell from the rabbit.
If you want to clean the scent gland then you need to make the rabbit calm and then lift its leg peacefully. Then stretch the skin near the anus and you will be able to see the black dirt-like thing clogging the scent gland there. Take soft cotton and dab it in warm water, then it will be cleared and your rabbit will not stink anymore.
How do rabbits stay cool in the heat?
As a rabbit cannot sweat when it is in a heated environment then it becomes difficult for the creature to stay cool. They pant mostly to cool down and release some heat. Also, they have lots of blood vessels in the ear, and thus, keeping their ear cool makes their whole body cold. The large blood vessels that are there in the outer ear, get cooled down when the cold air passes through them and cools down the blood flowing from there.
As a responsible owner, you can do things that will make the little rodent content in the summer season. To begin with, you need to move the shelter of the rabbit to some shady places. Summer is not the time when the rabbits should be kept outside for fresh air.
Putting a small fan near their enclosure will be a good idea. Make sure that the fan is not too close to the enclosure as rabbits do not like to feel the blast of air on its face.
Placing a cooling mat or ceramic tile at the bottom of the enclosure will help the rabbit to stay cool. Brushing the body of the rabbit once or twice a day will also help it as the excess fur will be removed and it will feel cool.
Do rabbits sweat through their ears?
Rabbits do not pant like dogs, though we have mentioned in this guide that they sweat through their mouth and tongue. They do not sweat the whole body. But their ear needs to be kept cool if you feel that the rabbit is feeling very hot or the weather is really cool.
Sometimes the rabbit owners feel that their rabbit’s ears have gone hot. This happens due to excess body heat. The rabbits may have heat stroke when their ears feel too hot. Also, rabbits can have a fever when the body heat is released from the ears.
So the hot ears of the rabbits should not be ignored. Their body heat cannot get any vent to release and they cannot sweat throughout the whole body. So when the owners find that their pet rabbits are having heated ears and are unwell, they should immediately take them to the vet.
How can you control the body heat of a rabbit when it is not sweating?
As rabbits do not sweat, they have a high chance of getting overheated. The owners should know when the rabbit is getting overheated. The symptoms of overheating are quite a few and the owners should be aware of those.
The signs of overheating are visible when the rabbits are not eating properly and taking too long to rest. When the rabbit is dehydrated it will also lose its coordination. It will not move smoothly and will fall off often. You will see that the eye of the rabbit will be sunken and it will lose its brightness.
Dehydration happens mostly due to the lack of proper amount of water intake. Sometimes this is related to the hot weather which the rabbits are unable to adjust with. Panting helps them to cope with the hot weather but when severely dehydrated, the rabbits are unable to pant.
What should you do when the rabbit gets too hot?
When the rabbit is feeling very hot and the weather is also really warm then you should take special care of the creature. The body heat of the rabbits usually gets released from their ear. But when the situation is serious you need to ask for the vet’s suggestion or physically meet him or her with your pet. The subcutaneous fluid can be administered by the vet.
How hot weather makes the rabbit sweat?
Rabbits cannot take much hot weather, so when the weather outside is more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit hot then it will not be bearable for the rabbits. They should be kept inside under shade and there should not be taken under the sun.
It will not be able to sweat and thus, it will feel hotter. So you should use let it enjoy the cool atmosphere inside the house.
What happens when the rabbit cannot sweat?
As rabbits are unable to sweat throughout the body, they often suffer from hyperthermia. This is a severe problem and when ignored, can lead to lethal conditions. So keep your rabbit in a cool shade when the temperature is rising outside. Always make sure that the rabbit is drinking lots of water and it is not feeling uncomfortable due to any sudden heat rise.
Prevention is better than cure in case of overheating among rabbits, thus ensuring that the rabbit never goes through this situation as once it is attacked by hyperthermia it will be a serious issue to treat and recover.
How to treat the rabbit when it is unable to sweat?
When the bunny is getting overheated you need to take proper care and make sure that the bunny cools down. There are several steps to this process. First, you need to move into a shady place where the temperature will be less than the outside. Then you will spray some cool water in form of a mist which will make the rabbit feel the chill.
The misting should not be done with cold water as that will give the rabbit a shock. Only cool water should be sprayed on the creature. Sometimes a wet towel comes in handy in such a situation by which the rabbit can be wrapped up. This overall wrapping makes the rabbit feel cool and their body heat decreases.
After the rabbit is somehow stable, you can take it to the vet for further medication and suggestions. Hurrying the sick and overheated rabbit to the vet will only result in worsening the health condition.
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