Is dunking rabbits in water really a wise thing to do? I've heard about it several times. I always had the impression that when an animal is wet, it's wet fur traps the body heat in and only makes it hotter. But if there's a fan moving the air, that would keep them cooler rather than make them hotter, right?
Question about dunking...
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MamaSheepdog
Well-known member
I haven't ever dunked mine, and in another post I read that Rex fur that is wet can hold the heat, and I raise Rex. I don't know if that is true or not. It was 105 here today, and I did sprinkle the rabbits in my growout pens down with the hose, and pet their wet bodies to get their ears wet, and wet the area under their cages. They were immediately more comfortable, started hopping around, shaking the water off, and grooming themselves. We do have a breeze as well.
Dunking is more of an emergency measure to cool the rabbit down when it is in imminent danger of dying from the heat. You'd want to towel or cool-air blow dry the rabbit afterward. It's not something you do to keep a rabbit cool. Wetting the ears only would work better for non-emergency cooling.
currituckbun
Well-known member
In our recent heat wave I hosed them down everyday. I put out fans and they actually seemed to like it . I had two does that would put their backs up against the closest wall of the cage and brace for it. When they had enough ,usually soaked, they would move out of the spray and to the back of the cage. I think I saved them all that way because before I started doing it they were dropping like flies. I lost my two silver fox bucks and three juniors. I had a close call with my back up buck and he is now housed in the ac.
michabo3000
Well-known member
How come rabbits were designed to be such good swimmers floating right on top of the water , if they shouldnt get wet???????
Southbound_SF
Well-known member
Wet fur could trap heat/air against the body, but only if the animal were unconscious or otherwise holding unusually still. In practice, a wet rabbit shakes its whole body immediately after you let go of it, and all the fur stands straight out away from it. So there's no seal, no trapped air. A sick rabbit - no, I wouldn't dunk one of those.
SB
SB
I have to make do with as little water as I can because our well is pretty much dead, but I'm sure I can spare water for cooling their ears at least for now.
trinityoaks
Well-known member
Evaporation is a cooling process. I don't see how wet fur could trap heat in.
michabo3000
Well-known member
currituckbun
Well-known member
Yep. In 100 degree heat nothing is going to take long to dry. My rabbits were dry rather fast and I do recall one day soaking them down twice. Better wet than dead.
If you use a hose and yours are in hanging cages like mine, put it on them in the mist mode. And avoid their faces if at all possible . They hate it in their ears. Some of the young ones would hop up and try to drink the water. I should have filmed it. They were too funny, taking it in the face but wanting the cool water on them.
If you use a hose and yours are in hanging cages like mine, put it on them in the mist mode. And avoid their faces if at all possible . They hate it in their ears. Some of the young ones would hop up and try to drink the water. I should have filmed it. They were too funny, taking it in the face but wanting the cool water on them.
