When daily pet care becomes so familiar that it's just part of your normal routine, it can be easy to forget that some pets operate on different seasonal cycles than we do. This is especially true for rabbits and other pet rodents who burrow, hibernate or otherwise change their behavior in the wild when the temperature drops. How do you keep your pet safe during a deep winter chill?
Here are some tips from the experts at Nationwide VetHelpline®, powered by FirstVet.
Many owners choose to keep their rabbits in the house during the winter months. However, if you bring them indoors, you will need to commit to keeping them inside until warm weather returns—once they’re all warmed up, rabbits will molt their winter coat, and won’t be able to live comfortably outside again until the spring.
When rabbits first come into the house, they need time to acclimatize to both the change in environmental conditions and the additional noises. Ideally, place them in a cooler room with less heating to start with. Outdoor rabbits are not used to artificial light, so make sure you consider how often the lights are switched on and provide places for them to hide. They are also unlikely to have heard a vacuum cleaner or TV before, so try to keep the space that they are living in quiet. Surround them with their toys and litter trays with their own smells for comfort.
If rabbits can’t be inside and their hutch can’t be moved, here are some tricks to keep your bunnies comfy in the winter months.
Use a survival blanket or an old duvet as a heat-reflective or insulating layer around the hutch. Adding a plexiglass wind break around the hutch helps to stop drafts as well, and a tarp can be used to keep everything inside dry. A sheet of insulation also can be used to make a protective base for the hutch. Insulation should also be placed between the hutch and the outside wall. Make sure the bunnies do not get access to the insulation and chew it!
Water bottles and bowls can freeze easily. Bubble wrap or a reflective survival blanket can be wrapped around water bottles to keep them drinkable (however, make sure the plastic won’t be chewed). Alternatively, an old thermal sock works very well! Remember to change the water daily. A raised water bowl can be placed inside the hutch as well.
Also, place a large cardboard box within the hutch for additional shelter from the cold. Cut a hole for the door and fill it with straw (straw is a better insulator than hay).
Even during winter, rabbits still need to be able to exercise and display their normal behaviors. If needed, consider modifying their run to make it weather-proof, or provide an area inside the shed or garage that they can use instead.
Provide extra stimulus for your pets. Put hay in feeders and give them additional toys to chew. For example, willow balls not only keep rabbits entertained, but they also give them something to chew on and to move around with.
To keep pets warm and cozy, provide more bedding than normal. Rabbits that bury themselves in bedding will stay warmer. Rabbit bedding should be cleaned out daily, and the hutch checked twice daily. Also, ensure it stays dry—wet bedding will make the cage cold and damp. For extra cold nights, invest in a SnuggleSafe. These are one of the best inventions for small mammal friends. This heat pad will stay warm for up to 10 hours, and they are also bite and scratch resistant. Animals should not lie directly on them, so the pad must be wrapped in a protective cover or towel.
Last but not least, provide extra hay to nibble on. Diet is very important for rabbits, who eat more to fuel their bodies and stay warm. However, be aware that they might not be getting as much exercise as they do in the summer months, so weight management may be necessary.
Rabbits are social animals and thrive when kept as a pair. A second bunny body also gives them the perfect friend to snuggle up with and keep warm. In fact, studies suggest that housing rabbits together reduces stress-related behavior and helps keep them cozy and content in winter.
Why are pet bunnies so happy to be paired up when winter comes around? When wild rabbits winter, they live in burrows in the ground with a companion (or several!). In domestic outdoor hutches, this group warming is especially important, as air temperatures tend to fluctuate throughout the day in ways that underground burrows don’t. If temperatures at night dip below freezing, a companion is essential for their health and well-being. With more bunny love to go around, everyone wins!
Nationwide® pet insurance policies include unlimited telehealth access via Nationwide VetHelpline®.
Licensed veterinary professionals are available to answer questions for cats, dogs, rabbits and more at no additional cost to pet insurance members. It only take a few minutes to add your pet's information in the VetHelpline app, making it even easier to connect with a licensed veterinary professional whenever you need one.
Download the Nationwide VetHelpline® app from the App Store or Google Play.
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new pet
