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can warmth bring illness

22 11:38:22

Question
I would like to know if my rabbit has lived outdoors in a well protected hutch for  the past eight years and he was out in 1 degree temperatures and I then brouht him indoors to my heated home of approx. 72 degrees could that drastic change cause him to become ill and possibly die. He has spent every winter and summer of his life outdoors . I live in New York. I would greatly appreciate your input. He  always has fresh hay , blankets ,water and food and has an open area as well as a 4 sided enclosed area to his bunny hutch.
                Thankyou

Answer
Dear Joanne,

A sudden change in temperature like this is not likely to harm him, though it might be more comfortable to him to acclimate him gradually by putting him in a room that isn't heated to very high temperatures.  Rabbits handle cold better than heat, but 1 degree Farenheit really is *extremely* cold for him, even with shelter.  He's safer inside, protected from wind and frostbite.

The only possible ill effect of bringing him in might be the stress of new surroundings, but if he's a well adjusted, happy bunny, he should sail through the "orientation" to his new surroundings easily--especially if you give him lots of love and confidence-building attention when he first comes in.  Watch for signs of inappetence or lethargy, which are signs that the bunny is ill.  For more information on how to tell if he's sick, please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

Hope that helps!  Good luck with the transition!

Dana