Rabbits are highly susceptible to heat stress and can suffer life-threatening heatstroke rapidly in warm weather, while also requiring protection from cold and dampness in winter.
Rabbit thermal welfare is frequently overlooked because rabbits appear stoic and owners may not recognize early heat stress signs. A rabbit hutch in partial summer sun can reach lethal temperatures within hours, particularly if the hutch is poorly ventilated or dark-colored. The problem is worsened by the common practice of keeping rabbits in garden sheds that become significantly hotter than ambient temperature. Heat stress progression is rapid: a rabbit that is lethargic in the morning can be in heat stroke by noon. First aid (cool wet towel, fan, immediate vet contact) may save a rabbit in early heat stress, but once neurological signs develop prognosis is poor. Winter welfare concerns center on dampness rather than cold: well-bedded dry rabbits tolerate cold temperatures, but wet conditions cause hypothermia and increase susceptibility to respiratory disease.