Why It's Normal For My Rabbit To Have Cold Ears

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Rabbits and cold ears

For some, the symptoms of their rabbit's cold are as plain as day — they may be sneezing or sniffling, they might be shaking their ears. And if you notice that your rabbit has cold ears, it's also reasonable that they have a respiratory infection.

Learn more about why your bunny might have cold ears now!

Ear control a rabbits temperature One of the things that helps rabbits maintain their body temperature is the ability to move their ears. When your rabbit moves its ears, it causes blood flow to different areas of the ear and allows warmer blood to circulate in that area.

This helps warm up cool-headed blood. A rabbit's ears can't help regulate the temperature between their body and the air, so a rabbit easily gets overheated if they're constantly moving their ears around.

Should My Rabbit’s Ears Be Cold?

My rabbit ears are cold and flopping down - What you want to look for is an indication of your rabbit's respiratory health. Is your rabbit sneezing or sniffling?

Are they shaking their head? Do they have discharge in their eyes? All of these are signs that your bunny's cold may just be the tip of the iceberg. If this is happening, it's likely that they have more than just a cold, or the rabbit is just hot.

Can I give my rabbit cold medicine?

You can give your rabbit cold medicine with the help of your vet. But before doing so, you should always assess their overall health and make sure any cold-related symptoms are actually due to a respiratory infection.

If they're not, don't waste money on medicine that won't help! If your rabbits ears are cold , you may want to consider a few things. First, is this normal for them?

The answer to this question may help you determine if an illness is actually going on. For example, if their ears are cold and they're not sneezing or sniffling, then it's probably not a cold.

What temperature should a rabbits ears be?

Rabbits' ears can't regulate their own body temperature. This means that your rabbit's ears will, more often than not, be cold. In fact, this may be one of the first signs of an illness if you see it happening frequently.

Also, when your rabbit moves their ears around (as animals do to lower their body temperature), they tend to get hot.

This is why rabbits are more likely to get heatstroke in warm climates, such as Florida or California.

While a cold should not be confused with a respiratory infection, their symptoms can overlap. If you're concerned that your rabbit has an illness, take them to the vet!

Ear Temperature And Illness In Rabbits

Rabbits do not have a blood temperature in the same way humans do. Rather, they have an air temperature that is constantly flowing through their body. The only place where their body temperature can be regulated is in the ears.

Heat stroke is one of the most common causes of a rabbit's death - which is why it's so important to always keep your rabbit dry and cool. If you notice your rabbit's ears are cold frequently, it may be a sign that they have a respiratory illness.

This, in turn, can make them miserable and uncomfortable. It may also lead to an inability to hear properly.

Spotting Signs Of Illness

The first thing to look for is any discharge in the eyes and nose. This may be clear, pink or foamy, and is likely to be thick enough that it sticks to the hair around your rabbit's eyes.

If you see this, you should take your bunny to a vet as soon as possible. You should also consider visiting them if you notice your rabbit's ears are cold regularly. If your rabbit is sneezing or sniffling regularly, they may have a respiratory illness.

Snuffles

A cold can affect your rabbit's ears in several ways. Snuffles is probably the most obvious one.

Snorting and sneezing are signs that your rabbit has a cold or respiratory infection Snorting sounds are released from their nose when their airways are congested or otherwise irritated.

Sneezing is a similar reaction to when they have a cold or other respiratory infection as this is their way of clearing the airways and avoiding an infection spreading to other parts of their body.

How do I know if my rabbit is cold?

Rabbits are unable to control their body temperature and they cannot sweat. Instead they rely on staying dry and having sparse fur to regulate their temperature.

Their ears are particularly important as they contain many blood vessels that circulate the blood throughout the ear, keeping it warm.

Ear problems in rabbits can vary depending on what is wrong, so it is important for you to know how your rabbit should look. The most common symptom of ear trouble in a rabbit is that the ear flap is flat and drooping down onto their face.

Rabbits ears are similar to yours in the sense that they control their own body temperature. When a rabbit is hot, their ears will move forward; when they're cold, the ears will be more relaxed and move backwards or hang down.

It's a sign of how sensitive some rabbits can be that you need to look for a change in movement rather than an absolute temperature reading.

What do rabbits do when they are cold?

Rabbits don't have the luxury of being able to generate heat and so they have a number of methods in which they can regulate their temperature.

Often, you will see your rabbit feeling the floor through their front paws. This is because the ground will always remain the same temperature, even when it's hot or cold outside. Rabbits also make use of their own body heat, with younger rabbits often sleeping face-to-face to stay warm through body contact.

Is 30 degrees too cold for a rabbit?

A common question that people have is whether it is too cold for their pet rabbit to be kept outside.

The answer is generally no, as long as they are being kept in a suitable environment and do not have access to any drafts or other such factors.

If the temperature drops below freezing, however, the rabbit will need a litter tray indoors so that they can get indoors to empty their bowels and bladder when they are needed.

Can rabbits die of cold?

Rabbits do not have enough fat to survive in temperatures of -20 degrees, so they can't tolerate it.

However, if your rabbit is kept inside the majority of the year (but is left out on cool nights), and have access to a warm water source, they will be keep themselves safely warm. If you notice your rabbit shivering or trembling when you touch them, it could simply be that they are cold.