Is it true if you get rabbits wet they go into shock?
By 911Ricki
@911Ricki (13588)
Canada
July 22, 2012 5:56pm CST
It started down pouring so I put marco in the mobile cat carrier to bring him inside. I stopped under the gazebo (sp?) as it was raining pretty bad, I then ran to the door, and put him inside. I was telling this to my friend, and so goes he cant get wet or else he will go into shock and die. I started panicking thinking what if this is true, I asked a few people but none of them heard of it, yet wild rabbits can be outside in the rain. I think my friend heard this and thinks it true.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
22 Jul 12
I think it is a myth. Some people will believe anything, and spread it around as well.
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
22 Jul 12
I went online to see what I could read. The idea is that you do not bathe rabbits, because getting soaked to the skin does stress them and possibly cause them to go into shock.The same article, though, talked about freezing the water bottles and that a rabbit will lay next to one just like a wild rabbit would lay next to a cool rock that is damp. You were right to get him in out of the downpour, and you were right to turn off the fan until he dries off. What I read also emphasized that they do not take heat very well.
@anklesmash (1412)
•
22 Jul 12
Apparently this is true if he has gotten wet i would dry him off with a towel.Apparently they are very prone to pneumonia if they are left wet for a long time so as long as you dry him off thoroughly he should be ok.The thing about rabbits going into shock is usually when they are bathed and apparently due to them getting stressed out by being submerged in water apparently,they recommend not bathing rabbits and if they need cleaning you should use a damp cloth.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jul 12
I've never had a pet rabbit, so I really don't know about the care of them. However, I wouldn't be apt to think that a rabbit would go into shock just because of the fact they'd gotten wet. The reason that I believe it wouldn't be true is because of the fact that rabbits are wild animals and as such, that means that they are exposed to the elements in their natural habitat. The thing that I would possibly be concerned about would be if he got too cold because of the fact that he'd gotten wet.
@seiya87 (16)
• Philippines
23 Jul 12
We have rabbits as pets and we bath them regularly before, that was when we really didn't know much about rabbits. Eventually, through research, we found out that majority of rabbits get stressed out when they get wet and you don't like it when they're stressed cause some of them even quite eating.
