Ever wondered how long a rabbit can go without water?
Rabbits are herbivorous animals whose diet consists of hay, fresh vegetables, specially formulated pellets, and fresh fruits like nectarines. Rabbits require constant fresh water to stay hydrated and healthy; hence, bunny owners should always provide their rabbits with clean and fresh water.
In this article, we will let you know how long a rabbit can go without water and other related issues about bunnies and their water intake.
How Long Can a Rabbit Go Without Water
Rabbits can survive without water for over 24 hours, depending on the weather, hot or cold weather conditions.
Rabbits are prone to develop health problems like Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and gastrointestinal stasis if they stay without water for an extended period.
Therefore, we recommend that you always provide your bunnies with fresh water to keep them healthy and hydrated.
How Much Water Do Rabbits Drink a Day
Weather, size, age, diet, and activity level are some factors that determine the quantity of water rabbits drink in a day.
Rabbits tend to drink so much water during hot weather and vice versa.
Also, rabbits drink a lot of water when eating a diet high in fiber, such as hay, or dry food like Weetabix.
Generally, rabbits must drink at least 50-150 ml (1.7-5.1 oz) of water per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of body weight daily.
On average, a healthy adult rabbit may drink 50-150 milliliters (or about 1/4 to 3/4 of a cup) of water per kilogram of body weight daily.
We recommend always providing your rabbits with fresh water to promote healthy living and keep them hydrated.
How To Rehydrate a Rabbit
Rabbits must always stay hydrated to maintain an overall healthy lifestyle.
Below are the steps to rehydrate your rabbit anytime you notice that your bunny is dehydrated:
1. Provide Access To Water
Providing a fresh and clean water source is one of the best ways to rehydrate your rabbit.
You can use a water bowl to provide supply water to your rabbit.
Ensure to place the water bowl in a position where the rabbits would easily access it to avoid them flipping the water bowl.
2. Provide Moist Food
Providing wet or moist food for your rabbit is also a good way of rehydrating your rabbits.
Fresh fruits like nectarines, cucumber, lettuce, watermelon, and fresh vegetables are some foods you can use to rehydrate your rabbits.
3. Pedialyte
You can give your rabbit Pedialyte a rehydration solution designed for infants and young children.
Dilute the Pedialyte with water and offer it to your rabbit in a shallow dish or syringe if they’re not drinking alone.
Dehydration can be a sign of serious health problems, hence you should employ the services of a veterinary doctor if you notice any sign of dehydration in your rabbits.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions.
How Long Can Rabbits Go Without Food And Water?
Rabbits cannot survive without food, such as hay and water, for an extended period.
Failure to provide your bunnies with constant food and water can lead to your bunnies developing severe health problems and may even lead to death.
A rabbit’s digestive system can shut down if it stays for an extended period without food and water, leading to a condition called gastrointestinal stasis, which can be life-threatening.
It would be best not to allow your rabbits to go without food and water for more than 24 hours to avoid health problems.
Do Rabbits Drink Less Water In Winter?
Yes, rabbits tend to drink less water in winter due to the cold temperature that comes with the season.
The temperatures during the winter are freezing, which causes an overall decrease in rabbits’ metabolism and body activities.
If your rabbit is primarily housed outdoors, freezing temperatures can cause the water in its bottle or bowl to freeze, making it more difficult for them to access water.
Ensure that you provide your rabbits with enough fresh water and that your rabbits are still drinking enough water during the winter to avoid dehydration and improve their overall health.
We also recommend that you provide your rabbits with water supplements like fresh fruits and vegetables to compensate for their low water intake during winter.
Conclusion
Rabbits need to be provided with them at all times to enable them to maintain sound health and stay hydrated.
Failure to provide your rabbits with water regularly can lead to several health problems, such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), dehydration, overall body system malfunction, and even death.
You can also provide your rabbits with water supplements like fresh fruits and vegetables as an alternative for water if water is in limited supply.
We hope this article has helped you know how long a rabbit can go without water and related issues about rabbits and their water intake. If you have any other questions, kindly comment below.
Resources
1. Tschudin A, Clauss M, Codron D, Liesegang A, Hatt JM. Water intake in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from open dishes and nipple drinkers under different water and feeding regimes. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2011 Aug;95(4):499-511. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01077.x. Epub 2010 Nov 22. PMID: 21091544.
2. Michigan State University. The Need For Water. https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/234/43182/2014_files/4H1509_4-H_RabbitTracks_Water.pdf
3. Department of Animal & Plant Science at SUNY Cobleskill Kenda Ewart, Dr. Lynn Dunn, Professor-Chair. Water Consumption in Rabbits. https://dspace.sunyconnect.suny.edu/handle/1951/67384
4. Water Requirements of Rabbits and Guinea Pigs. Nature 152, 157 (1943). https://doi.org/10.1038/152157b0
