Most people know that rabbits need water. But what about at night? Do they still need to drink water even if they’re not going to be active?
As a matter of fact. rabbits do need water to properly function. It’s like gas in a car, without it, their body wouldn’t be able to fuel itself and run. As much as pretty much all living things need water, rabbits are no different. If a rabbit doesn’t have enough water, they can get dehydrated which is very dangerous for them.
That’s why rabbits should have access to water every time, may it be day or night. More than 24 hours without water can be lethal for rabbits.
And yes, that seems a bit excessive considering humans can go for more than 24 hours without water but a rabbit’s body works differently than ours.
Contents
Why do rabbits need so much water?
According to Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund, rabbits use water for four main reasons, all of which are essential for their health.
It keeps them alive – duh
The most general reason would be that water keeps every organ and every cell in the body alive.
Water is a significant part of their blood
It is a vital component to keeping their blood flowing smoothly. Water helps balance out the thickness and the rate of flow of their blood.
Continuous gut movement
When a rabbit eats, the food must be moisturized using water to ensure that it flows smoothly through the gut.
If it’s too dry, it can lead to Gastro-Intestinal Stasis. When this happens, your rabbit loses appetite and produces little to no droppings, usually with a hard texture.
Flushes out excess calcium
Since rabbits absorb every calcium, they often need to flush out the excess, or else they’ll suffer from bladder problems and urinary stones.
If you would notice, your rabbits sometimes have chalky urine, that’s just the excess calcium that they need to flush out.
Hygiene upkeep
If you’re going to provide your rabbit’s water overnight then you have to make sure that it’s clean and safe.
Leaving unclean water overnight is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. That’s why you need to clean the dish and change out the water every day.
How much water does a rabbit need?
On average, they need around 50 to 150 milliliters of water per kilo (body weight). That means, rabbits need more water than other animals of the same body weight.
It also depends on your rabbit’s diet. If they eat plants that have high water content, they’ll need less water.
However, this can be dangerous since too many vegetables will discourage them from drinking enough water.
What if my rabbit is drinking too much water?
Too much can also be bad for rabbits, it may be a sign that they’re in pain or they’re currently stressed.
Make sure to observe your rabbits and reach out to the nearest veterinarian for help once you’ve confirmed that it isn’t because of stress.
Bowls versus Bottles
Now that we’ve tackled the importance of water in the daily functions of our rabbits, it’s time to discuss which type of container is best for our furry friends.
Bowl
Rabbits, in general, are more used to water bowls. However, they’re easier to spill and be knocked over.
If you’re rabbit likes moving around at night, you can opt for a bottle instead of a bowl since there’s a high chance that the water will spill.
Bottle
On the other hand, a bottle’s spout can easily be clogged. This can frustrate your rabbit, causing them to throw tantrums.
And if your rabbit sleeps outside, bottles also have a high chance of freezing when subjected to high temperatures (Winter time!)
Of course, the ideal scenario is if you provide both a bowl and a bottle. That way, you’re sure that your rabbit always has access to water.
How do I know if my rabbit’s dehydrated or not?
There are simple signs to look out for when it comes to a rabbit’s dehydration.
Urine
Rabbits with dark or brown urine usually mean that they’re dehydrated. Without water, your rabbit’s urine is much more concentrated, hence the darkness.
A rabbit’s skin
If you pull your rabbit’s neck back and the skin stays in place for a few seconds then it probably means that your rabbit is dehydrated.
Lethargy & Loss of appetite
You better move fast since lethargy usually indicates the end stages of dehydration. Make sure to bring your rabbit to the veterinarian once this happens.
Fever
Fever is a sign of dehydration, even to us humans. The worse their dehydration gets, the higher the temperature becomes.
Fecal Matter
Did your rabbit suddenly stop pooping? And after they finally pooped, was it smaller than usual and had a hard texture?
Then chances are, your rabbit is dehydrated. Based on what has been mentioned before, water is a vital part of the excreting process of rabbits.
Winter and Summer
These two seasons can provide additional challenges. Since rabbits need a lot of balance, too hot and too cold may prove to be too much for our little pets.
Winter
During the winter, your bottle freezes and the water is too cold to drink. But since your rabbit has no choice, it indulges in the cold water.
However, they’ll be spending too much time warming up their body to the point where they used up all their resources.
When this happens, they have the urge to eat but they won’t be getting the same amount of nutrition that they would usually get.
Summer
In summer, there’s a higher chance for dehydration and heatstroke. That’s why the most that you need to do is to make sure that your rabbits have plenty of water.
They’ll be needing more than usual since they can’t pant to relieve any of the heat they’re experiencing nor can they sweat. Hence, water is one of the only ways they can feel refreshed.
My rabbit has diarrhea and it’s causing dehydration
Go to the veterinarian immediately. If your rabbit has diarrhea, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially since your rabbit can get dehydrated at any time and die.
Conclusion
Water is very important to rabbits, they need it for their blood, gut, and bladder movements. Without it, they’ll get dehydrated and die.
However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll just be putting water in a bowl and be done with it. You also need to make sure that you’re providing them with quality water.
That’s because even though they won’t die from dehydration, they can get severely sick when it comes to contaminated water.
