One of the cutest animals in the world is the rabbit. The fact that they are small and fluffy makes them a great choice for pets as well. Thought about getting a bunny as a pet? Maybe you were curious about how they would do in a swimming pool.
Can Rabbits Swim?
The short answer is yes, rabbits can swim. But there’s more to it than that.
It is possible for a rabbit to swim. They don’t have to just hop around all day. The real question is whether they like swimming. That’s where things get a little tougher.
There are times when an animal likes to swim and times when they don’t. For example, cats can swim but most of the time they avoid water at all costs, as any cat parent knows.
Swimming: Wild vs Adopted Rabbits
Rabbits that live in the wild only swim when they feel threatened. Their only goal is to stay alive; they don’t swim for fun.
To give you an example, marsh rabbits live in the southeast of the United States. They often run through water to avoid being eaten.
Just like marsh rabbits, swamp rabbits have found ways to live in wet places. On other days, though, you won’t find them having fun in the woods.
Pet rabbits, on the other hand, don’t need to swim. They only need the water in their rabbit run. They think that a lot of water is scary.
Being cold, wet, and open makes their small bodies feel weak, so they stay away from it as much as possible. A rabbit should live in a good rabbit run, not a tub of water.
Is it safe for rabbits to swim?
Rabbits that live in the wild only swim when they feel threatened. Their only goal is to stay alive; they don’t swim for fun.
To give you an example, marsh rabbits live in the southeast of the United States. They often run through water to avoid being eaten.
Just like marsh rabbits, swamp rabbits have found ways to live in wet places. On other days, though, you won’t find them having fun in the woods.
Pet rabbits, on the other hand, don’t need to swim. They only need the water in their rabbit run. They think that a lot of water is scary.
Being cold, wet, and open makes their small bodies feel weak, so they stay away from it as much as possible. A rabbit should live in a good rabbit run, not a tub of water.
Does rabbit swimming feel safe?
If you put a pet rabbit in a swimming pool, their fur soaks up water like a sponge, so swimming can be dangerous for them. Have you ever been pushed in a pool or tried swimming with wet clothes on?
The sensation would be like what a rabbit feels when water soaks into its fur. Because it makes them heavy, it’s hard and tiring for them to move. We like to call rabbit owners “parents,” and they should keep their bunny away from the pool.
Rabbits that are kept as pets also don’t dry off quickly after getting wet. Remember how good it felt to walk into a cool house after swimming? Even after the event is over, they still feel this way, which is another reason they stay away from swimming pools.
Imagine leaving a baby alone in the pool. Even when other people are in the pool, it’s easy to drown. When a child can’t stay stable, they will grab, scratch, and do anything else they can to find something to hold on to.
That’s what the rabbit does. They’ll scratch, bite, or claw their way to safety. They are so scared that it’s easy for the water to swallow them up and kill them. Even if they don’t, getting water in their ears and lungs can cause other problems.
One more thing to think about is the poisons that are in a swimming pool. A rabbit will really feel the pain if chlorine gets in its eyes. They can also get sinus and breathing problems when they are exposed to these chemicals.
The last thing you want is for your rabbit to show these signs, which usually mean an expensive trip to the vet. So, is it safe for bunnies to swim? Not in pools.
The Fear Factor
There is a lot of fear in rabbits when they are dunked in water. The extreme cold and overwhelming worry in their environment can shock their bodies and, in the worst cases, even cause a heart attack.
It’s too likely that you will scare a rabbit to death. Can our rabbit friends swim? The answer is yes, but I think they shouldn’t.
Some people think it’s unfair to put a rabbit in a pool of water because rabbits are weak when they are cold and wet, and their bodies are not strong enough to handle it. If you can, keep your rabbit away from the pool.
READ ALSO:
Rabbit teeth – how to keep them healthy!