Cold guinea pig

[Claire W]

How can you tell if a guinea pig is feeling cold? Sometimes my 2 girls fur feels a little cool but their actual skin feels warm mallethead Sorry if this sounds like a daft question :red

 

[loulx]

Mum's bunch live in a shed outside and we've come to the conclusion that if they puff their fur out (a little bit like they do when they're ill) thats when they actually feel chilly. We've only had it happen a couple of times, and as soon as the portable heater comes out for a little while, everyone's happy again! We also managed to propers insulate the hutches and shed and put lots of fleecy cuddly things in for them so as well as each other, there was lots of warming things in which seemed to help!

 

[Claire W]

Thanks for your reply My 2 live outside but are well sheltered, live under a shelter, have proper hutch insulation, plenty of hay, snugglesfaes and domes plus fleece and their entire hutch is covered up at night with carpet and a fleece blanket. I have never noticed them puffed up. Their fur sometimes feels a little cool first thing in the morning when their snugglesafe has gone cool but their actual skin feels warm

 

[Beautifulmess]

My guinea pigs ears go cold,. I assume their cold then and they move less.

 

[lovelygirl]

I would go with behind the ears like with horses

 

[sharonS]

Claire, if you are at all worried about them being cold, I have found that if you cover the snugglesafes well, say under the cosies they stay warmer for longer. Admitted mine are indoors, but I have a cat bed that is like pyramid shaped, I pop the snugglesafe in the bottom then put the cosie in as well, mine climb inside the cosie and the snugglesafe is still warm the next morning.

 

[alcesterpigs]

The outside of the fur will indicate the air temperature, next to the skin will be the body temperature. The difference between the two temperatures shows how the fur is acting as an insulator. Exactly the same way that loft insulation works.
The time to be concerned is when the skin temperature is low.

 

[Claire W]

The outside of the fur will indicate the air temperature, next to the skin will be the body temperature. The difference between the two temperatures shows how the fur is acting as an insulator. Exactly the same way that loft insulation works.
The time to be concerned is when the skin temperature is low.

When you say skin temperature, do you mean the ears (as they're not covered in fur) or the actual skin on the body? Thank you for your reply, you have put my mind at ease.

 

[Claire W]

Claire, if you are at all worried about them being cold, I have found that if you cover the snugglesafes well, say under the cosies they stay warmer for longer. Admitted mine are indoors, but I have a cat bed that is like pyramid shaped, I pop the snugglesafe in the bottom then put the cosie in as well, mine climb inside the cosie and the snugglesafe is still warm the next morning.

Good idea, I will have to try that

 

[alcesterpigs]

I mean the body skin. Often, not always, cold ears may indicate heart problems.