Cool skinny pig

eileen

eileen

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I checked on my piggies at 12MD.Serena felt cold around her ears,and feet.
The temp was reading 14degrees.
I brought her down stairs,gave her syringed water and 15mls of critical care.she ate this fine.
Also she had lost 100grams.
I've placed a heater in the bedroom.snugglesafe pads,loads of hay and a fleece cosy.
It shows how hypothermia can set in so quick.
I'm not sure if bullying has been going on,as a new female joined her and Zane a month ago.
Just be vigilant ,even if piggies are inside.
 
I hope Serena is okay. Well done for catching the problem early.
I picked Red up last night for lap time. His ears and feet felt very cold. My boars are in my living room, the thermostat for the heating is on 16 in a cooler room in the house so the heating comes on regularly 24 hours a day when the weather is cold, the temperature in the living room is around 18. I checked the other piggies and they were fine. Red is 6 so it's probably due to his age although he's still very active. I gave him a snuggle safe last night and filled a closed in cardboard box with hay in the hope he would snuggle in, he usually likes an open tray. Today I covered his corex floor with a thick layer of newspaper under the liner. I've put corex off cuts round all the cage to grid height except the front which I cover with a blanket at night anyway. He's had a warm Snuggle Safe all day.
I've done the same for Brillo as he's on the floor too, just in case there is a draft coming from under the floor somewhere.
It shows how careful you need to be even with indoor piggies, especially the elderly ones. I was very shocked that he could feel that cold. It's not something I've had a problem with before in all the time I've had piggies, even when we had the old very drafty windows and doors.
 
If it wasn't for having the two elderly piggies the heating wouldn't be on so high at night, it's scary to think he could be that cold. If I hadn't decided to give him lap time instead of floor time I wouldn't have known because for floor time I don't pick him up I just open the front of his cage.
 
Red seems none the worse. Snuggle Safes are to be avoided, rumbled at if they get too close! The heating is now on 18 so the living room hovers around 20. It's warmed up here now and is raining a lot.
Bertie is out having floor time this afternoon, he's keeping the oldies entertained and running around to defend their borders.

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I hope Serena is ok. Well done for spotting it early, I’m sure she’ll be nice and warm now with the measures you’ve put in place.

As you know, both Elizabeth and Esme lost around 100g but got a clean bill of health from the vet so he put it down to the cold weather even with them living indoors.

I’ve bought a thermometer for their room and thankfully it hasn’t been dropping below 16C but I’ve now been covering their cage overnight and giving them their snugglesafes x
 
Sorry I've not been around much this weekend and have only just seen this post. I hope Serena is doing ok. Skinnies really do seem to be very sensitive to the temperature. My vet said that after surgery they are really prone to not being able to retain their body temperature. Even more so than haired piggies. I can only assume it's a genetic issue.

We put pieces of loose fleece cut from a blanket into their fleece beds so that they can snuggle inside them. Hope Serena recovers well.xx
 
That's a good idea,fleece in there hides.
I placed hay in a wooden hide,she seems to be in there alot.
Thanks for the information,that they do not keep there body heat well.it was a shock when I found her.The oil filled radiator seems to be keeping the room at 21 degrees.i need to ensure them haired piggies do not get too warm. 🤣
 
Keeping skinnies warm enough in this weather is not the easiest thing in the world, the goblins have spent a good chunk of the last few days just not wanting to get out of bed. Weights and appetites are fine, they just don't want to leave the warm beds. Fingers crossed this cold snap lifts soon, it's not fun for them at all :no:
 
eileen said:
That's a good idea,fleece in there hides.
I placed hay in a wooden hide,she seems to be in there alot.
Thanks for the information,that they do not keep there body heat well.it was a shock when I found her.The oil filled radiator seems to be keeping the room at 21 degrees.i need to ensure them haired piggies do not get too warm. 🤣
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We have always kept our piggy room at 18/19C overnight in the winter and that seems to be ok for the skinnies. x
 
Lorcan said:
the goblins have spent a good chunk of the last few days just not wanting to get out of bed.
Click to expand...
Old Gal Thea has been the same. She has been out and about today as it's a bit warmer. Yesterday, I had to give her her veggie dindins right at her nose in her hidey bed as she didn't want to come out of it as it was lovely and snuggly. With a snugglesafe underneath it must have been nice and warm. Usually at the call of "dindins" Thea is immediately at the door with her "feed me now Slave!" face.
 
I have taken Serena to the vet ,she still seemed sluggish and in pain.
Pain relief was given,and cisapride.
I've been syringe feeding since Saturday.
The vet explained that hypothermia slows everything down.Gut had slowed.
In 3 hours she's running all over the settee !hyperactive skinny pig !
 
I'm sorry to hear Serena has still been struggling. You must be so relieved to see her so happy again.
 
That’s great news, I didn’t realise that cold slowed all the internal organs down like the gut
 
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