Guinea pigs and the heat...

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TheAurora

TheAurora

Adult Guinea Pig
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My poor guinea pigs really seem to be struggling in this tremendous heat and humidity (England) at the moment.

I got home from work last night and their cage (which is in the shade for most of the day) was, by 5.30pm, an oven.

I brought them both inside straight away to play in the cool living room. They seemed to perk up quite quick but were rather lathargic.

What a nightmare :(
 
Yeah it is really hot. I feel sorry for them in this heat. We put a frozen 2 litre water bottle by the cage so as it thaw it lowers the temp a little, we also keep the curtains drawn when the direct sunlight is streaming in. I think the weather is due to change soon....
 
^That sounds like a good idea with the frozen water bottle.

Last night, when they came indoors, they usually rush around crazy. But they both just flopped down all tired... bless!
 
I know what you mean! I'm actually gonna buy some basil and try making a basil ice block, I'm gonna mince it up in my blender with some water and then stick it in some ice cube trays, and then see what they think of it! I hope they dont turn their noses up at it! lol
 
^ Brilliant, thanks for this!
 
monica1607 said:
I know what you mean! I'm actually gonna buy some basil and try making a basil ice block, I'm gonna mince it up in my blender with some water and then stick it in some ice cube trays, and then see what they think of it! I hope they dont turn their noses up at it! lol
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oooh good idea! I usually make herb ice cubes with my leftover or excess herbs and whack them in my cooking but never thought of doing it for the piggles. I've got some in the freezer so will get one out and see what they think and report back. I usually just chop them up though instead of whacking them in the blender (We seem to accumulate far too much washing for 3 people :{ so I try to avoid making more wherever possible)
 
When its like this, it may be a better idea to keep them inside if its cooler, I am ashamed to say i tragically lost 2 (nearly 3) piggies to heat srtoke last year and for this i shall never ever forgive myself, and i would hate for anyone else to feel the way i do every day and night when i think about it. I am in tears now. I can only imagine how hot they must get in hutches in this heat, and it still gets hot in the shade when the weather is like this.

The ice water bottles are a fab idea and work really well.
 
^I'm sorry to hear your story Toffeewoffee!

That's really tragic :(

I have thought of keeping them indoors, just when it's this hot. But the indoor cage is much smaller than the outdoor hutch so I worry about them spending all day in it. But I guess in comparison to heat stroke, it's a small price to pay for their well being.
 
A very small price! Even if you could get them an enclosure to put on the floor with some towels and toys i'm sure they would be more than happy, the problem with piggies is they cant sweat or pant and when its hot and poorly ventilated this is where it go's wrong, they would be much better off indoors when its like this, unless you can guarantee that they will stay cool in their hutch in the garden.
 
^I'll see what the weather's doing tomorrow and defo keep them in if it's going to be more of this.
 
No worries about them over heating today!
 
My lot have been laying in the bedding areas of their hutches and staying cool that way laying flat out!

Drinking so much water the last few days as well. Far too hot for them, poor rabbit has been the same though.
 
My peruvian boy was struggling the other day. I was at work tomorrow though so couldn't watch him when it was so hot. They are inside today because of the rain lol
 
^It's literally been like an oven hasn't it!
 
They are inside today because the rain soaked their cage through last night and I didn't have time to dry and clean it out this morning before work.

They're gonna be in a right strop when I get home!
 
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