As last summer has shown at the price of far too many piggy lives that hutches, even in the shade, are NOT a safe place to keep your guinea pigs in the kind of hot weather that is hitting the south of the UK now. NOR is a lawn, even in the shade of the tree, if there is a hot breeze bringing sun-warmed air at oven temperatures across!
Please also do NOT place your fan next to an open window during the day so it brings the hot air right in. That is an another surefire way to cause heat stroke as we have seen. Pull any curtains you have on any side that will get direct sun while you are out and close your windows. When cooled overnight by a breeze, the inside can heat up only so much. The cooler you start in the morning, the less hot your place can get during the day if the sun and the hot air can't get in.
Bring any piggies at risk inside into the coolest place in the house (if necessary your bathtub) while you are away.
Your piggies DO NOT need lots of extra watery veg, but they need access to COOL WATER. Guinea pigs don't sweat or pant, so they do not drink or eat more fluid; but they will enjoy anything that is fresh and cool - just not so much that they end up with diarrhea or bloat! And the more veg you feed, the less your piggies will drink water.
Make sure that you leave a large jug of filtered water in your fridge before you go out and that you add ice/crushed ice to your piggies water bottles (well out of any sun). If you are at work for the day, you can leave one large fridge cooled piece of cucumber in the cage; the core will keep cool for longer that way. But is has to come out of the daily veg allowance!
If your piggies are lethargic and have lost their appetite/can't swallow anymore, please see a vet ASAP as an emergency for heat stroke/overheating. They will need subcutaneous fluids and may need heart support; your home cooling is NOT enough!
And please NEVER shock an overheated piggy with cold water - that can cause a heart attack!
Heat stroke and the aftereffects can kill even days later!
Heat stroke symptoms and what to do
This goes even more so for any pregnant/nursing sows, newborn and very young piggies, the ill, frail and elderly.
Information on how guinea pigs regulate their body temperature, how to spot the signs of potentially fatal overheating and heat stroke, proper hot weather feeding and a FULL list of how to keep your guinea pigs and your place as cool and a safe as possible in these links:
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
The temptation to overfeed watery veg and fruit in hot weather!
Travelling with guinea pigs (See Chapter about travelling in hot weather when you need to see a vet)
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Please also do NOT place your fan next to an open window during the day so it brings the hot air right in. That is an another surefire way to cause heat stroke as we have seen. Pull any curtains you have on any side that will get direct sun while you are out and close your windows. When cooled overnight by a breeze, the inside can heat up only so much. The cooler you start in the morning, the less hot your place can get during the day if the sun and the hot air can't get in.
Bring any piggies at risk inside into the coolest place in the house (if necessary your bathtub) while you are away.
Your piggies DO NOT need lots of extra watery veg, but they need access to COOL WATER. Guinea pigs don't sweat or pant, so they do not drink or eat more fluid; but they will enjoy anything that is fresh and cool - just not so much that they end up with diarrhea or bloat! And the more veg you feed, the less your piggies will drink water.
Make sure that you leave a large jug of filtered water in your fridge before you go out and that you add ice/crushed ice to your piggies water bottles (well out of any sun). If you are at work for the day, you can leave one large fridge cooled piece of cucumber in the cage; the core will keep cool for longer that way. But is has to come out of the daily veg allowance!
If your piggies are lethargic and have lost their appetite/can't swallow anymore, please see a vet ASAP as an emergency for heat stroke/overheating. They will need subcutaneous fluids and may need heart support; your home cooling is NOT enough!
And please NEVER shock an overheated piggy with cold water - that can cause a heart attack!
Heat stroke and the aftereffects can kill even days later!
Heat stroke symptoms and what to do
This goes even more so for any pregnant/nursing sows, newborn and very young piggies, the ill, frail and elderly.
Information on how guinea pigs regulate their body temperature, how to spot the signs of potentially fatal overheating and heat stroke, proper hot weather feeding and a FULL list of how to keep your guinea pigs and your place as cool and a safe as possible in these links:
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
The temptation to overfeed watery veg and fruit in hot weather!
Travelling with guinea pigs (See Chapter about travelling in hot weather when you need to see a vet)
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
Me..I hate this heat.. 