Heatwave warning for the UK - How to combine lots of little measures to save lives.

I don't know what the exact temperature inside is here, but my flat is ancient with massive single-glazed window on two corners of the living room where my piggies are so it's feeling very warm! I'm fairly certain it's not quite as warm as it was a couple of weeks ago, and definitely not as hot as it got during the 2022 heatwave but I'm still worried. I have frozen water bottles, a cold snugglesafe and cooling tiles in their cage and Gloria is sticking herself to the tiles. During previous hot spells they've completely ignored anything I tried to give them so the fact that she's using the tile has me concerned that she's a bit too warm. Fortunately she's still pottering about and eating hay and flakes and not acting too differently. I'm just out of ideas to cool the room/cage down anymore! No AC obviously - I have a desktop fan but not sure how to make best use of it :hmm: I thought about throwing a wet tea towel over it to try and cool the air a bit but it's so humid I'm not sure it's making a difference! The breeze feels nice to me, but not sure if it's a good idea to have it blowing directly on the pigs.
 
ratatellie said:
I don't know what the exact temperature inside is here, but my flat is ancient with massive single-glazed window on two corners of the living room where my piggies are so it's feeling very warm! I'm fairly certain it's not quite as warm as it was a couple of weeks ago, and definitely not as hot as it got during the 2022 heatwave but I'm still worried. I have frozen water bottles, a cold snugglesafe and cooling tiles in their cage and Gloria is sticking herself to the tiles. During previous hot spells they've completely ignored anything I tried to give them so the fact that she's using the tile has me concerned that she's a bit too warm. Fortunately she's still pottering about and eating hay and flakes and not acting too differently. I'm just out of ideas to cool the room/cage down anymore! No AC obviously - I have a desktop fan but not sure how to make best use of it :hmm: I thought about throwing a wet tea towel over it to try and cool the air a bit but it's so humid I'm not sure it's making a difference! The breeze feels nice to me, but not sure if it's a good idea to have it blowing directly on the pigs.
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Hi

The tiles are the mildest of the heat-sucking options in your cage so Gloria isn't yet desperate. Could you make sure that there is no direct sunlight on the cage? How hot is your bathroom or kitchen as a refuge for the hottest hours, especially if you can flush the surface with some cold water before putting them there?

This as a measure once they start plastering to the frozen bottle. They will hopefully continue to adapt to the greater warmth to a good degree as long as it is not sudden. It is generally the older and frail who struggle to deal with sudden changes and extremes.
 
Thanks for your reply! Their cage is at least tucked into the shadiest corner of the room so hopefully that's helping. The kitchen is tiny and hot so probably not an option. The bathroom is also tiny but probably the coolest room in the house so I could move them there tomorrow if need be (I'd just have to hop over them to use the loo! :lol:). Gloria is getting on a bit (as is Astrid, but she's more sprightly in general) which is why I'm worrying she's started to struggle to adapt. Fingers crossed there's only a day or two left at this high temperature!
 
Big hugs London Lady..

Luckily I moved away from London recently and a bit cooler than the ‘heat island’

I’m just moving them to coolest room overnight in their pet carriers with some lettuce and plenty of hay. . Not ideal but I cannot set up another cage area I move them back early in the morning. I tried the frozen water bottles for days in a sock and mine completely ignore them . Won’t go near them. won't even sit near them . I just end up with soggy socks covered in hay . Lovely..

Only answer is air con I fear . I don’t mind dealing with other health issues and had two poor pigs put down this year but if it was heatstroke I would feel terrible .

Maybe cooler early next week ..
 
Mon59 said:
Big hugs London Lady..

Luckily I moved away from London recently and a bit cooler than the ‘heat island’

I’m just moving them to coolest room overnight in their pet carriers with some lettuce and plenty of hay. Not ideal but I cannot set up another cage area I move them back early in the morning. I tried the frozen water bottles for days in a sock and mine completely ignore them . Won’t go near them. won't even sit near them . I just end up with soggy socks covered in hay . Lovely..

Only answer is air con I fear . I don’t mind dealing with other health issues and had two poor pigs put down this year but if it was heatstroke I would feel terrible .

Maybe cooler early next week ..
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Hi

If your piggies are not going near your frozen water bottles, they are not feeling overheated and you are doing well. :tu:

As I keep saying - and what @LondonLady has experienced in previous years -, piggies can and will adapt to some degree to hotter conditions as long as they have several days to do so and are not in way of extreme heat from open windows/a sun-heated blast furnace breeze/full sun. The cooler you can keep one room in your accommodation, the better for yourself as well.

Short heat spikes are often deadlier for guinea pigs in our experience as their body cannot adapt that fast and preparations by owners/knowledge of what to do is often not there.
 
My piggie room temp is 29 degrees centigrade.ive got wet towel,sheets at the windows ,fans,etc going.piggies are not using the ice pods.
I will not be getting anymore cavies when my numbers go down.
 
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