Hot Weather Management And Heat Strokes

Status
Not open for further replies.
Warning: Don't dunk a guinea pig into cold water or it will go into cardiac arrest!
is it ok to dunk the GP into luke warm water before he/she is showing signs of heatstroke? I.E preventative measures
 
gizmo01 said:
Warning: Don't dunk a guinea pig into cold water or it will go into cardiac arrest!
is it ok to dunk the GP into luke warm water before he/she is showing signs of heatstroke? I.E preventative measures
Click to expand...

I wouldn't dunk piggies, but I have offered water filled shallow seed trays if they wanted a dip. So far, none of mine has, but I know from other people that some piggies like it.
 
Any piggy will paddle for its life if it feels threatened!

Please do not put them in water if they don't want to. A shallow dish for wading in will do the trick if you keep the water refreshed.
 
is tizmo01 said:
well isnt paddling in water like super shallow anyway? its just deep enough to cover their feet
Click to expand...
The key Is to offer a choice not make them go in the water. You could put them in bath if its slanted and put just enough water to make it feet deep at the lower end that way they can choose to go in wet part or stay In the dry part. Guineas that are forced into water can panic even if it is shallow enough to walk in
 
PS: You will find that that the ratio of piggies who like paddling is about the same as those who like bathing. The majority won't.
 
I am bumping this thread with a weather warning.

Please note that the Met Office have put out a severe weather warning, temperatures are expected to go above 30c Friday through to Sunday with possible severe thunderstorms that will leave the air very very humid.

Please make sure that your pets are somewhere cool and out of direct sun. DO NOT leave animals unattended in grazing runs. Any pigs with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart conditions or skin conditions are very high risk in these oppressive temperatures.

Please keep a very close eye on your animals over the next few days and seek veterinary attention immediately if your animal is unwell.

I have been made aware of the death of a number of pigs today from heatstroke.
 
I have friday off and I have turned down numerous invitations. I'm staying in all day with the boys, girls and the air con. Just a word of warning for some, a friend has just had a piggie die from a URI. She left the air con and fan pointing right on top of the cage in the direct spot of their pigloo at diff times and Harvey got a uri then phenumonia. Try to not directly blast your piggies for a long time.
 
That's so sad. We do use air con but only when we are home and it does not blow directly at them. Poor Harvey. Today all the top windows are open, the air purifier is on (it has a fan) and the curtains are shut. Can't open the main windows or we get pigeon visitors but there is lots of air and they have many shady areas to go in. Got the dehumidifier on standby too.
 
I put my piggies out today knowing it was going to be hot, left them with shade, enough water and some carrots to much on. I went out for 2hours the heat got overwhelming even for me, I came back to 2 piggie with heat stroke. I tried to cool them down as much as I could, contacted our local vet and everything.
Sadly I lost my babies, I'm gutted but I know I did as much for them as I could have, they have never seen heat like this before.
I really don't want this to happen to anymore piggies it's heart breaking :(
 
That is really sad...when I'm at work I constantly worry about my lot, have a thermometer on the top hutch so it really does tell me what's happening...it's so important to be sure about what the weather is going to do that day..

Sorry for your loss.
 
I was in major panic mode yesterday and today too! But the heat didn't kick in until after 3pm! It was just humid. The piggies had their ice packs and bottles of frozen water... I'm sorry for your lost :(
 
neighbours1994 said:
I put my piggies out today knowing it was going to be hot, left them with shade, enough water and some carrots to much on. I went out for 2hours the heat got overwhelming even for me, I came back to 2 piggie with heat stroke. I tried to cool them down as much as I could, contacted our local vet and everything.
Sadly I lost my babies, I'm gutted but I know I did as much for them as I could have, they have never seen heat like this before.
I really don't want this to happen to anymore piggies it's heart breaking :(
Click to expand...

I am so sorry to hear this.
 
Night night little ones.

Sadly it is both the heat and the humidity that can kill.
 
Yay this is what we have coming Monday. I'm so glad my pigs are indoors. I'm going to be prepared just incase our A/C would decide to break that day. What would you say the most important thing is to have on hand?

image.webp
 
My long haired pig when I was about ten passed away from heat stroke at only three years :( RIP bubbles x
 
ASTRID said:
My long haired pig when I was about ten passed away from heat stroke at only three years :( RIP bubbles x
Click to expand...


That's so sad.

I am so glad I discovered this forum - I would never have realised what temperature could have such a detrimental effect if I hadn't joined. Better safe than sorry.
 
Today was unbelievably hot...hotter than pedicted. Put it this way, the best thing I bought was the 69p thermometer...today, my top hutch reached at peak 35 degrees C...yep that figure is correct!

I flipped out...I was keeping an eye on the temp anyway,, they were bathed, cleaned out...cold towels over the top, inside the hutches over the fiddle stick bridges...you name it, I did it! I broke the patio table and the parasol now doesn't fit in the table...consequently the parasol is now anchored onto the hutch protecting it...more frozen stuff ready for tomorrow's onslaught...how I worry! I'm a total slave!
 
lil said:
Today was unbelievably hot...hotter than pedicted. Put it this way, the best thing I bought was the 69p thermometer...today, my top hutch reached at peak 35 degrees C...yep that figure is correct!

I flipped out...I was keeping an eye on the temp anyway,, they were bathed, cleaned out...cold towels over the top, inside the hutches over the fiddle stick bridges...you name it, I did it! I broke the patio table and the parasol now doesn't fit in the table...consequently the parasol is now anchored onto the hutch protecting it...more frozen stuff ready for tomorrow's onslaught...how I worry! I'm a total slave!
Click to expand...
I did the conversion! YEP that's hot alright. Hope everyone was okay.
 
We had a heat index of 105F yesterday and humidity of 85% it was GROSS! today is much better but still to icky to bring the girls outside.

I hope all the piggies were safe and cool in Minnesota yesterday. You don't ever hear anything about piggies on the news ect. I hate that so many people buy pigs without researching them and knowing the best way to care for them and their needs. I wish pet stores had a booklet that they made everyone read and sign before they could purchase one or any small animal for that matter.
Maybe that's something I should work on making happen.
 
COOL PAD REVIEW

Last year I purchased the new snuggle safe Cool pads as an alternative to the frozen cool pods...yes pods not pads. See link below:

http://www.viovet.co.uk/Snugglesafe..._find=140942&gclid=CO2gisHigMYCFWgTwwodCVEAsQ

However, as the weather season for us in the UK is getting warmer and some maybe tempted to try these out. My advice is save your money. They didn't last the season, even when I used the stick bridge over the top of the edges/corners (they like to lay down under this area) they still manage to get at the edges, and if not the edges, they managed to nibble the top of it and get to the gel underneath. The other issue is that they don't want to lay down on this area. Stick with ceramic tiles, cool pods and covered frozen bottles.

Hope that helps if anyone is considering these.
 
Wiebke said:
Domestic guinea pigs can only cope with a limited range of temperatures!

Please keep in mind that anything above 25 C / 75 F is hot for piggies and that they need protection from the sun at all times. That includes hutches, conservatories, hot indoors rooms and uninsulated sheds!
Beware of patios that are heat traps and open lawns that are fully in the sun with no shade. Without additional shade protection, plastic pigloos quickly turn into ovens!

Never leave any living creature in a car or in a conservatory in full sun, not even with a window cracked open; the temperature will soar to over 50 C within minutes!


Signs and treatment of heat stroke

Signs: Lying flat on the belly; unable to move; shallow breathing; rapid and very weak pulse.

Please see a vet or out-of-hours vet immediately as an emergency if you notice any of these signs! Contact details for an out-of-hours vet are usually available from your vet's answering machine. Your guinea pig will require additional medical support to help get the stressed out body (especially the heart and the guts) going again after a heat stroke.

On the spot treatment: Soak a towel in cold water and wrap the piggy in it, loosely at first in order to not shock the system. Get a bucket of cold water and gently sponge the piggy down. If you have a fan, put it on full blast.
Recovery, if there is any, should be quick and pretty dramatic.
Support the piggy as soon as it is trying to get back on its feet and stop the cooling down instantly to avoid the piggy from getting a chill instead.

Warning: Don't dunk an overheated guinea pig into cold water or it will go into cardiac arrest!
http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/


What you can do during a heat wave:

- keep your piggies out of full sun at all times. If they are on the lawn (preferably not during the hottest hours) or in a hot indoors room, place wet towels or fleece over the run or cage and keep these damp. The evaporating water will cool the surrounding air.

- move the hutch away from full sun and hot patios that throw the heat around. If that is not possible, move the piggies out of a hutch or hot shed to a cooler place for the duration of the heat wave.

- wrap a frozen bottle of water in a towel or use freezable gel cool bags instead. Leave room for the ice to expand when put a water filled plastic bottle into the freezer!

- place a ceramic tile in their cage/hutch for them to suck heat from their body.

- feed more watery veg or melon, but please don't overdo it; too much can cause diarrhea!

- make sure that they have access to fresh, cool water at all times. You can use ice cubes or crushed ice if you are away during the heat of the day and need the water to stay cool for as long as possible. (Sippy water bottles that open at the top will allow that). Otherwise, please refresh the water regularly.

- Please DO NOT feed frozen treats! Piggies can badly injure their lips and tongues when nibbling to eagerly!

- give longhair pet piggies a shorthair cut or at least cut the back and sides short and only leave a thin long top layer for show! They will feel a lot perkier without wearing the equivalent of skiing gear on a tropical beach. Their coats will grow back again for the cooler autumn and winter!

Here is a link to a good and comprehensive list from an Australian site (with the exception of frozen treats, as a member on here reported a bad experience when trying it!)
http://guineapigsaustralia.com/summer heat management.htm
Click to expand...
Just yesterday my youngest piggy died from this wishing i had read this sooner as my other one is now alone and i feel its my fault for having them in garden for a few hours x
 
amywh85 said:
Just yesterday my youngest piggy died from this wishing i had read this sooner as my other one is now alone and i feel its my fault for having them in garden for a few hours x
Click to expand...

Hi! I am ever so sorry for your loss and the huge upset this must have caused you and your remaining piggy.

Please make sure that your other guinea pig is OK and if necessary have it checked by a vet. Bring it inside where it has got more company.
Here are our tips what you can do for a bereaved guinea pig: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/looking-after-a-bereaved-piggy.110463/

As we have members from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state or (for the UK) your county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice to what is available and possible where you are.
We have got a recommended vets and good standard rescue locator for our UK members on the top bar, but can provide links for vets and good rescues in other countries, if wished.

For more support please open a new thread in our Daily Care section.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top