Red Ears

[harrylizzle]

Hello,

I've noticed a couple times now that my skinny pig will randomly get red ears. He a pale pig so its very noticeable in comparison to his body. He pretty healthy boy, the only difference I've noticed are his poops are a little smaller than usual and sometimes dehydrated but he does eat a lot, drink some, he popcorns around so I know hes not in distress or anything. I do syringe feed him water when I see his poops dehydrated but usually thats only through the night. During the day they are more normal poops. The temperature in the room is not too warm so I dont believe hes hot but I'm not sure. He just got back from vet visits a couple weeks ago as he did have mites and he was prescribed selamectinn, we finally got rid of the mites.

I just want to make sure he wouldn't have some kind of fever (if thats even possible) or what it is that could be randomly making his ears turn red. He will have pale ears one moment the red ears 5 minutes later. ADVICE PLEASE!

 

[Freela]

I would say warmth... pigs with pink skin will get flushed when they are warm or active... bottoms of their feet can show flushing too. Hope this helps!

 

[VickiA]

Usually ears go red as part of piggies’ cooling mechanisms.

 

[Wiebke]

Guinea pigs regulate their body temperature by increased blood flow through the ears and paws. It is more obvious with light coloured or furless piggies when their blood vessels are widened to shed as much heat as possible.
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

It is not the most effective way of cooling down but guinea pigs have developed living in thick undergrowth and feeding in the early morning and evening hours when temperatures are at their most even. This means that you have to be very careful during hot weather to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke in our fast changing climate.
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Some piggies get red ears when they are excited or stressed.