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Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydration.

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Andersons

Now that the hot weather has arrived in the UK its prudent to bear in mind some safety points if your piggy`s are kept outdoors.

Watch out for sunstroke, ear and body sunburn and dehydration. I`m sorry if this sounds like `teaching grandmar to suck eggs` but some piggy owners will be new to keeping Piggy's outdoors this spring.

1) Ensure the hutch is in the shade at all times of the day. If your hutch gets some sun at some time of the day use a tent ground sheet to cover the hutch but ensure there is plenty of ventilation and that the wind will not blow the cover around the hutch making it even hotter.

2) Make sure the water bottles actually drip water because some get blocked or are badly designed and don't work. No access to water will ensure your Piggy's will die of dehydration very quickly.

3) Large water bottles are better because Piggy's drink a lot in hot weather. Small bottle empty very quickly.

4) Their little ears will burn very quickly because some Piggy's like to lounge around in the sun after feeding. Also, sunstroke is a real possibility. Therefore, cover runs. A tent ground sheet to block the sun is better than nothing.

5) Ensure the hutch / shed has plenty of ventilation.

6) Piggy's very quickly and easily overheat within minutes even with plenty of water to drink.

If anyone has any other addition fell free to ad them. We cant be too careful in hot weather. :)
 
This info applies to us in OZ too, thanks for your reminder a good time to be doing so O0 O0 O0
Sadly i know of a family that didn't take care of their piggie and it got heat stroke and died :'( :'( :'( :'(
 
Merlin got heart stroke last summer after a car journey.
Naively, I thought that if he was too hot he would move somewhere cooler / eat cucumber but this isnt always the case

The symtoms to look out for are heavy breathing and not being able to stand up
Merlin tried walking when we got back home and I popped him on the floor but just flopped onto his tummy
He looked very out of sorts

I sent Andy for the guinea pig books but guessed what it might be

I tried to syringe him water into his mouth which I have since found out is the WRONG thing to do as they can choke

Next I ran a tea towel under the taps (tepid - slightly cold water) and wrapped it around his body to encourage his body temperature to drop
Then I ran a couple of inches of water in the kitchen sink and stood him in it so that he cooled from the feet upwards.
If the water is too cold it will send your piggy into shock so be careful

A this point I called the emergency vet who told me that what I had done was ok. She said that additionally I could open the freezer and put Merlin right next to it in his cage for a little while.
After 30 minutes Merlin was back to his normal self.
Shame it took mummy the rest of the day to get over it :(
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

Excellent post especially for owners of new guineas :)
 
Icecubes are good and frozen bottles of water. Steph gave me a good tip put a plate in the freezer for a while and pigs can sit on it. I've been doing this all day. I have full suun in the morning but come 4 o'clock it moves over to the front of the house.
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

Lol I'm not giving Ralfie a plate to sit on it wont stand a chance ;D frozen water bottles in socks was a good tip i got from Niki! x
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

good advice thanks O0
 
Sunburn creams are not safe for humans let alone gps.the chemicals in them can do more harm than the sun.Far better to keep the pigs out of the sun.My pigs are kept indoors in a cool room in hot weather and they only go out in the garden late afternoon when the sun has gone off the lawn.
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

SunshineAndTwinkle said:
Icecubes are good and frozen bottles of water. Steph gave me a good tip put a plate in the freezer for a while and pigs can sit on it. I've been doing this all day. I have full suun in the morning but come 4 o'clock it moves over to the front of the house.
Click to expand...
I get the sun on my flat ALL day.....
poor wee men seem to be getting very hot.
So what do I do with the ice cubes - crush them into the water bottle? or what...
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

Our pet shop puts large plastic fizzy drinks bottles, which they have filled with water and then frozen solid, in beside their gp's and rabbits to keep them cool.
 
I just put the icecubes in a bowl and they liked them! I made them slush drinks tonight!

;D Please rain! 8)
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

I can't believe this thread :o I don't think that piggies are that sensitive. If it is hot, they move into the shade. Simple as that. My piggies are outside all day, all summer, and I make sure that at least part of the run is in shade at all times. They spend most of their time in the shade.

Other than that I am sure that no other precautions are needed. I used to put water bottles outside when they were in the run, but these were always untouched so I don't bother any more. And I have certainly never bothered putting a tent up ;D
 
well i think they are great tips, you can never be too careful and its always better to be safe than sorry :)

thanks for the tips O0
 
It is going to be a nightmare I have already had my first worry over them. I had fudge out today for a couple of hours, he had a hidey house and a sheet draped over half of the run. Poor llittle man totally flopped when i took him back out of the run.
I quickly took him to the cool area of the shed fed him some cold melon and he soon came round.
I am going to have to get some fans for the shed and be very careful.
 
I'm already worried. Mine will be going on a long long car trip with us in August. I cover their hutches so they have shade and we have water sprays but I am always frightened.

Does anyone have any ideas especially for car trips?
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

maryh said:
Sunburn creams are not safe for humans let alone gps.the chemicals in them can do more harm than the sun.Far better to keep the pigs out of the sun.My pigs are kept indoors in a cool room in hot weather and they only go out in the garden late afternoon when the sun has gone off the lawn.
Click to expand...
now I didn't know suncreams weren't safe for humans to use...I mean what if you can't avoid staying out of the sun, then suncreams must be used?

I usually just provide at least 2 bottles of water while the pigs are in the run, and drape a sheet/similar over their run. They also have wooden houses to hide in as I worry the plastic igloos will be like saunas!
Lizzie it may be easy to believe pigs are not affected by the heat, but they are, and they still need access to water, on the off chance they might need a drink. Mine don't drink a lot in the run, but I have spotted a couple of them taking a few sips

I believe they aren't as overheated in a run as they would be in a hutch or living in the house, plus mine have the advantage of shade from a tree!
 
Pigs are sensitive to the sun, I only had Flora in the sun for less than an hour on Tuesday and she flopped back in her cage. Just beause it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it won't. I quickly gave her fluids and did them some lunch and she picked up.
 
allthough i use a sunshade over my piggies runs it doesent shade the whole run and they still tend to lay in the small patches of sun in the run re the sunblock on ears my neighbour has a white cat and she uses it on its ears thats why i was asking if anyone uses it on guinea pigs ears ?
 
I feel it is irresponsible NOT to use sunscreen especially if like me you have more than 30 moles and brown easily. I've already been to the doctors with a suspicious mole on my shoulder which turned out to be ok!

So cover up, slap that sun screen on, drink loads and don't sunbathe it's a mugs game as are sunbeds! :)
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

Lizzie71 said:
I can't believe this thread :o I don't think that piggies are that sensitive. If it is hot, they move into the shade. Simple as that. My piggies are outside all day, all summer, and I make sure that at least part of the run is in shade at all times. They spend most of their time in the shade.

Other than that I am sure that no other precautions are needed. I used to put water bottles outside when they were in the run, but these were always untouched so I don't bother any more. And I have certainly never bothered putting a tent up ;D
Click to expand...

What a very naive comment to make! Have you ever seen a pig with heat stroke? It's not nice and I hope you never have to deal with it.

It's a big misconception that it's the sun that causes the heatstroke - it's not. There's a reason why it's called heatstroke ;D. The shade is only a few degrees cooler than direct sun so on a day in midsummer where it's into the mid 30s, it will still be mid 30s in the shade. It takes very little time, effort and money to take precautions to prevent heatstroke.
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

I think its simple, keep the pigs indoors when its hot with windows open and a fan! then if you want them to get some run time put them out around half five-six when its cooler and all in the shade. thats what i do and mine have all been fine, theres been no need for any frozen water bottles etc here yet because the pigs are never put where its hot, but if we do get hotter weather and my pig room gets too warm i will be getting air con and frozen water bottles! i never want to deal with heat stroke! i only have my rabbit out during the day and he goes in the shade.

What is the best thing to do with shelties and other longhairs when it gets hot? is it best to completely cut it short like a smooth? ive been keeping an eye on mine, feeling how hot she is underneath when she's been sitting down and she seems no hotter than the rest.

x
 
Re: Safety tips and hot weather in the UK - sun stroke, ear sunburn and dehydrat

SunshineAndTwinkle said:
I feel it is irresponsible NOT to use sunscreen especially if like me you have more than 30 moles and brown easily. I've already been to the doctors with a suspicious mole on my shoulder which turned out to be ok!

So cover up, slap that sun screen on, drink loads and don't sunbathe it's a mugs game as are sunbeds! :)
Click to expand...

I think you're right Louise, I mentioned to a friend that maybe we shouldn't use suncreams as they have tons of chemicals in, and she said better to use them than get skin cancer ;D so I probably will be using it...especially here....the sun is powerful!
 
My pigs are in my bedroom with light non lined curtains nearly fully closed, all the windows open fully and a fan on and it is still warm in there, their water bottles are checked every time I am on my feet.
We have decided only to go on a short 4 day holiday this year and my neighbour will be looking after my piggies, as I was going to ask my OH's cousin to come down and do it but I feel she is lazy and will not put the piggies 1st, I know my neighbour will look after them better.
Do you already know who will be looking after your piggies when you go on holiday and can you trust this person... I am still worried about going on holiday and if it was not for the kids then I would stay at home.
 
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