Warning - massive temp drop in south east

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Pebble

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Tonight the temperature has suddenly dropped to 0.0deg C here in East Grinstead(Sussex ). I had to de-ice my car before going out tonight.

All pigs used to spending the winter indoors should now be IN!

Please ensure your outdoor (and indoor) pigs have enough insulation/hay/heat to protect them against this massive temperature change (>10 deg C) ...and keep a close eye out for URI/mite/skin symptoms over the next two weeks......

x
 
Pebble said:
Tonight the temperature has suddenly dropped to 0.0deg C here in East Grinstead(Sussex ). I had to de-ice my car before going out tonight.

All pigs used to spending the winter indoors should now be IN!

Please ensure your outdoor (and indoor) pigs have enough insulation/hay/heat to protect them against this massive temperature change (>10 deg C) ...and keep a close eye out for URI/mite/skin symptoms over the next two weeks......

x
Click to expand...

Thanks - I am so grateful when people put posts on here like this as it helps newbies like me. We're getting our first piggies this weekend, and although they'll be indoors in the conservatory I didn't know that there was a greater risk of UTIs and mite/skin probs. Tell me more! Is that purely because of the drop in temperature?
Mine will be inside but in the conservatory. Would putting a couple of fleeces or a blanket over the cage at night help? (leaving a gap for air of course!)
Or just lots of extra hay?
Are they only more susceptible to skin problems if they live outside?
Thanks:)
 
Piggies are susceptible to environmental changes which manifest themselves as skin infections (ie mites/lice/fungal) or URI's. A 10degC temperature change normally results in a URI if the piggie is not prepared/insulated.

So think about your new piggies current living conditions and where they are moving to with you....how much of a change is it in terms of temperature/living conditions/etc?

ANY move is an environmental shock to a piggie so skin problems are common in the first few weeks...however the sudden temperature drop means you have to be alert to URI syptoms (noisy breathing/lethargy/clicking in the nose) as piggies can go downhill so quickly (<24hrs) and but for a timely antibiotic intervention could be saved.

Fleece and other insulating materials will help - but if the temp in your conservatory is down to 0 then you may need to consider an oil-filled radiator to provide extra warmth. Piggie's normal temp range is 15-23deg C although they can go down further if they are SLOWLY acclimatised to being outside gradually.

HTH - if you want to have a phone conflab then please PM me for my contact details.

x
 
I've got three outdoor pigs and have just invested in a remote thermometer and a second heater for the hutch. Much less of a worry to be able to check the temperature at any time, and it's also definitely opened my eyes to how cold it could get out there for them (hence the second heater being installed today!) xx
 
For anyone interested, the cheapest place to buy a snugglesafe heat pad is http://www.vetuk.co.uk/guinea-pig-s...-665_835/snugglesafe-heat-pad-and-cover-p-250

Postage is free when you order over £19 worth of stuff, so it's worth adding a few packs of hay and food (which are a really good price) to get this.

I sell heatpad covers 2 for £5 including postage to the UK. For anyone worried about their piggies in the cold I would really recommend investing in a couple of standard cavy cozies. Piggies keep really warm in them and because they are fleece throughout they wick away the urine to keep the piggies warm and dry. My cozies have a layer of wadding in them which makes them more expensive to make and send, but I think it's worth it! My oldest piggy Sweetie feels the cold as she is old and most of the winter she is like a little hermit pig in a cozy shell.

My website is www.cavycozies.com I donate all profits to small animal rescues and am currently raising £500 for Windwhistle Warren in Gloucestershire.
 
Bump!

Please keep moving this up the form threads for the next 24 hours.

x
 
My piggies are all in my bedroom with me at the moment :) I have an oil filled radiator I leave on all night on the lowest setting so were all snuggley :)
 
Piggies are getting clean out tomorrow so gonna switch the winter ways, primark bag stuffed with hay, etc.
Really hoping i can get my refund soon so i can buy my piggies a cosy sack, there indoor but i still worry about how cold they get !
 
Oh dear I best keep an eye on my rabbit. I put a old duvet over her but mum thinks I'm crazy {:| pfft I think ill be getting her more stuff to keep warm now
 
I noticed it was cool in the rest of the house tonight! I have just tonight changed the settings of the heating as it was getting too hot! mallethead oh well...
 
Heat pads are all done (had to stop half way through as the microwave started making a funny noise...I may need to invest in a very cheap second piggy microwave...)

The insulation is so far doing it's job but we have pulled the tarp right down over the front as well tonight, so as well as their perspex over the front there is the tarp too just in case any cold attempts to sneak in!

Everyone with outdoor piggies please bear in mind water freezes at 0 degrees so make sure your bottles are insulated too! Ruledbyguineapigs on here (Bex) makes lovely fleece covers for them if needed.
 
ZaraPiggie6 said:
My piggies are all in my bedroom with me at the moment :) I have an oil filled radiator I leave on all night on the lowest setting so were all snuggley :)
Click to expand...

:) love your snuggley idea with the piggies zara! when the weather is really cold [they are normally well covered up outside], everyone is decamped into the dining room! we have laminated flooring to help keep the mess down, but even so 6 hutches and 5 holdimg cages always means someone needs cleaning or going in the portable baby playpen that i have for their exercise !am i piggie mad or what? just as well the family are so patient with me:)
 
Nice and warm out there tonight, lots of cloud coverage (and rain, but hey, you can't have it all!)
 
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