[Gpdd] [CARE]<Summer tips>

[Janneke Staaks]

Hi All,
I decided to translate summer tips from my favorite dutch guinea pig 
website. Here in the netherlands we are not really used to dealing with heat 
waves so everyone here is extremely worried about their piggies (sadly not 
without reason).I do not know how the weather is for everyone on the list, 
and maybe there are people that are used to living in extreme temperatures 
(any tips are welcome!) but i wanted to post it anyway.Many tips are meant 
for people who keep their pigs outside but i think that they are useful 
anyway (my piggies always live inside :-( ).
Grtz&wkz
Janneke from the winky girls

Summer tips

•Don't put a guinea pig in the sun, but always in the shade. This is very 
important because guinea pigs can easily get a sunstroke. A guinea pig's 
body temperature is much higher than a human's so guinea pigs overheat more 
easily.

•A sunshade does provide shade but temperatures below can still be pretty 
high, it's better to keep your pig below a tree or a hedge.

•The sun turns, pay attention to this, what can be a shadowy place in the 
morning can be very sunny in the afternoon

•It's best to keep guinea pigs inside during the day if it's too hot. In the 
evening they can go outside if it's a bit cooler. Usually guinea pigs aren't 
active anyway when it's this hot.

• Guinea pigs are still very sensitive for drafts and wind. Be very careful 
when you put them outside and don't aim a ventilator directly at your guinea 
pig's cage

• If the temperature goes up, you can fill an empty bottle with cold water 
and wrap it in a towell (or keep the bottles with water in the fridge). It's 
safer than cooling elements because they can be toxic. What you can also do 
is buy a tile (from stone) and put that in the fridge. And then place it in 
the cage.

• Even if it's extremely hot, don't give veggies straight out of the fridge. 
Guinea pigs easily develop gasproblems. Also remove veggie leftovers every 
day because they can attract flies

• Don't put houses in the cage, they can become pretty sultry.

• if your guinea pig has pink ears put suntan-oil on them. The ears are very 
thin and can easily burn, even in the shade.

• Put hay in a rack and preferrably not on the bottom of the cage. Guinea 
pigs prefer to lie under the hay but this can become too hot and sultry

• Don't put a thick layer of hay or other bottemcovers in the cage, this can 
really heat up (and smell really bad and the ammonia is not good for them). 
it's better to use less and change more often.

•Always provide fresh water, but never ice cold water

• If you have to go to the vet and don't have airconditioning in your car, 
place a wet towel on the bottom of the travelling cage, or a small 
waterbottle from the fridge wrapped in a towel. Only transport guinea pigs 
when it's really neccesary and if you can, wait until the evening.

•If the guinea pigs walk on grass (outside), wait until the grass is dry 
from the morning dew before putting them outside.(can cause gas)

• In spring, be very careful with providing grass, young grass can cause gas 
in their bowels and this is life threathning, also start with just little 
bits.

•Take extra care in keeping the cage clean, don't give flies a chance!!

•If you suspect your guinea pig has a sunstroke (symptoms are shivering, 
drewling, trouble breathing. Very often they become apathic and their blood 
circulation becomes worse.), wrap it in a wet towel (not icecold!!) and 
place the pig in a cool,dark place. Cool it's head (wet wascloth?) and maybe 
place it with its feet in water. Don't put the guinea pig in a 
tub/bowl/basin filled with really cold water!! This can cause a shock. Go as 
quickly as you can to a vet! The vet will be able to administer fluids and 
can improve blood circulation by administering quick working cortisones.