Mary Allen
If the temperatures rise, the risk of guinea pigs and co. overheating increases. Help is needed from us humans. From a shady spot to a cool washcloth – this is how you can give your small animals a welcome cooling off in summer.
A guinea pig cannot take a cold shower or jump into the pool if it is too hot. It is therefore up to us humans to make the hot summer days as bearable for the animals as possible. Guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters in particular suffer from the heat and can even suffer from heatstroke. Small animals do not perspire and cannot pant like dogs. They regulate their temperature via the less hairy areas of their body surface, such as the ears, by giving off heat. Rabbits are particularly sensitive to heat, which is why they hide in the wild in holes in the ground in front of the sun. Guinea pigs, which originally come from cooler mountain regions, also suffer when it’s hot outside.
Shorten Long Fur
Small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits can experience heat stroke in summer. When the temperatures climb above 25 degrees Celsius, it is better to bring the animals into the house. Long-haired animals can be shortened in summer. This means that the animals suffer less from the heat and can enjoy the summer in the outdoor enclosure.
Provide Cooling in the Heat
There are a number of things people can do in summer to make the warmth more bearable for their animals. If rabbits or guinea pigs live in the outdoor enclosure, they must under no circumstances be exposed to the hot sun without protection. Tighten a shade sail, this will provide shade.
At temperatures of 25 degrees and above, one or two cold packs wrapped in towels can help, on which the animals can sit. Slates are also good here: They offer a cool place to sit or stretch out. Tiles that you first put in the refrigerator and then in the enclosure have the same effect. You can give your tame rabbit extra cooling if you carefully cool the neck, head, ears, and the inside of the hind legs with a damp washcloth. Put fresh drinking water in the enclosure several times a day and also feed water-rich vegetables such as cucumbers or lettuce.
Care and Hygiene are the Be-all and End-all
Meticulous hygiene is also important at high temperatures. Germs and bacteria multiply faster. Clean the cage and enclosure more often than usual. Check daily whether your animals have injuries or diarrhea. Flies like to settle in these places and maggot infestation occurs rapidly.
If your small animal lives indoors, be careful with room fans: never point them directly at the cage, as drafts can be harmful. It is better to lower the shutters during the day so that the room does not heat up too much.