Mary Allen
Our pets suffer particularly when the temperatures are very warm in summer. Dogs or cats, which are mostly allowed to move around freely in the house or apartment, look for cool places to cool off on their own. It’s a bit more complicated with small animals. They either live outside in the enclosure or in an indoor enclosure or small animal room. Ambient temperatures in excess of 25 degrees are difficult for most rabbits, guinea pigs, or other rodents to manage. In the wild, these animals stay in the cool den during the day and usually only leave it in the evening when it is no longer so warm. With your pets, you should therefore make sure that you give them sufficient retreats. You can also support them with some helpful measures.
Rabbits cannot sweat or pant like dogs. Their thick fur also prevents the exchange of heat. They can only give off heat through the ears, which are usually equipped with less or shorter fur. Other small animals are not doing much better. Long-haired guinea pigs in particular struggle with the heat in summer. A fashionable short haircut can bring relief and by autumn everything will have grown back.
Pre-Shift Before Heat Stroke
Guinea pigs and rabbits are also often exposed to the dangers of heatstroke in summer. Unlike hamsters, mice, or degus, they are often kept outside. There they not only need a sufficiently large enclosure so that they can satisfy their urge to move. Your exercise area must also provide sufficient shade. Enclosures that are completely free on the property and in the sun all day long are problematic. A retreat alone is not enough, it heats up too much. Parasols or sun sails that you set up yourself only help to a limited extent, as the heat often builds up underneath. On the other hand, positions under tall trees or a partially shaded location of the house are ideal. Since the sun is moving, the sniffing noses then have both sun and shade in a ratio that is well tolerated by them. Cages should not be placed on the balcony or terrace if they are mostly in the sun.
Temperatures that exceed 30 degrees are dangerous for small animals – regardless of whether they are kept indoors or outdoors. The heat build-up can lead to heatstroke, which can quickly be fatal for the little housemates if nothing is done. Animals that suffer from overheating usually lie stretched out and apathetic in the enclosure. The rapid flank breathing can be clearly seen, which can be seen under the fur. In such a case, speed is of the essence. The best thing to do is to carefully wrap the patient in a slightly damp dishcloth or towel and take him to the vet immediately. The veterinarian supplies the sick animal with medication to strengthen the circulatory system and give it plenty of fluids.
Tip: You can always monitor the temperature in the enclosure using an indoor thermometer.
Cooling by Air Conditioner or Ceiling Fan
So that it doesn’t get that far in the first place, you can provide additional cooling in the enclosure. When it comes to housing, general air conditioning creates the best results. If it’s hot outside, you should ventilate well in the mornings and evenings and keep the windows closed during the day so as not to let the hot midday air into the room in the first place. An air conditioner that cools dry, i.e. without ice, is recommended. Pedestal fans are generally not advisable as they provide little cooling and dry out the mucous membranes on the eyes and noses. They should therefore by no means be aimed directly at animals. Ceiling fans that do not rotate too quickly achieve better results and provide some air circulation in the room, which guinea pigs and co. Can tolerate better.
Create Local Cooling Options With a Water Bottle or Ice Packs
However, you can also offer your pets individual cooling options that can be implemented in different ways. The simplest method is stone slabs or tiles that are placed in the stable or in the enclosure. Since their surface is usually cold, the fur noses lay on it all by themselves. Glass bottles filled with ice water that is wrapped in cloths also provide good cooling. People like to cuddle up to it. Plastic bottles are not recommended as they could get gnawed.
This also applies to cold packs. But they can still be used. For example, if you wrap them in tea towels and place them on top of the cage. This will force cool air into the enclosure. However, the cooling effect diminishes relatively quickly. It is therefore advisable to always have spare batteries in the freezer. Cold packs themselves should not be left unprotected in the stable, as their outer material also invites you to nibble. But under a large plastic or ceramic plant mat, they offer your small animals an ideal cooling island. And with a towel on top, it becomes your favorite place to snuggle up on hot days.
A box with slightly moistened sand is also recommended for keeping rabbits. However, rabbits love to dig and it may be that the soil is then spread throughout the entire enclosure. In addition, you have to be careful that the sand does not get too wet and mold. This can make your bum boys sick. Some rabbits or guinea pigs like to dip their paws in a bowl of cold water. Others avoid it or just drink from it.
Fluid and Nutrition
However, water is fundamentally an important criterion. Like all living things, small animals drink more than usual on warm days. Therefore, they should always have enough fresh water available. Since it heats up faster in summer, it is advisable to give fresh water several times a day. The temperature from the water pipe is just right. Rodents should not get any water from the refrigerator, as this could cause colic under certain circumstances. If the house is kept outside, it must be ensured that the water bowl or drinking bottle is not exposed to direct sunlight. The water would heat up too quickly and also become stale.
Small animals do not need any different food than usual in summer. On the other hand, you can observe that they probably eat a little less than usual during the day. This also has to do with rising temperatures. Usually, they catch up on everything in the evening. If your guinea pigs, rabbits, or chinchillas like it, you can give them some seedless watermelon or cucumber. This gives them an extra helping of liquid.
Conclusion: Just like us, humans, small animals also like to look for a cool place when it is very warm. Since they cannot provide shade themselves in outdoor and indoor enclosures, you should provide them with cooling options. So that rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, and the like can get through the summer refreshed and safely.