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Keeping them warm in the coldest of weather!
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A simple rule to remember - guinea
pigs don't like the cold!
They are most comfortable in the same temperature ranges
(ideally between 18°-22°C) and types of humidity
that we humans like to have. When the temperature drops
below 10°C its time to get them into the warm.
Damp, cold and draughts are the biggest
killers of guinea pigs and any pet living in an outdoor
hutch is susceptible to all three. It is therefore essential
to protect your cavy from them if he is to have any chance
of surviving the winter.
Ideally all guinea pigs should live indoors,
however this is an unrealistic wish and impracticable for
many owners. However, we strongly advise that pigs should
not be left in outside hutches during the coldest winter
months but be moved to indoor cages in a shed (preferably
with heating of some kind) or a garage (which isn't being
used for the family car as exhaust fumes are as fatal as
the cold!). If none of this is practicable, then at least
bringing them indoors overnight in a cardboard box during
the very bitterest of cold snaps will allow some respite
from the frost.
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The shed should be well ventilated but
warm and draught-free during winter and you should check
daily that they have plenty of hay and bedding to help keep
them warm in their cages... remember that they will eat
the hay as well as snuggle up in it, so it needs this daily
checking. A wooden nesting box full of hay placed in the
cage will further allow them somewhere to snuggle down out
of any draughts.
A strip of old carpet placed over the
cage wires of pigs in the shed will help protect them from
draughts too - but take care not to cut off all ventilation.
Check too that their water bottles are
not frozen and that they can get enough to drink.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is an abnormally low body temperature induced
by exposure to cold. This condition is extremely dangerous
and unless acted upon quickly will usually prove fatal.
Very little information is available either in books or
on the internet on how best to treat hypothermia in guinea
pigs and the advice offered here is therefore adapted from
British Red Cross first-aid manuals on treatment of hypothermia
in humans.
Look out for the signs:
- Shivering and cold
- Lethargy or failing consciousness
- Slow and shallow breathing
- In extreme cases, heart failure
Aims of First Aid:
- Prevent further heat loss
- Rewarm the casualty
- Obtain veterinary help
Action:
- Immediatley bring the guinea pig indoors to a warm
room
- Rapid warming should be avoided
- Do not place heat sources such as hot
water bottles or radiators next to the guinea pig
- Wrap the guinea pig in a blanket or towel and massage
the body in an attempt to allow the body to return to
normal temperature gradually
- Try to give a drink of lukewarm (not hot) water. Fluids
are always critical when the body is under stress in
any way, so drinking a little and often as the animal
recovers is crucial.
- A dab of Vick™ on the end of the nose will help
clear air passages and assist with breathing.
- If wet, dry with towel not hairdryer
Seek advice from a vet with good knowledge
of small pets as hypothermia may disguise the symptoms of
stroke or heart failure.
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