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Is it possible for Guinea Pigs to live outside?
How to keep guinea pigs cool inside?
It is critical to keep your guinea pig cool throughout the warmer months since they are susceptible to heatstroke.
Guinea pigs do not sweat like humans, and as a result, they must regulate their body temperature through blood flow from their ears, which is not as efficient as that of other animals in this regard.
As a result, we must make certain that they have a safe and comfortable living environment. Here are some actions you may do to keep them cool inside during the hot summer months:
Table of Contents
Refresh and Refill the water bottles:
During the hot summer months, Guinea requires a lot of water. Guinea pigs can drink anywhere from 50ml to 200ml of water each day on average, depending on their size.
It is true that they drink more during the hot months, so make sure you check the water periodically and replenish it with fresh, cool water as needed.
Guinea pigs do not drink warm water, so providing or changing the water every few hours will encourage them to drink more and, as a result, they will keep hydrated and cool throughout the day.
Water that is too cold, on the other hand, should be avoided because it is detrimental for their health and guinea pigs do not appreciate it as much.
Feeding watery vegetables and leafy greens:
Feeding watery vegetables such as cucumbers, zucchini, melons, and other fruits and vegetables is a fantastic approach to stay hydrated.
It is possible to keep a chilly piece of cucumber from the fridge cold for an extended amount of time, making it a delicious summer treat.
However, be careful not to get carried away and end up giving them an excessive amount, as this might cause diarrhea in some of them.
Ensure that any uneaten vegetables are removed from the area within a few hours after being harvested because uneaten food can attract a large number of flies and bacteria.
Regular brushing and Hair trimming helps:
When compared to shorter-haired types, long-haired guinea pigs are more susceptible to heatstroke.
Hair trimming for long-haired guinea pigs is quite effective since it allows them to calm down a little bit more quickly after being exposed to heat.
Brushing your guinea pig breed on a regular basis is also important since it aids in the removal of knots in the hair.
Guinea pigs shed a little more heavily as the summer months approach, allowing them to shed superfluous hair from their coat. As a result, brushing them helps to eliminate any excess hair that has become lodged in the coat.
Misting them with spray bottles:
If your guinea pigs enjoy a gentle mist spray, then give them one. Misting cold water helps in lowering the temperature of their body and is often an excellent way to keep them fresh on a hot summer day.
Cover the cage with a cool, damp towel:
Covering your guinea pig’s cage with a cold, damp towel will frequently help to eliminate excess heat from the cage while also acting as an additional layer of insulation for the pen.
If you direct the fan toward the wet towel, it will blow somewhat cold air into the cage, which is another option. In order to accomplish so successfully, there are a few factors that must be taken into consideration.
The first step is to ensure that you only cover a portion of the cage in order to allow for enough air circulation.
The second thing to keep in mind is that you should avoid covering the entire cage with a wet towel because leaking water might cause your guinea pigs to become ill.
Make a DIY Hidey Ice cushion for your guinea pigs:
Hidey ice pillows are a fantastic addition to the cage during the summer months. However, because there isn’t a suitable one accessible on the market, you could have to do everything yourself.
It is, on the other hand, pretty straightforward. Measuring the hidey first, then cutting a piece of fleece (or an old pillow cover) the same size as the hidey in the shape of two circles from the fleece (or an old pillow cover).
Afterwards, stitch both circles halfway through and then fill the icepacks and cotton stuffing into the pockets.
You may now stitch the other half of the circle together and place it in the freezer until it is cold enough for your guinea pigs.
You can then store the pillows in their cage anytime it is really hot outside.
Add some hiding spots in the cage:
Consider adding some hiding spots in the cage where guinea pigs can rest and escape from the heat as well.
You can use a fleece or cardboard boxes or a wooden hideout for them. Avoid plastic shelters during summer as they can radiate heat; thus, they heat up quickly.
Place a tile/brick in the cage:
Placing a ceramic or porcelain tile in the cage of your guinea pig can be an excellent trick to give a try.
These tiles are always cool to touch, no matter how the weather is. Guinea pigs love to lie down on these tiles whenever they feel overheated.
Make sure the tile has no sharp edges and is placed securely to avoid any hazards.
Add a self-cooling mat:
Adding a self-cooling mat into the cage is a luxury for your guinea pigs. If the temperature in your area gets hot during summer, then you should consider adding one into their enclosure.
Just like tiles, self-cooling mats are an excellent way to cool down the body temperature and get instant relief from the heat.
Your guinea pig will love to lie around these cool mats during those hot summer days.
Consider moving the cage:
In the event that you reside in a property with a lot of windows and drafts, you may want to consider relocating your guinea pigs to the center of the house.
Most of the time, the room in the center receives the least amount of direct sunshine as well as direct radiated heat through the walls.
Because of this, it remains significantly cooler than the rest of your home. Moving your guinea pig’s cage to the center of the room is a fantastic approach to ensure that they have a comfortable living environment.
Cover the windows:
When the weather outside is scorching and humid, it goes without saying that closing all of the windows and doors, as well as drawing curtains over them, will assist to keep the room cool.
You can also use blackout curtains to keep the heat from radiating into the room, thereby keeping the room cold.
It is also important to close the windows and doors to prevent waves of heat from entering our home, which is especially important during the hot summer days.
Using a fan or air conditioner:
Using a fan to create a flow of air can assist you in keeping your guinea pigs cool during the summer. Make certain, however, that the fan does not blow directly on them.
In really hot weather, you can also use an air conditioner to cool down your home or the room where your guinea pigs are kept to keep them comfortable.
Add Icepacks/Gel packs in the cage:
When placed in a guinea pig cage, icepacks or gel packs can also be used to provide relief.
It’s important to wrap it tightly in a pillow cover or old socks so that your guinea pigs don’t nibble on it. –
Your guinea pigs enjoy lying around in the packs since the chilly air keeps the rest of the cage space comfortable.
How to keep guinea pigs cool outside?
Many people find it difficult to keep their guinea pigs cool outside during the summer months, especially if they reside in an area where the temperature in the summer exceeds 25°C (77°F).
In addition to heatwaves and direct sunlight, there are other factors that can contribute to the agony.
You may, however, keep your guinea pigs outside even on a scorching summer day if you know how to do so properly and safely.
Consider moving them indoors:
If the heat waves in your area get very extreme, you may want to consider bringing your guinea pigs indoors for the night.
When compared to the outside temperature, the temperature inside your home will almost certainly be significantly lower.
As a result, it should come as no surprise that bringing your guinea pig indoors during the hot summer months can be a good move.
Make careful, however, that you do not keep your guinea pigs in the kitchen or laundry area at any time. Guinea pigs are extremely sensitive to scent and noise; as a result, the smell from the kitchen and the sounds from the washer-dryer can be quite harmful to their well-being.
You can temporarily keep your guinea pigs in a midwest cage or any other type of playpen for a few days.
Keep away from patios and open lawns:
During the summer months, keep the hutch away from patios and open lawns to avoid damage. Patios frequently act as heat traps and radiators in their immediate surroundings, causing the temperature in the region around them to rise dramatically.
Open gardens are no exception, as the direct sunshine that shines on them during the day can raise the temperature of the surrounding area dramatically.
As a result, keeping your guinea pigs in close proximity to such areas is not a wise option. It is quite essential that you maintain your guinea pigs’ enclosure away from open lawns and patios at all times.
Move the hutch into shady areas:
In order to provide them with the most sunlight throughout the day, it is best to place them in a north or east-facing garden site if at all possible.
If you don’t have much available space in your home, consider relocating their hutch under the shade of a nearby tree. If you don’t have any other options open to you, a parasol may be the best solution for you.
Moving their hutch into a shady position where the hot breeze and sun will not directly hit it is the most important takeaway. If you are unable to relocate them into a safe location, it is recommended that you temporarily put them inside your home.
Avoid uninsulated sheds or garage:
Keeping your guinea pig in an uninsulated shed or garage can be much more dangerous than leaving them outside in the cold weather.
Often, the temperature inside such a shed can soar twice as high as it does outside. When combined with a high humidity level, it becomes more of a death trap for your guinea pigs than anything else.
As a result, you must exercise caution when housing your guinea pigs in such locations during the hot summer months. Also, never keep your guinea pigs in a shed that isn’t well ventilated, as they require plenty of fresh air to survive.
Consider partially covering the front of the hutch with damp clothes:
In order to maintain a cool interior temperature, partially covering the front piece of your hutch with a damp towel or any other material can be beneficial.
When the air blowing from the front side of the hutch comes into contact with a moist towel, it becomes colder, which causes the hutch to become cooler on the inside.
The hutch gains an additional layer of insulation, which is particularly beneficial for keeping the temperature stable.
Provide more than one source of water:
During the hot summer months, it is critical to have multiple sources of drinking water available. During warmer weather, guinea pigs have a tendency to drink more water.
In addition, hot weather might make the water too hot to drink, causing your guinea pigs to get dehydrated as a result of not drinking enough.
As a result, having numerous sources of water is critical to ensuring that your guinea pigs stay hydrated during the hot months.
If you have more than one guinea pig in a cage, it is essential that you have more than one water bottle available.
Some guinea pigs can become territorial, and they may refuse to share their food and water with other guinea pigs. Having a variety of food and water dishes available is really beneficial in these situations.
Provide icepacks:
Throwing some icepacks into your guinea pigs hutch is always an excellent way to keep your guinea pigs cool.
If the weather gets too hot, you can consider throwing some icepacks securely wrapped in fleece, old socks, or even pillow cover into the cage.
Your guinea pigs will love to lie around the packs as the surrounding area gets a little cold due to icepacks.
Wiping or misting your guinea pigs:
Misting your guinea pigs or wiping them with a cold water towel can help cool their body temperature a lot.
Make sure you do it gently, and your guinea pigs are comfortable with it. While some guinea pigs enjoy a cold mist bath, others don’t.
However, it is an excellent way to cool down their body temperature if it is scorching outside.
Provide watery vegetables:
Water vegetables like cucumber, melons, etc. are a great addition to your guinea pig’s diet.
They not only provide your guinea pigs with essential nutrients but also helps in keeping them hydrated.
However, make sure you don’t get carried away and serve too much of it as overfeeding often leads to digestive issues in guinea pigs.
Use a thermometer in the hutch:
Adding a smart thermometer or even a normal one can in the cage helps you closely monitor the temperature around the cage.
If you find the temperature to be abnormally high, then you might take some steps to bring it back to normal.
Make sure the temperature stays between 18 and 24 °C, as it is the ideal temperature range for your guinea pigs.
Avoid frozen treats:
Many people are often tempted to offer frozen treats in the form of vegetables and fruits to their guinea pigs.
However, it is not a wise move to do so. Some guinea pigs hurt their lips and tongue, trying to nibble at those treats.
Frozen treats also cause digestive issues in guinea pigs, so it is best to avoid it.
Changing the bedding frequently:
During the summer months, it is critical to replace the bedding of your guinea pigs on a regular basis because the risk of flystrike is extremely significant during this period.
Moist and filthy bedding can serve as a breeding ground for flies, which can lay their eggs in these conditions. The risk is also increased in sick and aged animals because they have difficulty cleaning their genital areas, which attracts even more flies to deposit their eggs.
The maggots that emerge from those eggs frequently begin feasting on the exposed flesh of your guinea pigs, and in the majority of cases, they will cause your guinea pig’s death if proper veterinarian treatment is not offered quickly. As a result, changing the bedding on a regular basis during the warm months can be really beneficial.
