In the UK, we just can’t help but grumble about the weather – no matter the time of year. We have such a varied climate here, that some say that we can experience all four seasons in one day! At the time I started writing this in (July 2021), we have recently experienced a heatwave where a temperature high of 32.2C was recorded at Heathrow Airport in west London. In our neck of the woods (Norwich, Norfolk), I recall my phone recording the temperature as 30C. Yes, I do love the warmth and sunshine, but I have to admit defeat – I am not as acclimatised as I would like to be. Imagine how our equally un-acclimatised our animal companions must feel!
In the UK, our homes tend not to be as well-equipped for heatwaves as those in traditionally warmer climes. So this begs the question, how do I keep my little rescue guinea pigs (the @wolfpackwiglets) cool in hot weather?
For reference, my guinea pigs live indoors – the Blue Cross has handy advice for outdoor piggies cool in hot weather. Here are a few of my own tried and tested methods:
Keep Curtains & Blinds Closed in Daylight Hours
I do this to help keep the room temperature down during the day, especially when the sun is beaming full blast on the windows. The NHS advice on how to cope in hot weather also recommends this method. The kitchen tends to be the coolest room in the house, so I make sure the gang get sufficient floor time there – accompanied by these other ideas.
No Aircon? Get a Good Fan
With our varied climate, a good fan is a godsend. There are plenty of choices across all major retailers, to suit every budget. I’m currently using a Princess Smart Tower Fan which has been brilliant for keeping the piggies cool…and me! It stands at 41″ and works with Alexa and Google Home, so you can remotely control it from your smartphone. Out of its three oscillator settings, I usually let the pigs experience the ‘natural’ mode, which gives a similar feeling to sitting in a breeze!
If your budget can stretch a little further, Princess also do a 2-in-1 Smart Tower Fan & Heater – that way, you can be prepared for the extremes of a UK summer and winter (I am tempted to upgrade).
A friend of mine suggested putting a bowl of iced water in front of your fan, to help circulate cool air around the room. On the next heatwave day, I think I will give this a try and see what difference it makes.
Tiles & Cooling Mats
You can obtain tile and slate samples easily from your local DIY and hardware stores, just watch out for sharp edges. I’ve got a bunch that I alternate around being in the freezer, to keep them cooler for longer for the pigs. As you will see from the photo below, I place an old fabric cutting over the top of the slate – this stops the cold sensation being too uncomfortable on my little friends’ paws.
I also use small cooling mats, but its best to wrap them in towels or old pillow cases to stop curious piggies from chewing at them. As with the tiles, I also tend to put mine in the freezer first so they stay cooler for longer. My guinea pigs’ enclosure is furnished by GuineaDad fleece liners, so I have about four cooling mats that I alternate underneath the convenient fleece hidey pockets – as I said above, just make sure your little friends aren’t tempted to try and chew at them.
Frozen Glass Bottles 🍾
I prefer to use glass because it’s pretty much chew-proof (even though they try!), and because they really seem to hold their coolness from the freezer. I usually put a little bit of water in them before freezing. Some people encase them in an old sock or wrap them in a towel, so the cold temperature isn’t too much of a shock.
Cucumber Cocktails 🥒
The humble cucumber is a welcome sight for piggies in need of a cooling summer beverage. Its the equivalent of us humans having a nice refreshing drink, as demonstrated by neutered boar Fergus De Bruyne:
Just make sure you don’t overdo it, as cucumber is obviously very watery and you don’t want to give your friends an upset tum by accident.
Cold Towels
A towel placed in cold water, sufficiently wrung-out and placed over a section of your little friends’ enclosure will provide them with a cooling shelter. Gently dampening their fur can also help with bringing body temperature down.
There are many, many more tips out there for keeping your little friends comfortable in hot weather, but these are my usual go-to choices. What are yours? Feel free to share them with us. The excellent Guinea Piggles also has some comprehensive advice on keeping your little cavy friends safe in extreme weather conditions. 👍🏻
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Lisa Writes 