Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 8, 2006 13:24:00 GMT
Heat Stroke or Sun stroke Over the last couple of weeks it has been very hot over most of the UK. High temperatures and high humidity, and even thunderstorms in some places. There have been reports of a few cases of Guinea pigs suffering heat exhaustion and heat stroke. A few have died as this is a very fast to develop, and is rapidly lethal. Where ever your guinea pigs are please keep an eye on them, keep them in the shade and cool, if they are indoors or in a shed have a fan running near by. Also you can put some water in small plastic pop bottles, put in the freezer until frozen, wrap a towel around them and put in the guinea pigs pen. This can also be done with those freeze blocks that are used for picnic cool bags. Make sure fresh drinking water is always available, it is surprising how quickly a bottle of water is drank in hot weather. If you find a pig with the following symptoms, act very quickly: drooling, listlessness, shallow rapid breathing and/or gasping, unable to stand or very shaky. Get some one to contact a vet, but act as soon as you find this, run a sinkful of tepid water, put the guinea pig up to the neck in the water, hold them there until they are fully soaked. Wrap loosely in a towel and put next to a fan. Once piggy is starting to try and stand up help him or her, offer re-hydration fluid, glucose solution or water from your fingers, dropper or bottle. You should now have some instructions from your vet, and a check up is strongly advised. It can take a couple of days to completely recover, sometimes more. There is a chance of lung or cardiac problems along with heat stroke/exhaustion, also be sure your pig is drinking to counteract dehydration, some treats of watery fresh food such as melon or cucumber are helpful. Author: Angelwyche Source: Guinea Pig World Forum
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 8, 2006 13:29:22 GMT
Heat Stroke
What is Heat Stroke?[/u] The normal body temperature of a cavy is 99-103 degrees F / 37.2-39.4 degrees C. If its temperature starts to rise above this it will cause stress on its body and ultimately organ failure and death if not treated. Symptoms[/u] A cavy experiencing heat stroke will lie on its belly or side unable or unwilling to move, he will be taking shallow breaths and have a rapid pulse. He may also feel hot to the touch. First Aid[/u] If you think your cavy is suffering from heat stroke soak a towel in cool water, wring out the excess liquid and wrap this around the cavy. Hold him at a slight angle so his head is lower than his heart this will aid blood flow to the brain. It is essential you seek immediate veterinary assistance. If caught quickly enough your cavy can make a full recovery with no lasting side effects however if left to0 long it will be fatal. Do not plunge your cavy into cold water this can cause the cavy to experience heart failure or become hypothermic. They are very sensitive to temperature changes and such methods of cooling your cavy can be more of a hindrance than a help. Prevention
Environment[/u] The ideal environment for cavies would have a temperature of 65-75 degrees F / 18.3 – 23.8 degrees C and low humidity. Most cages will retain a lot of heat, you need to be especially careful with wooden hutches and plastic tank style cages as the temperature in these can quickly build up to fatal levels. Cage Location[/u] Place your cavy’s cage in a cool, shaded and well ventilated area which is free from draughts and direct sunlight. Keeping Cool
Frozen water bottles[/u] Allow your cavy somewhere cool to rest by freezing small bottles of water (500ml pop / soda bottles are ideal) wrap these in towels and place in the cage. Your cavy will enjoy lying against these to cool down. It is essential you wrap the bottles in towels to avoid freezer burns and they will also protect your cavy against getting damp from condensation that may build up on the bottle. Re-freeze the bottles as and when needed. Water[/u] Change your cavy’s water at least twice a day, in the heat water quickly warms through and becomes unpleasant to drink. A few ice cubes in the water bottle will help to keep the water cool be careful not to put too many in as ice cold water is bad for them. Terracotta / Marble Tiles[/u] Alternatively you can place a tile in the cage for your cavy to lie on. Terracotta or marble is ideal as they both retain a surface temperature below ambient. On really hot days you can chill the tile in the fridge or freezer before placing in the cage making sure you thoroughly dry the tile before to remove condensation or frost. Air Conditioning[/u] Air conditioning is an excellent way to keep your cavy cool. You can pre-set the machine to keep the temperature and humidity levels at a constant level within the ideal range. Keep a close eye on your machine to make sure it is running at optimum levels. Fluid Intake[/u] It is essential to keep your cavy’s fluid intake up during periods of hot weather or they can quickly dehydrate. Make sure their water bottles are always full and top up as necessary. If you keep your cavies in groups or a cage with more than one level you may find it beneficial to attach extra bottles. Vegetables with a high water content such as cucumber and celery can also be fed to help keep fluid intake up. Regular Checking[/u] It is essential you regularly check on our cavies to make sure they ok, especially during the hottest part of the day 11am – 2pm . Source: Guinea Pig WorldWhy not check out: www.cheekypigs.co.uk
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Post by rayfay on Jun 8, 2006 14:15:07 GMT
also frozen fruit or cucumber is useful just not to often as piggies teeth may start to become to cold for comfort.
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 8, 2006 14:38:01 GMT
Yes thanks Rachel good tip
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Post by rayfay on Jun 8, 2006 18:31:07 GMT
Could you use misters for outside piggies? Or would that be to humid?
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 8, 2006 20:49:13 GMT
Could you use misters for outside piggies? Or would that be to humid? Sorry I don't know what you mean be misters, can you explain. Doh silly me am I being daft? Dawn
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Post by greeneracres2001 on Jun 9, 2006 18:54:52 GMT
Where we live we can get some really hot and humid days and it is extremely uncomfortable for the piggies(not to mention the owners)..I change their caging so they are in an area of the room with no direct sunlight on them to add to the heat, I put a fan that keeps the air moving around them to provide some relief...I have put the frozen bottles in their cages to lean against... It seems the toughest on the pregnant sows and for that reason I do not breed my sows through the hot months of summer.... If I find a piggie in any kind of heat stress I wrap them in a cool towel and get the sugar solution , fruit or anything with sugar in it into them to avoid them going into shock.... One must react in this situation very quickly as you can lose them so easily in this situation...It is very critical... When I first started raising cavies many years ago I lost a little sow to heat stress due to my inexperience at the time. You must recognize the symptons and react fast if you are going to get positive results. Best is to keep them as cool as possible....If you are hot, so are they..... Linda
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Post by rayfay on Jun 9, 2006 19:07:08 GMT
I like that last part. "If you are hot so are they." Very good. Misters dawn are little things that we use in Arizona to keep us cool outside. They spray a little well... mist of water and it is very light and great to keep you cool! If you need me to explain anymore I will.
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 9, 2006 19:11:19 GMT
Oh right yes Rach of course silly me
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Post by rayfay on Jun 9, 2006 19:26:29 GMT
do you guys have misters in england? wouldnt think you would need them.
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 9, 2006 19:41:07 GMT
No we don't really but I remember one year we go one abroad with a fan attached too
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Post by rayfay on Jun 9, 2006 19:49:03 GMT
oh we have them year round! They don't freeze in the winter either. I just turned the fan on in Asia's room because it was hot in there. She was walking around though.
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Post by heatherjhenshaw on Jun 11, 2006 7:56:50 GMT
We do have misters of a fashion Dawn, I have one for my birds. Its 'pump up and spray' and gives a very very fine mist, much finer than a spray bottle, I have used it on the pigs and they dont mind it a bit, I got mine here Oh one thing about heat and heat stroke that may seem REALLY obvious but I still see loads of pigs die every year cos of it, never ever EVER leave them in the car if you are not in it. Cars are like ovens, even with the windows open, shade can move, you park in the shade and 30 mins later its in full sun, just dont do it ever www.24parrot.com/__12_product_info3_asp2_5_prdID4_47935_usrID36_135B7449-1D77-4198-9BEC-0B082100C1A45.htmlLast year at a show a lady left some cavies in the car in the shade while she penned up her other pigs, the ones in the car were 'for sale'. They all died. A good friend popped hers in the car at the end of the show and then got distracted helping someone, she lost 3......just dont put them in the car unless you are ready to go Love Heather
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 11, 2006 13:09:52 GMT
Thanks Heather I would never leave my piggies in the car ever. Thanks also for the link to the mister it is very dear isn't it do you think a ordinary spray bottle form say a household cleaner washed out thoroughly would be ok to use? I found these on ebay do you think they would be ok? Trigger Spray Bottle
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Post by heatherjhenshaw on Jun 11, 2006 17:03:14 GMT
Thanks Heather I would never leave my piggies in the car ever. Thanks also for the link to the mister it is very dear isn't it do you think a ordinary spray bottle form say a household cleaner washed out thoroughly would be ok to use? I found these on ebay do you think they would be ok? Trigger Spray BottleYes they are dear, but it was the only way I could get my birds to bath. The trigger bottles are ok but they tend to....well squirt, compare it with being misted by a fine spray, or being squirted in the face lol. My pigs freak if I use a spray bottle but with the mister they dont even notice it, they just seem to look around as if to say 'ah thats nice and cool' You may be able to get a better mist with a garden spray, one that pumps up like the mister does, as one reason it mists is the very high pressure it comes out of the bottle Remind me next week and I will bring the mister to show you Love Heather
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Post by heatherjhenshaw on Jun 11, 2006 17:04:55 GMT
oh Dawn one other thing I used to use which was good and very cheap, it was a spray bottle but had a fan on the top, one of those hand held ones, you turned the fan on and then sprayed and it made it very misted, I got mine at an agricultural fair on a very hot day
Heather
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Dawn - Admin
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Post by Dawn - Admin on Jun 11, 2006 19:06:51 GMT
Great idea Heather I will have to look out for one for my lot.
Dawn
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Post by popcornpiggy on Jul 13, 2013 14:21:28 GMT
I'm just bumping this thread as it is so hot here 30 degrees, and thought it wouldn't hurt for a reminder of the symptoms and also as quick reference for help for people if their piggys get caught with heat stroke !
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Post by shewolfsilver on Jul 17, 2013 5:19:50 GMT
Very informative thread! It was very hot here in Oklahoma but we've had a 4 day break of cool temps and rain. Of course my piggies are in the house in my son's room but I found the info very useful to those who have their piggies outside.
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***WheekyPig78***
Senior Piggy
Pigs have hearts, just like us. And they are full of love.
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Post by ***WheekyPig78*** on Jul 28, 2014 18:40:01 GMT
What are the early signs of heat stroke?
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Post by petlover2011 on Aug 24, 2014 20:35:13 GMT
These tips are very helpful. Its good to know the symptoms & what to do. Thanks for the info.
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