Question about heat stroke --

[kimtastic]

Don't worry, none of my guinea pigs are experiencing it right now. And I hope they never do.

I have two cages in my bedroom, one for the boys, and one for the girls. I only had two guinea pigs but the pet store lied and out popped two girls and a boy. So I separated them, but anyway...

I was wondering to what temperature can guinea pigs live without suffering heat stroke?

My main problem is that I don't have access to an air conditioner. I don't have money to buy one, and even if I did, I sincerely doubt my dad would let me run it. He complains about the electricity bill.

Now, I'm home most of the time, but during the day for about 2-3 hours I'm at school. This is when it's the hottest outside.

Around Philadelphia, it can get as hot as 110 degrees during the summer. I'm afraid that I'll come home one day and something will have happened to one or more of them.

I'm not completely sure what to do. I was considering putting them in my basement, where it's cooler, but I have a cat who lives in my basement (most of the time) and I'm afraid she would constantly be terrorizing them.

Any suggestions on keeping piggies cool during the summer without an AC?

[sparkyisnumber1]

I have seen people on this website use bricks they stay cool for hours. About a week ago Missouri had some high temps and my parents wouldnt turn on the ac so i put a icepack, (its in a tough plastic holder) wrapped in a towel on the floor of there cage, when the pigs got to warm they would go lay near it and stay cool. If you can go and buy a little standing fan that rotates and put it near the cage, not to close you dont want the little guys to get to cool. But with the air rotating it will help. And it wouldnt run up the bill. If you put them in the basement set the cage on a sturdy table so the cat wouldnt beable to get to them, then build a lid for you cage. So if the cat does get on the table he/she wont be able to get in the cage with the pigs. Hope this helps.

[Haley0489]

Check out this thread: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...t=keeping+cool

I put a sealed ziploc bag half filled with water into another [in case of leaks] and then froze it flat and wrapped it in a towel. It's like a little piggie ice mattress. They all fight over who gets to use it, and love to cool down on one.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/location.htm
Stable temperature

The room should have a stable temperature range of 65 to 75 degrees F (18 to 24 degrees C). 85 degrees and over and your guinea pig is likely to die from heat stroke. 85 plus degrees is typical in garages in the summertime. If you are comfortable, your guinea pig will be comfortable. If it's too hot or cold for you, it's too hot or cold for them.

[kimtastic]

Thanks, that's a really helpful thread.

[Chin Lover]

If you're gone during the hottest time of the day, it might just be a good idea to get the marble slabs and put frozen water bottles in the cage before you leave. Just in case an abnormal heat stroke strikes.

Also, since my chinchillas tend to chew, I use fleece bottle covers for my water bottles. Just an idea.

[auburnmare5]

My friends piggies passed away a few years ago because they swelled up in their tubes, and got stuck. It was about 92 degrees out or so. Both of them died, and it could have been prevented. Just be careful about when you give the piggies the tubes. I keep Coco in the basement, and in summer, it is a good 15 degrees or more cooler down there than the rest of my house. I suggest it if you have a basement. Have a ceramic tile in their cage to cool them off. Make sure their water is nice and cool.
As I mentioned in the beginning of the post, make sure whatever hidey your pigs are using, they have mor ethan enough room to move around in it (width wise, I mean).

[Ziggy&Herald]

Aside from the waterbottles and bricks and such, I also read that you can put a wet towel over the top of the cage (considering you have a lid) and it acts like a sort of air conditioning. I wouldn't put it all around the cage though so you don't compromise air flow. Especially with it being so hot.