Pressure activated cooling pads - safe for piggies?

[amber89]

Hello all,

We are going here through a heat wave. I have been using pretty much all the tricks from the handbook here and luckily I had no issues with my trio. They have been much less active, but nothing worse than that.

I saw mentioned on Facebook the idea of pressure activated cooling mats for pets (something like this) and I was wandering if anyone has experience with them. Two major concern I have in regards to them:

• Safety. They are saying that they are filled with non-toxic gel and that they are, to some extent, chew-resistant. But, i know that what is non-toxic for dogs, might be very toxic for piggies. In addition, my piggies would most likely chew the thing and then get to the gel.
• Feasibility. They say that the mat is pressure activated, when a dog lies down on it, it starts cooling, but my 2 females weight around 600 g each and my male is below 1 kg, so i don't know if that would be enough to start the cooling process.

Thanks!

 

[Claire W]

Hi if your piggies will chew it, I wouldn’t risk it to be honest and would stick with frozen water bottles wrapped in socks / tea towels

 

[Swissgreys]

I tend to agree with @Claire W
It only take a nibble from a curious piggy.

There are some good tips here:
Hot Weather Management and Heat Strokes

 

[amber89]

Thanks.

I am already using those suggestions, including frozen water bottles, wet towels, a fan and kitchen tiles.