Very hot, but pigs don’t seem to care?

[RosieLily]

Hi all, thanks for reading.

It’s very hot in my apartment, around 28 degrees, I have no AC or any of those propeller thingies (sorry my brain crashed and I cannot remember what they’re called). I have closed the curtains and the pigs have frozen water bottles in their cage, wrapped up in fleece so they’re not too cold. But they don’t even really use them? Personally I feel like I am boiling alive, I feel terrible because the piggies also have to wear their coats in this heat. They eat, drink, bicker a bit more, they’re very active, yet during nap time they don’t even touch the water bottles, they just stretch out somewhere nearby. The fleece they’re in is from their playpen and I triple checked they’re not too cold, so should I just leave them be..? I’m concerned, it really is hot. I’ve tried to guide them to their frozen bottles but they get excited whenever I’m giving them attention and then nap time is out the window.

They feel quite cool to the touch, even their ears aren’t all that hot, am I being dramatic here?

 

[h.h.lovecraft]

I can sympathize as it's been very hot in Germany the past few days as well. The hottest it got in my upstairs area was 31 degrees! Terrible Luckily, it was much cooler downstairs where my piggies live and they continued to act like their usual selves. I would assume that if they act totally normal and not even their ears feel hot, they are doing ok. It's good that you are taking extra measures like the water bottles so they can use them if they need them. I wouldn't stress too much as it sounds like they are doing just fine in their current conditions with what you have provided them.

 

[Guineapigfeet]

I believe they will move closer to the bottles if they feel too hot. Mine also ignore them entirely, even when I feel they should be using them!
If they are active, alert, eating, drinking and toileting as normal, and have the option of a cooler area, to move to, they sound like they’re doing just fine

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all, thanks for reading.

It’s very hot in my apartment, around 28 degrees, I have no AC or any of those propeller thingies (sorry my brain crashed and I cannot remember what they’re called). I have closed the curtains and the pigs have frozen water bottles in their cage, wrapped up in fleece so they’re not too cold. But they don’t even really use them? Personally I feel like I am boiling alive, I feel terrible because the piggies also have to wear their coats in this heat. They eat, drink, bicker a bit more, they’re very active, yet during nap time they don’t even touch the water bottles, they just stretch out somewhere nearby. The fleece they’re in is from their playpen and I triple checked they’re not too cold, so should I just leave them be..? I’m concerned, it really is hot. I’ve tried to guide them to their frozen bottles but they get excited whenever I’m giving them attention and then nap time is out the window.

They feel quite cool to the touch, even their ears aren’t all that hot, am I being dramatic here?

Hi!

If your piggies are not plastered to any bottles, it is actually a good sign. It means that they are not suffering from heat exhaustion or stroke. Feel relieved!
I find that especially for my elderlies, putting their microwaveable snugglesafes in the fridge and replacing them with a new cool lot about ever 2 hours especially during the hot afternoon and evening hours underneath their favourite cosy or corner entices them more to snooze on a cooler surface as they feel the heat more.

You can find lots more tips on how you can keep your flat/house cool as well as your piggies cool. It is generally a combination of a number of small but effective things that works best: Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

All the best!

 

[Betsy]

Brilliant idea to put the snugglesafes in the fridge! Why didn't I think of that?

 

[RosieLily]

Thanks everybody! Your replies helped me stop worrying and the fridge tip is very useful, luckily I’m on holiday during this hot week so I’ll be able to make sure the queens have their water bottles and cool snugglesafes

They’ve been so great, quite a few times I wasn’t sure if I’d even survive this weather, but the girls are happy as ever. They’ve been drinking more which is great and as of now they’ve retired to bed and are finally loving the cool bedding and water bottles!

They’re a lot stronger than I am :’).

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks everybody! Your replies helped me stop worrying and the fridge tip is very useful, luckily I’m on holiday during this hot week so I’ll be able to make sure the queens have their water bottles and cool snugglesafes

They’ve been so great, quite a few times I wasn’t sure if I’d even survive this weather, but the girls are happy as ever. They’ve been drinking more which is great and as of now they’ve retired to bed and are finally loving the cool bedding and water bottles!

They’re a lot stronger than I am :’).

I am hopeless in hot weather, too; but I have found that short of getting air conditioning, wetting old bed sheets and hanging them in front of a window is the most effective measure, as well as airing the house overnight or at least late at night and then first thing in the morning when it is still fresh outside. The lower a temperature you have indoors in the morning, the less the heat can build up over the course of the day.

Climate change has a lot to answer for...

Anyway, I wish you the best. Make sure that you drink plenty and look after yourself as well. Try a lukewarm shower - it is more effective than a cold one because it lowers the body temperature but no so much that the body needs to compensate with starting the internal heating system, as happens with a cold shower.