PDA

View Full Version : Is this "normal" (cavy piggy)


jenniepepsi
Apr 25, 2011, 07:44 AM
Hey all (alty especially, you seem to know so much about cavys hehe)


So, our ac is busted. And in the lovely state of az, it reached the 90s back in march. GRRR

The ac has been broken for a couple weeks now. Mike the guinea pig seems OK I think. He isn't doing any of the danger signs of over heating like laying on his belly or being lethargic. He is going through more water but that's to be expected.

But I was concerned that he isn't eating as much. He is still eating. And pooping fine. But he is eating maybe half his normal. Is this OK given the circumstances. Its always a high 85/90 in the house during the day, and I do my best to keep him cool, he is not in sunlight, and I'm not covering his cage and he is well ventilated.

And in the early mornings when it is still in the 70s I wheel his cage (it has wheels!! HEHE) out to the back porch with me for fresh air and I let him run around in his playpen (an old pack and play for babys) but there are cats all over the neighborhood and I don't want to take that chance or I would just let him run around outside.

So anyway, he is still active and healthy looking. Just concerned about his reduction of food intake.

And anything else I can do to help him stay cool? Would a misting of cool water through out the day be OK? Maybe some ice to chew on?

(they are supposed to fix it today, but they have been out 5 times and they fix it and it stays broke. They may end up replacing the whole thing)

Alty
Apr 25, 2011, 07:14 PM
Piggy should be okay Jennie.

They're a lot like us. When it's hot out we just want to be lazy, drink lots of water, and not eat as much. Just keep an eye one him. If he stops eating, or doesn't have a bowel movement, then worry.

Keep him as cool as possible, and he should be just fine.

jenniepepsi
Apr 25, 2011, 08:31 PM
OK thanks hon. :)

And on a side note, now that he is so comfratable around us now (he actually has this one squeek that he will do until someone comes and takes him out for attention lol) I gave the guinea pig leash/harness a try to see if we could take him for little outings in the back yard. When when I put the harness on (I planned on letting him wear it a bit to get used to it first) the little bugger just weasled out of it! Lol it was so funny to watch. So I think I wasted my money on that.

Alty
Apr 25, 2011, 08:42 PM
LOL! Those harnesses have to fit very well. Each of my bunnies has a harness. I love them. It's great for letting them hop around the yard without having to run after them later to catch them. I cheat though. I just buy cat harnesses, $1.99 at Walmart. :)

My dad used to let our rabbits run loose. When it came time to catch them he'd get his huge fishing net.

Well that worked very well, until my dad went fishing, apparently caught the biggest trout ever seen, went to grab it with the net only to realize that the rabbit had eaten the bottom of it.

Yup, the whale of a trout got away. Funny how the trout got bigger every time my dad told that story. ;)

jenniepepsi
Apr 25, 2011, 09:28 PM
Well then ayla knew what she was talking about! She said 'momma he just has to get bigger'

He is still a baby so he still has growing to do. He will fit better when he is bigger. I had it on the smallest setting lol.

And I can totally picture a man running around after rabbits with a net HEHEHE