It's important to keep guineas cool during hot summer days, as over heating can cause your guinea serious problems. Guinea pigs don't cope well in heat. They have no sweat glands and they can't pant like dogs can. All they can do is expand their blood vessels in attempt to lose heat like we do. That’s why our skin sometimes appears red in hot weather. You may notice your guinea pigs ears turn red when it’s hot.
Keep guinea pigs in the shade. Make sure their hutches/cages are not in direct sunlight at any part of the day. It can be surprising how quickly the hutch/cage heats up and it has the same effect as when a dog is in a hot car. It becomes like an oven and guinea pigs can die quickly when trapped in a hot hutch/cage. If they’re out in their run, make sure you keep moving the run round to keep it in the shade, as the sun moves round during the day.
A good tip for keeping guineas cool is to use an ice pack, like the ones you use for picnics, and wrap it up in a towel. You can then pop this in the guinea’s hutch or cage, and they can lie up against it to keep cool.
Make sure your guineas have plenty of fresh water. Cucumber and watermelon will also be appreciated in hot weather.
If you keep your guinea pigs in a shed, then remember to keep the shed well ventilated during the day.
It’s important to make sure that all your animals cages or hutches are clean. Any dirty cages or hutches will attract flies and maggots.
Never leave your guinea pigs unattended in the run. I’ve heard lots of stories of dogs and cats managing to get in to the run and harming the guinea pigs. Protect your guinea pigs and keep an eye on them whilst they’re out in the run.
I hope that the tips above will help your guinea pig to have a fun, problem free summer.