As summer temperatures rise, it becomes paramount to safeguard the health and comfort of small animals such as rabbits, rats, and guinea pigs, all of which are susceptible to the dangers of heat and potential heat stroke.
These animals, often kept in enclosures indoors, rely on their caretakers to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures. Here are key strategies to ensure their well-being during hot weather:
Cooling Measures
- Provide climate control: Turn on air conditioning or set up fans in the room where their enclosures are located. Make sure to avoid direct airflow on the pets.
- Keep hydrated: Refresh their water frequently and consider adding ice cubes to keep it cold. Ensure water bottles are clean and the spouts are clear. Placing more than one water bowl in their space is also great for ample access to hydration.
- Choose cool locations: Move their indoor set up to cooler areas such as basements, kitchen areas with cool flooring during heatwaves. Ensuring there are smooth, uncovered surfaces, such as tiles, cool flooring for them to lie on comfortably is important.
- Provide share: Position their spaces or enclosures in shaded, well-ventilated areas of your home, especially during peak sunlight hours. Ensure there are areas within their habitat where they can retreat from direct sunlight if they choose.
- Reduced physical interaction: Many animals will prefer less physical contact and activity when they are hot.
Enrichment items
Chilled enrichment items can help your small animals keep cool in the heat. Make sure that whenever you put an item in a freezer to cool it down, you allow it to thaw for a few minutes before coming into direct contact with your pet and that your pet has space to move away from any frozen item placed in their enclosure.
- For rabbits, chinchillas, rats and guinea pigs, put a ceramic tile or plate in the freezer or fridge and then place it in their enclosure as an optional surface to lay on to cool down
- For hamsters, mice and gerbils, put a ceramic mug or small terracotta pot in the fridge or freezer and then place it in their enclosure (turned on its side) to use as a cool hideout
- For hamsters and gerbils, you can cool their sand bath in the fridge or freezer before giving it to them
- Frozen water bottles, which can be wrapped in an old sock
- Fresh refrigerated veggies and fruit (can also rinse these in cold water right before giving them to provide an extra source of moisture)
- For rats, let them play bobbing for peas (shallow dish of cool water with frozen peas for them to fish out and eat)
Signs of heat stress or heat stroke:
Rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and ferrets are especially susceptible, but all animals are at risk of heat stroke. Old or overweight animals are at an increased risk.
- Reddish ears (in rabbits)
- Panting, open-mouth breathing
- Drooling, salivating, anxiety
- Diarrhea (and vomiting in ferrets)
- Lethargy, weakness, collapse, seizures
- High body temperature, rapid heart rate
If your pet shows symptoms of heat stroke or stress:
- Immediately move the animal to a cool/shady place
- Lightly dampen the animal’s fur with cool water
- Use a fan to promote evaporation
- DO NOT use ice directly on the animal as this can make heat stroke worse
- Contact your veterinarian
- Note: An episode of heat stroke can predispose animals to future problems with heat stress.