You can make their winter a warm one by following our top tips.
Outdoor guinea pigs:
If your guinea pigs live outside, you can make their winter a bit more comfortable with these simple steps:
Bring them inside in the worst weather. If temperatures drop, bring them inside. A porch or conservatory is perfect, to avoid them over-heating in our cosy homes. If you’re not able to bring them into your home you could keep them in a shed or a car-free garage. Remember: car fumes could be fatal.
Keep their hutch out of rain and snow. Make sure it’s in a sheltered area of your garden where wind, rain, and snow can’t get in. You can also use windbreaks to keep the worst of the weather away. If you are considering using a waterproof cover or tarpaulin, make sure there is enough airflow inside the hutch for your guinea pigs.
Outdoor exercise. Even in cold weather, your piggies need natural light and exercise so make sure they have constant access to a run to use, too. If it is cold and damp, avoid letting your guinea pigs out on the grass as they will get cold – consider making space in a car-free garage or shed instead for them to exercise Supply them with plenty of hiding places they can shelter in if they want to.
Extra bedding. Give them plenty of bedding hay or straw to snuggle into. Change it regularly to keep their hutch fresh and dry.
A heat pad. Place an animal-safe heat pad under their bedding for extra warmth. Make sure this is in a suitable fabric cover to prevent burns.
Wrap up their water bottles. Stop their water bottles freezing by wrapping in bubble wrap or an old sock. Move the ball of the water bottle regularly to ensure it doesn’t get frozen in place and stop your guinea pigs from being able to drink. Many guinea pigs prefer to use water bowls to drink from – these need checking at least twice daily to ensure they don’t freeze over - placing an animal-safe heat pad underneath will help.
Top tip: Keep guinea pigs with other guinea pigs. By keeping guinea pigs in pairs or in a herd you’ll be giving them the right kind of company they need to be happy. There’s an added bonus in winter months: two snuggling up together will be warmer than one!
Indoor guinea pigs:
Even if your guinea pigs live indoors, they might need an extra bit of warmth over winter. It is not advisable to move indoor guinea pigs outdoors in the colder months as this sudden change in temperature can make them unwell.
Move them out of drafts. Drafts from windows and doors can give your guinea pigs chills. Make sure their enclosure is in a draft-free area where they can stay warm without overheating.
Extra bedding. Give them extra bedding to snuggle into on cold days – fleece blankets, snuggle sacks, and fabric huts work well. Change it regularly to keep their enclosure fresh and dry.
Keep them away from fumes. From non-stick frying pans to wood burning stoves and scented candles – there’s lots of things in our homes that produce fumes. We might not notice them but they could harm small pets.
Festive fun for guinea pigs
Don’t forget your small pets this festive season! Let them join in the fun by offering them some of their favourite food wrapped in brown paper. Figuring out how to get to the food is a great challenge to occupy their inquisitive minds and stops them getting bored.
Remember, pets aren’t just for Christmas. The festive period may be full of excitement but it isn’t a good time to welcome in a new furry friend. It’s an especially busy time of year and new pets need your time, a calm environment and a routine to settle them in.
Making the decision to get a new pet takes time and you need to be well prepared not just for their arrival, but also for the rest of their life. It’s essential to make sure you choose the right animal for you, and just as important to ensure you are right for them. Take a look at our advice on getting pets for Christmas.
Raise their enclosure off the floor. Warm air rises, so guinea pigs will feel colder being on the floor.
Line the hutch with cardboard. Cardboard is a very good insulator but if your guinea pigs eat a large amount of the cardboard it could lead to a nutritional deficiency as they’ll fill up on cardboard and not their balanced diet! Remove the cardboard if you see your pigs nibbling.
Use a self-heating pad. These nifty little blankets use your guinea pigs’ own body heat to warm it up which prevents the need for plug points, and removes the risk of burns.
Extra calories. Guinea pigs will need extra calories in the winter to stay warm, so supply them with extra hay to eat.