Small mammals and rodents
Signs of heat intolerance include:
• Lethargy (reluctance to move, lack of energy, sluggishness, limp when picked up)
• Panting, heavy breathing
• Dehydration
• Feet and tails that are hot to the touch
• Laying flattened out on their bellies
• Drooling
• Unconsciousness
If you notice any of these signs in your pet it could be an emergency! Rodents and other small mammals do not sweat like humans do, and therefore; can’t cool their bodies down as quickly.
In an emergency heatstroke situation, never submerge your pets in cold water! This could put them into shock, or they could breathe in water. Instead, try misting them lightly with a spray bottle, wiping them with a damp cloth, laying them beside an ice pack wrapped in a towel (under direct supervision only!) and then call your veterinarian immediately!
Ways to keep your small pet cool in non-emergency situations
The first thing is to make sure that your pet’s cage is in the coolest room of the house or, if not possible, out of direct sunlight.
Provide a piece of tile or a marble slab in your pet’s cage. (You can consider chilling them in the fridge or freezer for an added cool factor!) This will give your pet a cool place to stretch out on. These are available ranging from a few cents to a few dollars at most hardware stores.
Freeze water bottles or ice packs, wrap them in dish towels and place them under half the cage so your pet can choose to cool off when needed.
Place a few ice cubes in your pet’s water bottle or bowl, or give them an ice cube to play with. Make sure that fresh water is available at all times!
Give small, frozen mixed vegetables to pets that can eat them (e.g. hedgehogs, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and others). Rats in particular enjoy “fishing for peas”, a game where they are provided a shallow dish of water in which frozen peas are floating. They have to get a little wet in order to snag the frozen treat, which helps keep them cool and gives them something fun to do! But be careful not to over-do it! Rabbits and guinea pigs, for example, have a diet of mostly hay; vegetables are an important addition but should not make up more than 10% of what they eat daily, even in hot weather.
Avoid handling your pets unnecessarily, and try to keep them calm. Pets that are handled, or who are very active running around and playing, are at added risk for developing heatstroke.
I hope these tips will help your pet stay cool over these crazy summer days. If you have any questions, concerns or comments feel free to contact us here at the clinic!
