SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Quote:
"With the heat and humidity fast approaching, please be mindful of your furry critters.
The heat can take quite a toll on the little ones!
Many small animals genetically have bad lungs and when you add excessive heat and humidity to them it creates a perfect storm for respiratory distress. Especially if you have animals suffering from chronic respiratory infections, scarred lungs or congestive heart failure please try to keep them in an air conditioned atmosphere. "
Here are some ideas:
(if you do not have an air conditioner set at a comfortable level)
1. Keep the shades drawn and do not put their cage in direct sunlight.
2. Use insulated curtains over the windows when the sun is shining against them - this keeps the heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter
3. Water: Have at least 2 sources of water in the cage (more is better). At least 1 needs to be a water dish that can not be tipped over. Clean and change that water often (at least twice a day) with fresh cold water. Someone suggested that you can even give them an extra bottle with Pedialyte.
4. Feed your rats lab block mush - soak their rat blocks in cool water to make mush - a cool food that will help to keep them hydrated
5. Use 2 ceramic tiles. Place them in the freezer and interchange them every few hours. They make a good cool place to lay down for a snooze.
6. Fill a water bottle half way and put in the freezer. Once frozen, cover with a sock. Place in the cage so your ratties have a chilled cuddle buddy
7. Freeze milk or soda containers full of water and put them in or next to the cage to cool things down a bit. But know that they may chew it and flood the cage when the water melts
8. Frozen fruits and veggies, and bowls of water with ice cubes, make nice summer time treats that will help cool your pets.
9. Put a soda/beer bottle cozy on your pet’s water bottle to help keep it cool.
10. Change out your fleece hammocks and cage liners for cotton
11. Keep up the good air circulation with fans. If you use a fan, keep it on low and do not have it blow directly on the cage (or only aim it at a portion of the cage, making sure your pet can get away from the breeze), because drafts cause illness
12. Put frozen peas, frozen watermelon, ice cubes, etc on a baking sheet (it could get really messy)
13. Use a window fan to blow out hot air during the day and bring in cooler air at night
- I find that doing this helps a great deal
14. Fishing for peas …. set up a dish, pan, clean litter box etc for the rats containing lukewarm water and add frozen peas … this fun activity may help them to stay cool as they get wet, retrieve and eat the frozen peas
15. Wet a big towel in cold water and drape it over the cage
Note: Many commercially available cold packs contain a CHEMICAL coolant. These are not safe to use as the rats may chew on them and ingest the chemical.
Please add more ideas
"With the heat and humidity fast approaching, please be mindful of your furry critters.
The heat can take quite a toll on the little ones!
Many small animals genetically have bad lungs and when you add excessive heat and humidity to them it creates a perfect storm for respiratory distress. Especially if you have animals suffering from chronic respiratory infections, scarred lungs or congestive heart failure please try to keep them in an air conditioned atmosphere. "
Here are some ideas:
(if you do not have an air conditioner set at a comfortable level)
1. Keep the shades drawn and do not put their cage in direct sunlight.
2. Use insulated curtains over the windows when the sun is shining against them - this keeps the heat out in the summer and the cold out in the winter
3. Water: Have at least 2 sources of water in the cage (more is better). At least 1 needs to be a water dish that can not be tipped over. Clean and change that water often (at least twice a day) with fresh cold water. Someone suggested that you can even give them an extra bottle with Pedialyte.
4. Feed your rats lab block mush - soak their rat blocks in cool water to make mush - a cool food that will help to keep them hydrated
5. Use 2 ceramic tiles. Place them in the freezer and interchange them every few hours. They make a good cool place to lay down for a snooze.
6. Fill a water bottle half way and put in the freezer. Once frozen, cover with a sock. Place in the cage so your ratties have a chilled cuddle buddy
7. Freeze milk or soda containers full of water and put them in or next to the cage to cool things down a bit. But know that they may chew it and flood the cage when the water melts
8. Frozen fruits and veggies, and bowls of water with ice cubes, make nice summer time treats that will help cool your pets.
9. Put a soda/beer bottle cozy on your pet’s water bottle to help keep it cool.
10. Change out your fleece hammocks and cage liners for cotton
11. Keep up the good air circulation with fans. If you use a fan, keep it on low and do not have it blow directly on the cage (or only aim it at a portion of the cage, making sure your pet can get away from the breeze), because drafts cause illness
12. Put frozen peas, frozen watermelon, ice cubes, etc on a baking sheet (it could get really messy)
13. Use a window fan to blow out hot air during the day and bring in cooler air at night
- I find that doing this helps a great deal
14. Fishing for peas …. set up a dish, pan, clean litter box etc for the rats containing lukewarm water and add frozen peas … this fun activity may help them to stay cool as they get wet, retrieve and eat the frozen peas
15. Wet a big towel in cold water and drape it over the cage
Note: Many commercially available cold packs contain a CHEMICAL coolant. These are not safe to use as the rats may chew on them and ingest the chemical.
Please add more ideas
Last edited: