How to Diagnose Heatstroke in Guinea Pigs

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 1, 2023 References

Guinea pigs make great pets since they are quiet and easy to handle.^{[1]
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Research source} Unfortunately, they can overheat very quickly and suffer from a condition called heat stroke (also called hyperthermia). Guinea pigs can develop heatstroke if the outside temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27.8 degrees Celsius) or higher.^{[2]
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Research source} Heatstroke can be fatal in guinea pigs, so it will be very important for you to recognize heat stroke in your guinea pig and help him cool down.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Recognizing the Physical Symptoms of Heatstroke

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Determine how well your guinea pig can move. Healthy guinea pigs are very active during the day and evening. They love to play and need frequent exercise.^{[3]
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Research source} Heatstroke, however, can make a guinea pig feel very weak. If your guinea pig has heatstroke, his legs will become weak. He will be unable or unwilling to move.^{[4]
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- If your guinea pig can walk, he may stagger around. In addition, his muscles may start to tremor.^{[5]
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- With heatstroke, your guinea will stop playing and running around.
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Watch your guinea pig’s breathing. When healthy, your guinea pig will quietly breathe about 80 times a minute.^{[6]
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Research source} This sounds fast, but it is normal. If he has heatstroke, you will see him panting and struggling to breathe. His panting will get faster as his heatstroke worsens.^{[7]
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- He may start breathing very heavily—you may see his whole body move as he tries to breathe.^{[8]
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3
Look at your guinea pig’s mouth. Heatstroke can cause guinea pigs to drool, which is not normal guinea pig behavior. Also, his saliva may look thick or feel sticky, rather than feel fairly thin. If your guinea pig will let you look in his mouth—his tongue will be bright red.^{[9]
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Research source} His tongue should be pink.
- His gums, which should also be pink, may look very pale or red.^{[10]
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Touch your guinea pig. Normally, if you touch your guinea pig, you will feel his natural body heat. However, if he’s suffering from heatstroke, he may feel hot to the touch. Gently touch your guinea pig to see how warm he is. His ears, in particular, will feel very hot.
- An increased heart rate is common in guinea pigs with heatstroke.^{[11]
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  Research source} Be aware, though, that the heart of a healthy guinea pig beats over 200 times a minute.^{[12]
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  Research source} You can try to touch his chest to feel his heartbeat, but it will probably be hard to tell that it’s beating faster than usual.
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Look for signs of digestive upset. Heatstroke can make your guinea pig physically ill. He may start vomiting or have diarrhea.^{[13]
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Research source} As long as he is healthy and eating a normal diet, he should not vomit or have diarrhea.
- Normal feces look like soft, dark pellets. If your guinea pig has diarrhea, his feces may be watery and less formed.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Observing the Behavioral Symptoms of Heatstroke

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Look for agitation or restlessness. Guinea pigs, despite being very active, are usually not restless. On a normal day, your guinea pig will keep himself busy by moving from one activity to another, enjoying each activity. If he has heatstroke, though, he may be restless and agitated.^{[14]
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Research source} It will look like he just can’t make up his mind with what he wants to do.
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Observe seizure activity. Heatstroke can cause seizures in guinea pigs. During a seizure, your guinea pig would fall to one side and experience muscle spasms and fast eye twitching.^{[15]
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Research source} The eye twitching may last for several minutes. You may hear your guinea pig squeal or screech during the seizure.
- Seizures are not very common in guinea pigs.^{[16]
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Determine if your guinea pig is responding to you. With handling and quality time together, your guinea pig will recognize your voice and respond to you. If he has severe heatstroke, though, he may fall into a coma, lose consciousness, and not respond to you.^{[17]
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Research source} Try touching him and speaking to him. Even if he is weak and feeling sick, he may still be alert enough to respond to you.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Helping Your Guinea Pig Cool Down

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Move your guinea pig to a cool area. When your guinea pig is suffering from heatstroke, act quickly! The sooner you help him, the better his chances of recovering. Move him out of the heat and take him inside to a cool area. Call your vet right away to let them know your guinea pig needs immediate help.^{[18]
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- The shade can get hot, so do not simply move your guinea pig to a shaded area outside.
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Place your guinea pig in lukewarm water. Before going to your vet’s office, start cooling down your guinea pig at home. Fill a bowl or sink with about 4 cm of lukewarm water and gently place your guinea pig in the water. Scoop some water up in your hands and gently get him wet. Do, not use cold water—the cold water would lower his body temperature too quickly and cause him to go into shock.
- Along with his fur and feet, make sure you get his ears wet.^{[19]
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- If your guinea pig cannot stand on his own, gently hold him upright in the water.
- Rather than put your guinea pig in water, you could spray his fur with tepid water, then fan him.^{[20]
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Take your guinea pig to your vet. When your guinea pig’s body doesn’t feel so hot to the touch, place him on a clean, damp towel and take him to your vet. Turn on the car’s air conditioning to keep him cool. Rolling down the windows is also an option, but may let a lot of hot air into the car. Once you get to your vet’s office, your vet will take immediate action to cool your guinea pig. They will:^{[21]
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- Hydrate him
- Give him extra oxygen
- Give him medication if needed
- Monitor him for other conditions, like kidney failure, shock, and heart problems

Warnings

Severe heatstroke could damage your guinea pig’s organs. If he survives, he could need a special diet to make sure he gets the nutrients he needs.^{[25]
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If it’s hot outside, heatstroke can occur in the shade.

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