Can Guinea Pigs Die Of Cold?

Guinea pigs are creatures that are sensitive to temperature change.

To be comfortable they need to be a location which ranges between 15 degrees celcius/59 degrees farenheit to 25 degrees celcius/77 degrees farenheit to feel comfortable.

If it becomes any hotter or colder, they become uncomfortable.

They will not tell you this, but they will suffer in silence instead.

For example, they are not able to sweat at all as they do not have eccrine sweat glands on their body.

So instead, they use their internal homeostasis so when they get cold, the blood that flows to their skin goes down so as to conserve heat and protect organs in their body.

When they get hot, their blood vessels dilate so as to pump more blood to the skin so their body’s can cool down and give of heat through convection.

So what about when they get cold, can guinea pigs die of cold?
When they get cold, guinea pigs will tend to shiver and also puff up their fur so as to give themselves more warmth.
They will also try and huddle with other guinea pigs so as to feed of the warmth of each others body.
If the temperature drops to 0 degrees celcius/32 degrees farenheit they can survive as they huddle together and make the best of what they have. But it is not comfortable for them as you can imagine.
They are prey animals and so it is within their character to survive
However, there is a risk that if it gets too cold they can suffer from hypothermia and eventually heart failure due to the intense cold.
The humidity and wind factor can also play a part in this as well so it is not just about the temperature.

For example, if the humidity of the environment goes under 30% or above 70%, the guinea pig will suffer as a result.

Likewise, if the environment is damp then mold will be more prevalent and may cause the guinea pig to get sick.

So yes they can die of cold, which is why it is important to look after your piggies well and make sure they have an environment that is comfortable for them so they can enjoy a good quality of life.

Bring them inside, it is the best place for them when it goes below 15 degrees celcius/59 degrees farenheit.

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