Keeping Skinny pigs cool in a south-facing flat

Skinny pigs in a south-facing flat — that's a genuinely important thing to get ahead of. Without fur, they have almost no insulation against heat and can go from fine to dangerously overheated faster than a coated guinea pig would. Before I point you toward anything specific, can you tell me a bit more about the setup? Where do they currently live inside the flat — near a window, in a room you can keep closed off, somewhere with a fan nearby? And are you mainly looking to manage day-to-day summer warmth, or has there been an incident that's prompted this?

Good that you're thinking about it now rather than after a scare. 28–29°C is genuinely risky for Skinny pigs — their ideal range tops out around 23–24°C, and without fur there's nothing buffering them from a hot room. A fan not aimed at them isn't really helping, and direct airflow can actually stress guinea pigs even if it cools the room slightly. The single most reliable thing you can add right now is a marble or granite cooling slab placed inside their enclosure. They'll self-regulate by lying on it when they're warm, and it stays noticeably cooler than the ambient room temperature without any electricity or airflow. Do they have a hide or a C&C cage, and roughly how much floor space do they have? That'll help me suggest the right size.

A 2x4 C&C is a decent size — well done on that, it's more than most owners start with. For that setup I'd recommend the Rosewood Naturals Cool Me Down Marble Slab. It's a solid marble tile designed specifically for small animals, stays several degrees cooler than room temperature passively, and at roughly 30x20cm it's large enough for both your Skinnies to use at the same time. They tend to take to it immediately, especially hairless breeds. Place it in the shaded end of the cage, away from the wooden hide which will trap heat. One slab is enough, but given they're a pair in a warm flat, two placed at opposite ends gives them options and reduces any competition. Alongside that, I'd strongly suggest shifting the cage away from the window line if at all possible — even moving it a metre or two back from the glass makes a measurable difference during those peak sun hours.

Yes — on days above 30°C the marble slab alone may not be sufficient. Keep a small freezer block or a plastic bottle filled with water and frozen, then wrapped in a thin tea towel, and place it near the slab so they can lean against it without direct contact with the frozen surface. Frozen cucumber slices or bell pepper strips also help — hydration and a cooling food source in one. Know the signs of heat stress too: laboured or open-mouth breathing, lethargy, and a limp posture are the red flags. If you ever see those, move them to a cooler room immediately and cool them gradually with a damp cloth — not cold water, just cool. A vet call at that point is the right move, not something to wait on.

That's exactly the right plan. Two slabs, cage repositioned, and a frozen bottle in the freezer ready for hot days — that covers the main risks well. Skinny pigs are brilliant little animals and they're clearly in good hands. Enjoy the summer with them.