Calcium Should I Cut Down On My Piggies Calcium Intake?

[Stewybus]

The talk about too much calcium sometimes worries me - Do I cut back or leave it as it is, especially for older piggies. Us humans need calcium for our bones & teeth, aren't guinea pigs the same? If we cut back too much then is it possible that our piggies may be more prone to broken bones & teeth. I'd like to hear other members thoughts on this.

 

[Wiebke]

I would recommend to stay off any high calcium foods like Asian Cabbages, kale and spinach in your daily diet and feed those only very occasionally. Any fresh herbs except coriander/cilantro should also be fed one sprig only 2-3 times a week because of their high calcium/mineral content. Medium high veg like broccoli or cabbage can still be fed in moderation (2-3 times a week).
Many high calcium veg are also rich in vitamin C and magnesium, so I would cut further back only if you have got an acute bladder stone/sludge piggy where you need to prevent a recurrance.

One of the ways you can improve the odds noticeably is actually by filtering your water. Offering unlimited high calcium pellets/muesli past 4-6 months of age is also a factor that can influence the build-up of stones. Calcium absorption in the body is very complicated and a not yet much research field, so you will probably never be completely able to eliminate the possibility of stones, but a high calcium diet or a diet where the calcium balance is just not right can indeed contribute to the occurrance of stones.

 

[LisaAli]

We have always been under the impression that a guinea pig will use whatever calcium they need and the extra will get passed out through their urine.
What we have been told is that a normal amount of excess Calcium is passed in their urine, will sometimes leave a small white deposits behind.
Therefore some calcium deposits are ok, but too many can be an indication that they are constantly having too much calcium in their diet.
Normal deposits leave a light power and or a milky haze. Hard or gritty deposits are a sign that you might need to consider making changes to their diet.
When A piggy gets too much Calcium regularly the bladder will have a hard time flushing it all out properly. If the excess Calcium is not being flushed fully, the sludge can start to remain inside the bladder creating sludge.
Given the right conditions, this sludge can start to form stones.

Lisa & Ali..

 

[Stewybus]

I've sometimes seen white deposits which appear to be like chalk but this isn't regular. I've got all the lists that show high and low calcium veggies. It's always the case that the things they like the most eg kale & spinach are the things with higher calcium ratios. Even Readigrass or other similar dried grass is high in calcium which leads me think is fresh grass high in calcium too. I'm going to start a new diet for them once the fridge is empty (a couple of days). Thanks for your comments, Wiebke, Lisa & Ali.

 

[Wiebke]

The odd calcium pee/chalky residue is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about!
Like Lisaali says, it is a high calcium diet, often in connection with a piggy that is not a great drinker that does the damage. Cutting out all calcium in healthy piggies is not a good idea either; the trick is to find a healthy balance.

 

[Stewybus]

As a matter of interest does anyone know if this would apply to rabbits too. We have 2 who have a similar veggie diet to our piggies though not as broad. They eat carrots, watercress, rocket, kale & spinach twice daily & also have apple, parsley & sweetcorn occasionally.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

As a matter of interest does anyone know if this would apply to rabbits too. We have 2 who have a similar veggie diet to our piggies though not as broad. They eat carrots, watercress, rocket, kale & spinach twice daily & also have apple, parsley & sweetcorn occasionally.

I don't know about rabbits, but my Exotics vet who is treating my bladder piggy may know the answer Stewybus I'm seeing her tomorrow for my piggies monthly jab, would you like me to find out? If so what exactly should I ask her? (She has rabbits of her own)

 

[Stewybus]

I don't know about rabbits, but my Exotics vet who is treating my bladder piggy may know the answer Stewybus I'm seeing her tomorrow for my piggies monthly jab, would you like me to find out? If so what exactly should I ask her? (She has rabbits of her own)

That would be great thanks.

 

[Freela]

Yes, they need some calcium for bones and teeth just like humans... the problem is that too much can promote bladder stone formation. One of mine has a stone... I make sure that the pellets we give are not overly high in calcium and keep calcium-rich veggies limited. Can't hurt, might help- although realistically, she was on a very similar diet anyhow and still has a stone, so I think some kind of predisposition must come into play as well.

 

[Wiebke]

Yes, they need some calcium for bones and teeth just like humans... the problem is that too much can promote bladder stone formation. One of mine has a stone... I make sure that the pellets we give are not overly high in calcium and keep calcium-rich veggies limited. Can't hurt, might help- although realistically, she was on a very similar diet anyhow and still has a stone, so I think some kind of predisposition must come into play as well.

Predisposition/genetic links seem to play quite a large role; certainly one of my piggies grew a large stone in a matter of weeks after a bladder flush when her calcium absorption went suddenly totally out of kilter for some reason.

Drinking little and not flushing the bladder well enough is another contributor. My bladder piggies have usually been rather bad drinkers (not always though).

The third is a high calcium diet. Many people overlook the amount of calcium that comes with the water, especially in hard water areas; hence my recommendation to filter. It seems to make as big a difference as a controlled veg diet.
As most widely available pellets contain rather a lot of calcium (usually in the form of alfalfa), it is advisable to reduce the amount once the piggies are past the first fast growth rush.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Ok Stewybus I asked my vet; she says the Cartrophen acts like a lining and an anti-inflammatory, she does use it on rabbits too, but has better results on piggies. Rabbits can have "Sand" in their bladders rather than sludge & a low calcium diet like the one for piggies is good to follow, she has seen a few rabbits where they are on hay & grass only diets. Hope that helps

 

[pig in the city]

my understanding of this issue is that it is not the total calcium level in the diet that is important but the calcium / phosphate ratio have a look at the ratewatchers diet onhttp://www.guineapigwelfare.org.uk/ , its easy to follow!