Do you think about the water that your piggies have?

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piggyme234

piggyme234

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For a long time I just gave my girls tap water but several of them were getting UTIs quite frequently. We have very hard water in Hull and after talking to some people on here I decided to get a Brita filter for the piggies. Charlotte is very prone to urinary problems and the second the filter needed changing she started to get white powder round her bum and started to be quite sore again. It is as if the excess calcium in her wee sticks to her hair on her bum and makes her sore.
She is now back on a strict daily routine of bum washes and vaseline (which she hates) and cranberry juice (which she loves)

I was wondering how many people think about the calcium content of the water their piggies drink. If regular UTIs are a problem then could your water be the cause?
 
My Patrick has serious bladder problems - we are in a soft water area but I still filter his water.
 
Poor little thing...
That's quite an interesting point... Especially as there seems to be quite an obvious connection...
I'll definatly keep this in mind if I have any pigs with URI's...
x
 
I have 2 pairs of pigs in 2 different cages - there's one pig in each cage that drinks loads, so I filter the water for both bottles (my boar pairing are harmonious and share a bottle :)) )

I also have a PUPD hamster, so she has her water filtered as well.

Colin the chameleon has his water filtered too, but that's standard practice in chameleon keeping.

I however, drink it straight from the tap rolleyes
 
I have considered filtering the water for our piggies but most "jug" systems use a fair quantity of silver in the filter. This is used for it's antiseptic/antibiotic properties and in humans the amount used is acceptable, but the potential amounts consumed are, in my opinion, a bit on the high side for small animals. Silver is hard on the kidneys, as this is the way it's removed from the body. Various silver compounds used to be used in some Chemotherapy treatments and were replaced with platinum as it is less nephrotoxic.
I don't want to cause panic but it does bear thinking about.
 
We always filter the pigs water, especially as we have 2 pigs with bladder issues and on Cystease.
 
I read somewhere that the glass bottles can help potential bladder problems in piggies ?/
I have a bladder piggy Harley who had a huge stone removed last year and they all have glass bottles - Harley has a small amount of Cranberry (Ocean Spray) unsweetened juice daily in his water and loves it. Seven months on, we have had no set backs :)

P@H sell them for around £6, have a little carrot/duck in them. I personally prefer them, a good soak in Milton and clean with a baby bottle brush brings them up sparkling clean :))
 
I had a piggy who died from bladder problems and then Eliza started to have bladder problems. After taking advise from my vet, the pigs now only drink filtered water or bottled water. Eliza hasn't had any bladder problems since *touch wood*

They also have glass water bottles instead of plastic
 
Chlorinated water

When I got my 2 girls the breeder gave me some printed recommendations. She said to make sure I don't give the girls chlorinated water and to let the water sit for 24 hours before giving it to them. She said it can interfere with their good digestive bacteria. I use a Brita filter and then still let the water sit for 24 hours before using it just to make sure all the chlorine in gone. I phoned Brita and they won't commit to the fact their filters remove the chlorine, but we tested our water for chlorine and pH levels. A new Brita filter totally removed the chlorine, but the water I tested after two months just before putting in a new filter had a small amount of chlorine. A new filter also lowered the pH level which makes me wonder if it is also removing some of the mineral such as calcium. I am no expert on this subject but this is what we found out.
 
Blimey I have never thought about it :red

I have a brita filter jug buried in the back of the kitchen cupboards! I might have to get some new filters and dig it out :)
 
Cibach said:
I have considered filtering the water for our piggies but most "jug" systems use a fair quantity of silver in the filter. This is used for it's antiseptic/antibiotic properties and in humans the amount used is acceptable, but the potential amounts consumed are, in my opinion, a bit on the high side for small animals. Silver is hard on the kidneys, as this is the way it's removed from the body. Various silver compounds used to be used in some Chemotherapy treatments and were replaced with platinum as it is less nephrotoxic.
I don't want to cause panic but it does bear thinking about.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. I didn't know that. I will have to do more research. I thought I was doing the best for my girls and now I am having doubts.
 
If you don't want to use a filter system you can just leave the water uncovered for 24 hours and the chlorine with dissipate. We used to do this for our tropical fish water. After the chlorine is removed I store a couple of glass quart jars in the refrigerator. I let the water warm up to almost room temperature before giving it to the girls, except on a hot summer day.
 
Delaine said:
When I got my 2 girls the breeder gave me some printed recommendations. She said to make sure I don't give the girls chlorinated water and to let the water sit for 24 hours before giving it to them. She said it can interfere with their good digestive bacteria. I use a Brita filter and then still let the water sit for 24 hours before using it just to make sure all the chlorine in gone. I phoned Brita and they won't commit to the fact their filters remove the chlorine, but we tested our water for chlorine and pH levels. A new Brita filter totally removed the chlorine, but the water I tested after two months just before putting in a new filter had a small amount of chlorine. A new filter also lowered the pH level which makes me wonder if it is also removing some of the mineral such as calcium. I am no expert on this subject but this is what we found out.
Click to expand...

I use my filter to get rid of the excess calcium that seems to make Charlotte poorly. How much did you find that it changed the pH level?
 
Cibach said:
I have considered filtering the water for our piggies but most "jug" systems use a fair quantity of silver in the filter. This is used for it's antiseptic/antibiotic properties and in humans the amount used is acceptable, but the potential amounts consumed are, in my opinion, a bit on the high side for small animals. Silver is hard on the kidneys, as this is the way it's removed from the body. Various silver compounds used to be used in some Chemotherapy treatments and were replaced with platinum as it is less nephrotoxic.
I don't want to cause panic but it does bear thinking about.
Click to expand...

It is an interesting point. I feel personally, silver or no silver, that the brita filter is keeping Charlotte comfortable and preventing her from developing problems so I'm not too bothered. It is something I will bear in mind if the future. It would be interesting to find out if there have been any studies of anyone has noticed any problems that might relate to this.
 
Well I never really thought about it...I live in Devon so the water is quite soft. But I guess when I move I will consider filtering or using bottled water for the critters. I never like drinking water in big cities. My nana lives in London and the water always has this horrible scum floating at the top of it :)>>>
 
LittleEskimo said:
Well I never really thought about it...I live in Devon so the water is quite soft. But I guess when I move I will consider filtering or using bottled water for the critters. I never like drinking water in big cities. My nana lives in London and the water always has this horrible scum floating at the top of it :)>>>
Click to expand...

Don't use bottled water. The mineral content is very different and it's often high in calcium.
 
We tested our water using a test kit for hot tubs which tests both chlorine levels and pH levels. I didn't write down the levels but can retest for you tomorrow and let you know my findings. You should be able to get a test kit from a hot tub or pool outlet for a reasonable price if you were interested in testing your water.
 
Hi piggyme234

I just tested the water for you. The water straight from the tap has a pH of 8.2 and after putting it through the Brita filter (which is about 3 weeks old) it reads between 6.8 - 7.0. Do you know if this change is due to the removal of calcium or is something in the filter is making the water more acidic? I will try and do some research on this, not sure where to start looking. If you come up with any answers please let me know. Thanks
 
Delaine said:
Hi piggyme234

I just tested the water for you. The water straight from the tap has a pH of 8.2 and after putting it through the Brita filter (which is about 3 weeks old) it reads between 6.8 - 7.0. Do you know if this change is due to the removal of calcium or is something in the filter is making the water more acidic? I will try and do some research on this, not sure where to start looking. If you come up with any answers please let me know. Thanks
Click to expand...

Calcium ions (Ca2+) are alkaline, so in laymans terms it would fit. There's also a whole load of other stuff in water though, and all the compounds are dissociated into ions, so.... yeah.... I dunno! :))
 
I live in the East Midlands, after having two sows with bladder problems have been filtering their water for the last six months. I also give unsweeted cranberry juice a couple of times a week. Bubble who is now five has had no further problems since finding this group and sharing Knowledge so thank you all x
 
I just talked to a rep at Brita. She said Brita pitcher filters take out cadmium, mercury, chlorine and copper but not calcium. So why is filtered water helping so many guinea pigs? This is my theory, remember I am no expert. Guinea pig health depends on good gut flora, that is why a lot of antibiotics can be deadly to guinea pigs. Maybe the chlorine in unfiltered water is changing the balance of good bacteria in their gut causing problems in the bladder and bowel. Or maybe changing the pH of the water makes the difference. The rep said the only reason she could find for the change in pH was the filtering out of the metals, but did agree that a lower pH was supposed to be beneficial. She also said that the silver in the filter stays in the filter and does not leach out into the water. I will do one more test, water from the tap that sits for 24 hours to remove only the chlorine and nothing else. I will test the pH levels and let you know the results.
 
Delaine said:
I just talked to a rep at Brita. She said Brita pitcher filters take out cadmium, mercury, chlorine and copper but not calcium. So why is filtered water helping so many guinea pigs? This is my theory, remember I am no expert. Guinea pig health depends on good gut flora, that is why a lot of antibiotics can be deadly to guinea pigs. Maybe the chlorine in unfiltered water is changing the balance of good bacteria in their gut causing problems in the bladder and bowel. Or maybe changing the pH of the water makes the difference. The rep said the only reason she could find for the change in pH was the filtering out of the metals, but did agree that a lower pH was supposed to be beneficial. She also said that the silver in the filter stays in the filter and does not leach out into the water. I will do one more test, water from the tap that sits for 24 hours to remove only the chlorine and nothing else. I will test the pH levels and let you know the results.
Click to expand...

This is strange because according to their site their cartridges do remove limescale, which as far as know is known as Calcium Carbonate? :{rolleyes
 
Interesting. I wonder how much the reps really know. Last time I called them the rep said the filters removed the chlorine taste and smell but not the chlorine? This rep said she has no idea why the other lady would say that. I wish we could get a correct answer.
 
Poppy'sMum

Thanks!:) I see what you mean. I checked the Brita site and your right. It basically says it affects the calcium levels by removing limescale which is not a good source of dietary calcium. So many questions, so much to learn.
 
My boyfriend is a scientist and works in a lab doing .... something with metals and water!

I'm going to ask him if he has the ability to test calcium levels....
 
The difference in the amount of limescale build up in kettles is astonishing when you use a filter. The water here is so hard that one use of a totally clean kettle will start to leave noticeable limescale deposits. When we used filtered water it was a low enough pH to dissolve the little bit of limescale that was there back into the water leaving the kettle looking sparkly again.

quote from brita website
  • reduces taste and aroma impairing substances such as chlorine, chlorine compounds, organic impurities and limescale - for a great natural taste.
  • permanently absorbs metals such as lead and copper, which may be present in old household piping, for more well being.
 
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