Doesn't know how to use the water bottle?

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spinalcraft

I got my guinea pigs just last day, and I'm worried about them not getting their water because they can't use the bottle...

Or maybe my bottle just sucks? My guinea pigs always drink from it at an angle, from the side or below, they never really use it like a straw (like I saw others do). Are they doing it all wrong?
 
Watch them use the water bottle. If bubbles appear it means the water is coming out ok. If you're not sure try putting a water bowl in their hutch/cage but most guineas shun this in favour of water bottles
 
Bubbles dont appear when they try to take drinks.

But when I use my finger to push the ball in, bubbles appear and the bottle seems to be working just fine

I think they're not using the bottle right
 
"Guinea pigs can literally die of dehydration before they learn how to use a new water source"

http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/vme/DrSue/guinea.html

please help me out, I'm really starting to worry here. My pigs haven't drank much since they came, and I haven't been able to remedy this situation, everyone just tells me to forget about it.

to try make up for the lost water I have given them fresh veggies
 
How about some testimonies...?

How long did your guinea pigs take to learn to use the water bottle?
 
Ok, if you're really worried put a bowl of water in for them. Use a heavy ceramic type bowl otherwise they will tip it over. Keep the water bottle on the hutch/cage though so they can 'practise'.

Giving veg for water is a good idea, wash all the veg and don't dry them too thoughly then the pigs will be eating veg and water.

Give them cucumber but obviously not too much.

Is the water bottle low enough down for them?

Perhaps you could try buying a different make of water bottle. My baby pigs have ferplast bottles as they are much easier to get water out of.

Most of my guineas knew instinctively how to use a bottle. When you got your pigs, where was their water? If you got them from a pet shop no doubt they would've had a water bottle shoved on the side of their pen without much care and attention as to wether they could use it or not.

Also, watched guinea pigs (especially new, nervous ones) won't appear or move around if they sense a human is around. They prefer to come out & do their eating/drinking when we're not around. Maybe you're watching them too much and not giving them enough 'alone time' to do their drinking? Or maybe they're taking small sips of water when you're not watching?

Good luck :)
 
Well, I put in a bowl of water for them as you suggested, but I'm scared that this will just make them ignore the bottles.

They do try to take sips out of their bottle every now and then, but at most I only see about one or two bubbles appear.

moreover, the pig that tries to drink usually does the disgruntled rumbling after the attempt. Usually after this I would try to test the bottle to see if it works, and yeah bubbles appear easily. I think my pigs dont know how to properly use a bottle.

The water bottle in the pet store looked a bit too high for comfort... its not too big of a suprise that these pigs haven't drank much at all. It scares me but they seem to be pretty healthy so far.

They're still freezing very often, its their 2nd day so I can't guide them on using the bottle too effectively... or do anything else for that matter. How long is a good period of time to just not touch the pigs to get them to get used to their environment? Any indications i can watch out for when they're "ready"?
 
How old are your piggys?
I recently had a guinea come into the trescue with this problem, by syringing fluid over the nozzle of the water botlle ashe learnt that was where water came from then by putting apple sauce and only syringing fluid when she made a lick she eventually got the idea along with being put in with a chilled out neutered boar and watching him. Between me and Jumbo it has taken several weeks but now she has learnt how to use the water bottle.
Most of the baby guineas born here were getting the idea of the water bottle within the first two weeks of life they are usually such clever things and learn from Mum
Lots of good advice in this thread already
Good luck O0
 
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