Both my guinea pigs jelly and beans (both aged 1 year 6 months) have been peeing a white powder every day. I know it's excess calcium, but is it normal for them to do it every day? I have put them on a low calcium diet, with no pellets, and no treats. The fleece liner is also been washed two times (I've not had them for very long).
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Guinea Pig Doing Having Daily White Powdery Pee
- Thread starter Beef
- Start date
If they are passing a lot, then as you have done, you need to review their diet. It would also be wise to have a vet check carried out just to make sure all is well.
Do be aware that they do still need calcium and a diet too low in calcium can be as bad as one too high - its about finding a balance - so cutting out everything wont be good either.
They need unlimited hay.
They also still need some veggies daily - just ensure high calcium veggies (kale, parsley, spinach) are kept to one small amount once per week.
Keeping pellets limited to one tablespoon per pig per day or even (if you are worried) still feeding pellets but only giving them a few times a week will ensure they still get the essential balance of nutrients that they need while following a low calcium diet. If you cut out pellets entirely, you need to make sure you replace it with forages and other food items to make sure they are still getting the right nutrition.
It will take several weeks before any changes to their diet to have any effect on their system so you will still see powdery pees for a while.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Do be aware that they do still need calcium and a diet too low in calcium can be as bad as one too high - its about finding a balance - so cutting out everything wont be good either.
They need unlimited hay.
They also still need some veggies daily - just ensure high calcium veggies (kale, parsley, spinach) are kept to one small amount once per week.
Keeping pellets limited to one tablespoon per pig per day or even (if you are worried) still feeding pellets but only giving them a few times a week will ensure they still get the essential balance of nutrients that they need while following a low calcium diet. If you cut out pellets entirely, you need to make sure you replace it with forages and other food items to make sure they are still getting the right nutrition.
It will take several weeks before any changes to their diet to have any effect on their system so you will still see powdery pees for a while.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Okay, I'm planning to get them checked by a vet this week. Could I be seeing these white spots due to the new fleece liner or could it be something else like the calcium?
If you are seeing white powdery spots on the fleece then my first thought would be excess calcium deposits - I cant see why a new fleece would cause white powdery spots - but we only have a written description to go on.