How Much Water?

Status
Not open for further replies.
afu

afu

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Messages
102
Reaction score
35
Points
220
Location
Cheshire
Now I always used to have piggies but haven't been able to in about 5 years. I recently adopted 2 5month old boars and they don't seem to drink very much, I can't for the life of me remember how much my old piggies used to get through.

The pigs have a glass water bottle which they know how to use and I always check it's working. They get quite a lot of veg and a couple of handfuls of grass each day so they are getting moist food. They also get unlimited hay and pellets (pellets soon to be restricted).

Piggies seem fine and in good health so I guess they must be getting enough, but I was just interested in how much others get through?
 
I would be interested to see what other people say as I have just got some guinea pigs and they also don't seem to be drinking much at all either. Do you put vitamin c powder or drops in the water? I was told to do that by one person and not by another!
 
Rachsan said:
I would be interested to see what other people say as I have just got some guinea pigs and they also don't seem to be drinking much at all either. Do you put vitamin c powder or drops in the water? I was told to do that by one person and not by another!
Click to expand...
You must never add vitamin drops or powder to the drinking water. If you wish to give vitamin c you can syringe it or use the tablets. Unfortunately, many vets will tell you to add drops to the water!
 
No I don't add anything to the water, they get their vitamins from their food
 
Why mustn't you do this piggyfan? I heard that algae can form but if you wash the bottle well I assumed it would be fine. Is providing them with veggies enough vitamin c for the day?
 
Rachsan said:
Why mustn't you do this piggyfan? I heard that algae can form but if you wash the bottle well I assumed it would be fine. Is providing them with veggies enough vitamin c for the day?
Click to expand...
The reason is it alters the taste and puts them off drinking it. Also, the vitamins are so diluted in the water and they don't get the full dose. With a good diet they should get enough vitamin c.
 
Rachsan said:
Why mustn't you do this piggyfan? I heard that algae can form but if you wash the bottle well I assumed it would be fine. Is providing them with veggies enough vitamin c for the day?
Click to expand...
Vitamin drops are really bad! They disolve in the water in 5 - 10 minutes and leave the water with an icky taste. They should already be getting the right amount of vitamins from their daily vegetables
 
So why do you get told to add them the? Confused.com
 
Different websites say different things. It is very confusing being an owner of a guinea pig! :)
 
Rachsan said:
Different websites say different things. It is very confusing being an owner of a guinea pig! :)
Click to expand...
There is a lot of conflicting information out there but the forum will help you with any questions you may have. One vet told me to fill up water bottles with cranberry juice!
 
Really? I haven't heard that one before! As I am new to all of this I want to make sure I am doing it right. I hope I am!
 
You also need to remember that vets see lots of different animals, there are few who would claim to specialise in guinea pigs.

Also never forget the power of marketing and sponsorship!
 
When Tilly came to me, she had only ever been fed dry food and drank quite a lot of water. After I introduced vegetables, salad, fruit, grass and dandelions to her diet I never, ever see her drink at all even though I change the water everyday. I have never seen Hettie drink either so I assume they get all their moisture needs from their wet food.

Both of them still produce gallons of wee too! :lol!:
 
My 7 month-old boys tend to drink around 25-100 cubic centimetres of water every day. It mostly depends on how hot it has been that day, how much watery veg they've been eating, how much grass they have eaten, and how many fresh forages I have given them. Caramel usually drinks less than his brother, Doughnut, because Doughnut is much bigger as he is a rex hybrid. Caramel also appears to rush eating his food more, so on the lawn he would eat more grass even if they both get equal lawn time.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top