I Don't Think My Pigs Are Drinking

[Lorcan]

Hi, I'm new to the forums, and I'm posting here first because I'm a bit nervous about my new guinea pigs. I don't think they are drinking.

I've kept pigs before, so I'm not new to looking after them but I only brought these two home yesterday. They're eating just fine but they don't seem to be drinking much at all. Their water bottle's level isn't dropping at all as far as I can tell. They don't seem to be peeing much, there is a damp corner but I'm not convinced it isn't coming from the water bottle, except for that to be the case I'd think the level should be dropping? But it doesn't seem to be.

I'm probably just having new pet jitters, and like I said they're active and eating fine. But if anyone has any advice, I'd be willing to hear it.

 

[happy_piggy]

The guinea pigs may have not found the water bottle yet, or are shy to use it. I think mine took more than 6 hours to start using it, but then they caught on. They also hide in there homes a lot. I wouldn't worry about it for 2-3 days

 

[Lorcan]

Thank you for that the more I watch them the more I think I might have a dodgy water bottle, but I'm not 100% sure. It's 3am here at the moment so once normal working hours roll round I'll be calling the vet anyway (I'd just like to have them get a general check up, plus I'm a dolt and forgot to ask their ages, so I need to find that out too before I start looking at insurance) so I'll see about picking up a new water bottle too.

 

[zombieprincess]

I'd also suggest giving them a bowl of water initially too, whilst they are finding their feet. It does get horribly dirty quickly but most of them.seem to prefer it, and at least you can be sure they are getting water until they start showing use of the bottle

 

[Swissgreys]

We tried a couple of types of bottle with our and they definitely favoured the style that has small metal ball bearings in the spout. They come in glass and plastic and we have one of each on the cage.
The other one had more of a spike in the spout, and was hideously expensive and they never took so much as a sip from it.

I would also highly recommend having 2 water bottles so that when one invariably breaks at 9pm on a Sunday night you have a spare to tide you over until the shops open. Because we all know this type of emergency never happens at 8:55am on a Monday morning!

 

[Lorcan]

Of course not, that's too easy! Yeah this one has a ball in the spout, but I think it's just iffy, I've tested it and I'm only getting water every so often myself. I'll stick a bowl down anyway for backup and see about getting another bottle.

New pet jitters, definitely. I'd rather be neurotic than miss a problem, but darned if you don't end up feeling a little silly for panicking!

 

[MJG]

Maybe also offer a bit of cucumber ? That's got quite A lot of water in it . TBH that's what I do and it puts my mind at wSe

 

[Lorcan]

I'm planning on giving them some carrot and apple later - silly me forgot the human food run yesterday so it's coming today instead. As an update, I put a bowl of water down. Blitzen's swapped between drinking a bunch and trying to eat the bowl (oh, boy) and Comet is currently drinking for Ireland. It's the bottle, then, definitely. New bottle time!

 

[flowerfairy]

I have always used water bowels. My guinea pig Jacky liked to rattle her teeth on the edge of it, very musical!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, I'm new to the forums, and I'm posting here first because I'm a bit nervous about my new guinea pigs. I don't think they are drinking.

I've kept pigs before, so I'm not new to looking after them but I only brought these two home yesterday. They're eating just fine but they don't seem to be drinking much at all. Their water bottle's level isn't dropping at all as far as I can tell. They don't seem to be peeing much, there is a damp corner but I'm not convinced it isn't coming from the water bottle, except for that to be the case I'd think the level should be dropping? But it doesn't seem to be.

I'm probably just having new pet jitters, and like I said they're active and eating fine. But if anyone has any advice, I'd be willing to hear it.

Please give them time to settle in. Guinea pigs learn how to drink from their elders. Without that guidance, it takes longer to figure things out. However, please don't panic. Your little ones get enough fluid from their veg to not dehydrate!
The individual water intake can vary from not drinking at all to to drinking a lot on a daily basis. Both is fine in itself and doesn't cause long term problems.
When you should see a vet is when the water intake suddenly stops or goes up a lot, and you have been able to exclude a blocked or leaking bottle and recent changes in weather and environment (heat waves, sudden drop of temperature etc)/indoors heating, air conditioning etc., sudden frights).

A lot has changed in the piggy world in recent years. You may find some of the tips in our new owners' guide useful: " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

 

[Lorcan]

Please give them time to settle in. Guinea pigs learn how to drink from their elders. Without that guidance, it takes longer to figure things out. However, please don't panic. Your little ones get enough fluid from their veg to not dehydrate!
The individual water intake can vary from not drinking at all to to drinking a lot on a daily basis. Both is fine in itself and doesn't cause long term problems.
When you should see a vet is when the water intake suddenly stops or goes up a lot, and you have been able to exclude a blocked or leaking bottle and recent changes in weather and environment (heat waves, sudden drop of temperature etc)/indoors heating, air conditioning etc., sudden frights).

A lot has changed in the piggy world in recent years. You may find some of the tips in our new owners' guide useful: " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

Thank you! I'm glad I found this place, you've all been so nice and helpful.