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Low calcium diet, still has white spots in urine.

MWpiggies

MWpiggies

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone, my guinea pig Eddie has had white powder (not gritty) in his pee pretty much ever since I adopted him. I have him on a low calcium diet; red or green leaf lettuce, cucumber, pepper, carrot, radicchio, and the occasional apple slice or grape. He also gets Oxbow urinary support once a week and we don't have hard water here. He went for an (unrelated) checkup at a cavy-savvy vet a few weeks ago and everything seems fine. He has white spots in almost every wee, but it is never gritty and he has never shown signs of discomfort. He is also in otherwise perfect health. Is there something I should cut out of his diet? or add something? Is this just normal? Any insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
 
The white spots is excess calcium coming out and it’s good that it is coming out, but the fact it isn’t gritty is also good.

Overfeeding pellets can contribute a lot of calcium (more than some veg) as well as unfiltered water (I note you say you don’t live in a hard water area). Do you stick to the recommended one tablespoon of pellets per day?
 
I cut pellets out of his diet (he used be on oxbow pellets) because of the calcium content. He only has his Timothy hay and veg.
 
You can’t cut calcium out entirely, and neither should you, but the fact that the white spots aren’t gritty is a good thing.
 
Definitely try investing in a water filter jug. If you are UK based these are as cheap as £10. Even if you aren't in a hard water area they can help somewhat and made a significant difference when my pig Squeak was having trouble with calcium in her urine. In terms of pellets instead of cutting them out completely maybe try looking at grain free alternatives as these tend to be lower in calcium.
 
Thank you! I will see about getting a Brita filter next time I'm out. Also, I've heard KMS hayloft pellets are good for calcium-sensitive piggies, does anyone else recommend it or have experience with it? Thanks.
 
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