• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

New Piggies Not Drinking

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mhairi

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
91
Reaction score
51
Points
245
Location
Edinburgh
Hi. I'm new on here and looking for some advice. We picked up our new piggies (female, 10 weeks old) on Friday (2 days ago), and since they've come home they don't seem to be drinking much. What can I do to encourage them to go to their water bottles? I have 2 bottles on their cage as advised and give fresh water every day. Just a bit worried that they're going to get a bit dehydrated.
 
Maybe try putting some water in a bowl just while they settle in. But be aware you will need to change it frequently as it will get mucky. Also feed veg like cucumber that has lots of water in it.

It takes a while for guinea pigs to settle and we found with ours that initially they ate and drank when we weren't around. Also some piggies don't drink much generally. Neither of ours drink very much and one much less than the other.
 
I remember worrying about the exact same thing, then after a couple of days I noticed one of them drinking and a few days later the other did.
My piggies don't actually drink much either, I notice them having a drink on a night but that's it really (they might drink more when I'm not in the room)
 
Our girl Cuddles refused to drink from a bottle XD She loved sipping water from her little bowl instead, although it got all over her chin :(
 
Dorothy&Coco said:
Maybe try putting some water in a bowl just while they settle in. But be aware you will need to change it frequently as it will get mucky. Also feed veg like cucumber that has lots of water in it.
Thank you. So would it be OK to give them some cucumber/Iceberg lettuce for a couple of days until they settle in? Have read that you shouldn't give them these usually as the high water content can give them diarrhoea. Would rather know they were getting a wee bit of water!

It takes a while for guinea pigs to settle and we found with ours that initially they ate and drank when we weren't around. Also some piggies don't drink much generally. Neither of ours drink very much and one much less than the other.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you. So would it be OK to give them some cucumber/Iceberg lettuce for a couple of days until they settle in? Have read that you shouldn't give them these usually as the high water content can give them diarrhoea. Would rather know they were getting a wee bit of water!

It takes a while for guinea pigs to settle and we found with ours that initially they ate and drank when we weren't around. Also some piggies don't drink much generally. Neither of ours drink very much and one much less than the other.
 
Mhairi said:
Thank you. So would it be OK to give them some cucumber/Iceberg lettuce for a couple of days until they settle in? Have read that you shouldn't give them these usually as the high water content can give them diarrhoea. Would rather know they were getting a wee bit of water!

It takes a while for guinea pigs to settle and we found with ours that initially they ate and drank when we weren't around. Also some piggies don't drink much generally. Neither of ours drink very much and one much less than the other.
Click to expand...


I would just let them settle of I were you . We don't advise Iceberg lettuce in an circumstance . You can give them a bit of cucumber if you like - but I'm sure they're OK .
 
If they have just arrived I wouldn't offer any fresh veg for a while (and never iceberg lettuce).
If they have 2 bottles and the water is kept fresh they will be drinking - probably in the night or when you aren't around.
A small bowl of water is also an idea so they have a choice.
Do you know what they were drinking from before you got them?
But if water is there and they are thirsty they will drink, even if not very much.
 
Swissgreys said:
If they have just arrived I wouldn't offer any fresh veg for a while (and never iceberg lettuce).
If they have 2 bottles and the water is kept fresh they will be drinking - probably in the night or when you aren't around.
A small bowl of water is also an idea so they have a choice.
Do you know what they were drinking from before you got them?
But if water is there and they are thirsty they will drink, even if not very much.
Click to expand...

We tried to recreate their cage with everything exactly the same as the place we got them from to help them settle easier, so I bought exactly the same water bottles too. Will try a wee bowl too. Hopefully they'll settle in a couple of days. One of the girls had to be taken back to the vet yesterday as she had conjunctivitis and was sneezing a bit. Has eye drops and oral antibiotics so maybe just the stress of moving to a new home catching up with her too.
 
I have the same issue. My hew boy is eating well, but I haven't seen him drink yet. I give him cucumber as well as other greens, but I'm struggling to relax until I see evidence of him taking water. He knows how to work a bottle, as he's from P&H. The level of water does not seem to be going down, but he might only be taking sips.

It is a nerve wracking time, no matter how many times you have gone through it. I had this with every one of my hamsters as well.
 
Only one of my three girls seems to drink much from the bottle, the other two; I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen them drinking / rattling the bottle and I've had them nearly a year.

Mine get cucumber everyday to make sure they get enough water and salad is washed but not dried.

I was initially worried about one of them as I was told 'she's a bottle guarder' but she isn't and just doesn't drink much.
 
My two are not big drinkers of water even though I give them filtered water (thank god for measurements on the plastic bottles). It's been unusually hot here for spring this year so have been giving them a bit of cucumber for dinner as well as their usual piece at brekky to compensate. No diorreah yet thankfully. When I first got them 7 weeks ago I panicked something bad about it and eyeballed their water bottle all day but they seemed fine.
 
Mine have all mastered the water bottle, but it's an anxious wait while they work it out! Two of mine are always at the bottles, and between the four of them they'll empty 1.5 bottles a day. I think it's a behaviour thing with Albie and Remy though as the most drinking (and loud noise making!) tends to occur when the pellet bowl is empty!
 
HI and welcome

Guinea pigs learn to drink from their elders. it can be a real problem when they come from a background where this has not been possible and has not been checked by the seller; especially in shop or bred-for-sale circumstances.

Most guinea pigs will eventually catch on; some guinea pigs are naturally not drinkers while others drink a lot. I would recommend to place a little water-filled dish underneath the bottle and change it 2-3 times daily, as it collects debris and is being used as WC by some piggies. Please don't panic about them dehydrating; they get fluid from their fresh food. Don't be tempted to overdo lettuce and in smaller measure cucumber, especially if they are not used to veg and in the knowledge that the more you offer edible fluid the less incentive you give them to figure out how drink on their own.
You can give an extra slice of cucumber if you wish and if they are doing well on their usual veg, but please do not feed iceberg lettuce unless it is the only thing you have left in your fridge!

You can find plenty of tips on settling in issues and diet via our information bundle for new owners: " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners
 
Guineapigfeet said:
Only one of my three girls seems to drink much from the bottle, the other two; I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen them drinking / rattling the bottle and I've had them nearly a year.



Mine get cucumber everyday to make sure they get enough water and salad is washed but not dried.

I was initially worried about one of them as I was told 'she's a bottle guarder' but she isn't and just doesn't drink much.
Click to expand...
Flamestriker said:
I have the same issue. My hew boy is eating well, but I haven't seen him drink yet. I give him cucumber as well as other greens, but I'm struggling to relax until I see evidence of him taking water. He knows how to work a bottle, as he's from P&H. The level of water does not seem to be going down, but he might only be taking sips.

It is a nerve wracking time, no matter how many times you have gone through it. I had this with every one of my hamsters as well.
Click to expand...

A "nerve wracking time", couldn't agree more. I was awake from 2am till 4am tgis morning worrying about it. Feel like a new parent all over again!
 
Some just don't drink much. I have one so drinks a lot another who I've never seen take a drink. As long as they get it from the fruit and veg they get they're fine. If guinea pigs want something they tend to take it
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top