Not drinking?!

[BaileyM]

Hi all, looking for some advice on our babies…..well, not our babies anymore. We found a wonderful home for Mocha’s 2 baby girls Latte and Espresso. They left us 4 days ago at 2months old. They were happy healthy, feisty little things. We interviewed the family, saw their set up and these little girls have gone to a wonderful home with an amazing cage for them to run around in.
the lady has kept in touch and is concerned because they don’t seem to be drinking. They are eating their veggies, hay and pellets. They are exploring their cage and still seem to be the curious feisty little girls they were when with us….but, they aren’t drinking. she has the same water bottle that I have, there are not vit. Drops or other things added. She is going to try putting it a little higher and see if that helps. The only difference i can come up with is that I am well water and she is city water.
my gut tells me that they are just settling in and will drink eventually. That they are eating and getting plenty of veggies so are ok, she however is understandable worried.
what do you guys think? Any advice? Will they eventually accept the different smel/taste of the city water?

 

[Betsy]

Some piggies drink loads and some get al the liquid they need from their veg. My Patsy is always at the water bottle but Betsy very rarely drinks any water. It all depends on the individual piggy. As long as Latte and Espresso are pooping, weeing and gaining weight weekly then that is all that matters. So pleased that they have gone to such a caring home.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The amount they drink varies hugely and as betsy has said, as long was they are toileting properly and gaining weight, then dont worry.
My Dexter drinks, not loads, but I do see him drink, but Ive only seen Popcorn drink a handful of times in the past three years!

 

[Wiebke]

The amount piggies drink varies enormously individually, from not drinking at all to drinking a bottle empty in a day.
If the nozzle is not smelling of other piggies (which indicates 'safe to use'), then they may struggle to accept the water bottle initially.
Here is all about drinking that you want to know about: All About Drinking And Bottles

How much veg and pellets is the new family feeding? Overfeeding it can mean that your piggies are getting all the fluid they need from there. Keep in mind that grass hay/fresh growing grass should make around 80% of the daily food intake while perferably green veg and fresh herbs as well as pellets only replace the wild forage with which guinea pigs used to supplement their grass-based diet with trace elements etc.
Our complete diet guide will take you through all food groups as part of a balanced diet but in practical and precise detail to implement them. A good general diet is vital for long term health and can really extend a healthy life from the lower end of the average life span to the upper and even beyond: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[BaileyM]

The amount piggies drink varies enormously individually, from not drinking at all to drinking a bottle empty in a day.
If the nozzle is not smelling of other piggies (which indicates 'safe to use'), then they may struggle to accept the water bottle initially.
Here is all about drinking that you want to know about: All About Drinking And Bottles

How much veg and pellets is the new family feeding? Overfeeding it can mean that your piggies are getting all the fluid they need from there. Keep in mind that grass hay/fresh growing grass should make around 80% of the daily food intake while perferably green veg and fresh herbs as well as pellets only replace the wild forage with which guinea pigs used to supplement their grass-based diet with trace elements etc.
Our complete diet guide will take you through all food groups as part of a balanced diet but in practical and precise detail to implement them. A good general diet is vital for long term health and can really extend a healthy life from the lower end of the average life span to the upper and even beyond: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

I will double check how much they are getting, but I did go over all of that with them, and they had done a lot of research as well, so I believe they get unlimited hay and 1/8 cup pellets each a day. The veggies I had told them 1cup per pig/day. We had always broken that up into 2 servings, but not sure what they are doing. They used to drink when they were here I know for sure as the water bottle needed filling every few days.
I will double check that they are popping and peeing/gaining weight as well.

thanks all

 

[Wiebke]

I will double check how much they are getting, but I did go over all of that with them, and they had done a lot of research as well, so I believe they get unlimited hay and 1/8 cup pellets each a day. The veggies I had told them 1cup per pig/day. We had always broken that up into 2 servings, but not sure what they are doing. They used to drink when they were here I know for sure as the water bottle needed filling every few days.
I will double check that they are popping and peeing/gaining weight as well.

thanks all

Please change the water every day; it should always be fresh as algae and bacteria can build up very quickly.

Your babies may be eating more veg simply because they have less higher ranked competition at feeding time. As long as they are lively and keep putting on weight during the weekly weigh-in, they are in no danger. The need to drink comes before the need to eat; this means that a piggy will lose their appetite first before they lose their thirst.
If they are really thirsty, they will find the water bottle and use it if they have done so while with you.