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Powdery urine deposits.

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Joey&Gizmo

Joey&Gizmo

Adult Guinea Pig
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I know that some are normal as guinea pigs excrete calcium in their wee, but my two boys always seem to have powdery urine. What can i do to stop this from happening? They have both been on the ratewathers diet for about a week now and they still get powdery urine.

I have only noticed it since they have been on fleece as when they were on carefresh or megazorb i didnt notice it.

Thanks :)
 
The excess calcium doesn't get absorbed into the fleece, so you see every bit of it. With the calcium/phosphor ratio diet, a piggy is eating more calcium.

Have you thought about minimising other large sources of calcium like filtering the piggies' water?
 
I never thought of the calcium in the water, will get a filter tomorrow. :)

Anything else i can do?
 
Control how much pellets they are getting - that is the other source of calcium.
 
Thanks for you help Wiekbe, i dont fill their bowls up often as they mainly eat hay, grass, readigrass and veg.

:)
 
I do agree on the water, I find filtering it does make a difference. Lots of fluids really is the best thing to flush the bladder out. :)
 
Is it normal for them to always have calcium deposits? Or does this mean they are having too many high CA foods?

I have been giving Gizmo water 3 times a day and Joey drinks alot from the bottle anyway. :)
 
Do you feed them romaine lettuce at all? Mine absolutely love it, but I found out it has very high calcium levels. Once I cut it down to once every 2-3 days, the chalkiness got alot better. Still not entirely gone, but it is alot better.
 
Yes they have been having romaine lettuce this week. Just been to asda and got them watercress, round lettuce and a mixed lettuce bag with some red chard. Shall see how i get on.

:)
 
Hello! I used to live quite near you and the water is very soft - well at least compared to what it was like when I lived in London, when it was rock hard. My first two piggies developed bladder problems (in London) and I started filtering the water. It might be coincidence, but after moving to South Wales, never had a whisper of a problem.

It could be other things in the diet and I think some piggies are just a bit more prone to bladder problems than others, particularly if they aren't "hearty" drinkers. Best of luck for your wee furballs!
 
I did think i lived in a soft water area, but will check online today. It could well be that its because he dont drink much, but i am syringing Gizmo water 3 times a day and Joey drinks from the bottle regular. Will have to see how i get on with the diet change.

:)
 
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