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Problems drinking water from bottle or bowl

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Jewelswye

Jewelswye

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Has anyone else had problems that their pigs wont drink from bottles or bowls? They're getting fluids from wet veg and mostly from syringes so they are thirsty but wont or can use bottles and dont like bowls. My pigs are in 2 120cm Ferplast cages. My pigs are about 11 weeks old. Could it be their water bottles are too high? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Have you checked that the little ball works in the bottle? Sometimes they can get stuck and not let water out. When mine were younger they never seemed to drink very much and they do get a lot from wet veg so it could just be they don't need to drink much.
 
In the past, if unsure, I have held the water bottle to the piggie to see if they get the gist of it, then place relatively low until I have seen them drink. Also, if you see them use it, check for air bubbles in the water, if you see the bubbles going up it works fine, if not it suggest that the spout is faulty. You can always put a small food bowl or dish in to put your mind at rest, there's no reason not to use a dish so if they don't show much interest in the dish then maybe they're just not big drinkers :)
 
Yep tried bringing it down, putting apple juice over it, tapping it gently. Melvin can drink out of it but it seems he only gets a bit over the whole day. But when you give him water with a syringe he's drinking loads. Jasper is currently getting treated for ear mites after becoming really ill with bloat (nearly lost him 9 days ago) he seems dizzy so was thinking that may be why he wont use the bottle but thought he might use a bowl but no. He will only drink from a syringe. I do keep trying with both a bowl and bottle. At the mo they are in separate cages due to Jasper's illness and trying to build him up etc. All this and we've only had them 3 weeks! I was wondering if one of those Ferplast sippys would help but since they have 6 water bottles between them trying to find one thats suitable I really dont want to waste more money. If only I could speak Guinea Pigs for 10 mins it would all be sorted lol
 
Shellza said:
Have you checked that the little ball works in the bottle? Sometimes they can get stuck and not let water out. When mine were younger they never seemed to drink very much and they do get a lot from wet veg so it could just be they don't need to drink much.
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We've checked that but no. We've even pressed on the little ball so they see it and then they lick it off our fingers rolleyes
 
I'm sure they'll get the hang off it if you leave it long enough. As I said, when mine were younger they hardly drank anything, they just weren't massive drinkers. I'm sorry you seem to have had so many problems with you little ones so far :( I'm sure the drinking is nothing to worry about though, they will get the hang of it :)
 
Thanks Shellza. I didnt think there would be anything else we could try to be honest
 
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