Water and Calcium

Z

Zehuri

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We have a Quooker boiling water tap which has a cold water filter which removes certain impurities.

We live in a soft water area. But one our pigs have Sterile Cystitis so need to keep calcium to a low.

I had wrongly assumed the Quooker Cold Water Filter removed excess calcium.

However just looked into it and it turns out it doesn’t (see attached screenshot for what it removes) does that mean I need a water filter jug?

IMG_6625.webp If so what do people use?

See attached screenshots.
 

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If you are in soft water area then you have less of a concern about calcium, but brita filters are commonly used.
It’s about finding the balance but you do need to bear in mind that cutting calcium too low is just as bad as having it too high - you can cause calcium related issues (calcium pees etc) by it being too low, the balance is still wrong but it’s just wrong in the other direction.
So for example, if you are in a soft water area and don’t feed high calcium veg and then pellets may be the only way they get the majority of their calcium intake. If you then don’t feed pellets and intake is low everywhere else in the diet then you may have cut it down too far.
 
Piggies&buns said:
If you are in soft water area then you have less of a concern about calcium, but brita filters are commonly used.
It’s about finding the balance but you do need to bear in mind that cutting calcium too low is just as bad as having it too high - you can cause calcium related issues (calcium pees etc) by it being too low, the balance is still wrong but it’s just wrong in the other direction.
So for example, if you are in a soft water area and don’t feed high calcium veg and then pellets may be the only way they get the majority of their calcium intake. If you then don’t feed pellets and intake is low everywhere else in the diet then you may have cut it down too far.
Click to expand...

Piggies&buns said:
If you are in soft water area then you have less of a concern about calcium, but brita filters are commonly used.
It’s about finding the balance but you do need to bear in mind that cutting calcium too low is just as bad as having it too high - you can cause calcium related issues (calcium pees etc) by it being too low, the balance is still wrong but it’s just wrong in the other direction.
So for example, if you are in a soft water area and don’t feed high calcium veg and then pellets may be the only way they get the majority of their calcium intake. If you then don’t feed pellets and intake is low everywhere else in the diet then you may have cut it down too far.
Click to expand...
@Piggies&buns

So we’ve got a 3 in 1 tap like yourself.

The calcium on United Utilities website is listed as the typical value being 6.76 for our area.

We have a 3 in 1 boiling water tap. It has a cold water filter that remove impurities but doesn’t change the water hardness.

I have just been giving them tap water via the cold water filter.

In terms of fresh veg all they get is:

  • Celery
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Bell Pepper
  • Coriander
  • Cucumber

One of them has SC so giving anything other than the above can cause a flareup.


They get 1 Tbsp of Selective Naturals Grain Free pellets a day

½ Tbsp of Rosewood Naturals Fields of Gold dried forage a day

Not sure if that means I need to look at giving them water via a Brita jug or bottled water or if the calcium in our area 6.76 is okay.
 
@Piggies&buns the pig that has Sterile Cystitis has some crystals in her urine. She did have sludge seen on a x ray but that seems to have cleared

I’m not sure if a Brita Water Filter jug was used how much calcium it would remove from our soft water (6.76) if it would make much of a difference?
 
It’s about finding what works for your piggies.

I’m not sure we have the stats on what is an acceptable level because it is going to vary - and therefore we can give general advice but not specifics for each owner.
 
Piggies&buns said:
It’s about finding what works for your piggies.

I’m not sure we have the stats on what is an acceptable level because it is going to vary - and therefore we can give general advice but not specifics for each owner.
Click to expand...
Okay, thank you.

What are signs that it’s not working?
 
I use a waterdrop filter jug and it is very good for removing calcium from the water, my dog suffered with calcium oxalate stones and since using the filter he has been clear.
Also you can see the difference in the kettle etc (I live in a very hardwater area)
 
The signs the calcium balance is wrong are lots of gritty calcium pees, sludge and gritty urine.

However these are the signs that occur when it is too high but they are also the same signs as when it is too low.
 
SpiritoftheForest said:
I use a waterdrop filter jug and it is very good for removing calcium from the water, my dog suffered with calcium oxalate stones and since using the filter he has been clear.
Also you can see the difference in the kettle etc (I live in a very hardwater area)
Click to expand...
Thank you.

We are in a soft water area, calcium 6.67.

One of our girls has Sterile Cystitis and has some crystals.
 
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