Water Q

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Amanda1801

Amanda1801

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I figured Food was the best section for this question!

Does anyone filter their pigs water? Is there any health benefits to this - if so, what?

I filter my chameleon's water - it's jut common practise for chameleons - but I've been wondering about the pigs!

I also got a Britta Bargain the other day - 12 Maxitra cartridges for £15 - less than half price! In Tesco! :))
 
This is something I have been considering too - am sure I read about it somewhere helping to reduce the likelihood of stones - so would bottled water from the supermarket be any good ?
 
TAN said:
This is something I have been considering too - am sure I read about it somewhere helping to reduce the likelihood of stones - so would bottled water from the supermarket be any good ?
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I don't think bottled water is suitable, there could be the wrong sort of minerals in them? Just a guess though rolleyes
 
Amanda1801 said:
I figured Food was the best section for this question!

Does anyone filter their pigs water? Is there any health benefits to this - if so, what?

I filter my chameleon's water - it's jut common practise for chameleons - but I've been wondering about the pigs!

I also got a Britta Bargain the other day - 12 Maxitra cartridges for £15 - less than half price! In Tesco! :))
Click to expand...

I did in fact lie - it's £15 for 6 but that's still less than half price! I bought 2 boxes hence why I have 12!
 
Poppy'sMum said:
This is a really good question, I live in a very hard water area so would like to use the water filter for my piggies too. I am using a Wilkinsons water filter like this one for our kettle etc :
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/water-...CQbCtSLXf9QZe4OsuSAaCNKTCSVunPHM O1ybbW6FAQ==
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/water-...D5ckTwx4gGk9NGxRQ2HoBcTxJmxJa8Ar IS49VztZhg==
Click to expand...

I got my extra large britta filter in wilkinsons - I'd been looking for a new one for ages but couldn't afford it, and found it in wilkinsons for £2! :))
 
I filter my piggies water as we have a lot of Chlorine in our water.

Bottled Water is high in Calcium, so should be avoided.
 
I use the universal water filters from Wilkinsons in a Brita jug too, they are so much cheaper than the genuine Brita ones! :)
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I use the universal water filters from Wilkinsons in a Brita jug too, they are so much cheaper than the genuine Brita ones! :)
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ooh thanks for that tip! Good to know! I have a lot of Britta ones since my bargain - enough for the next year thinking about it! :))
 
" BRITA filter cartridges used with our jug systems reduce limescale, chlorine and impurities in our tap water."

I guess it's not going to do any harm, especially considering that limescale is actually calcium carbonate. I have two pigs that drink a hell of a lot (and a hamster!) so I think I might give them filtered water from now!
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Thanks Flintstones :) So the filters are okay? I guess they use carbon? Is that alright with piggies?
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Yes GL recommends you filter water to reduce sludge and grit, also my vet advised me to. I have been doing it for sometime now, and water tastes better filtered! x
 
Filters are usually ion exchange resins which means thay replace the calcium with sodium.
 
Ooh this is a very interesting thread - i do have a water filter in the cupboard, just need to buy the cartridges!
 
Amanda1801 said:
ooh thanks for that tip! Good to know! I have a lot of Britta ones since my bargain - enough for the next year thinking about it! :))
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I don't think they fit the Maxtra Brita though :(

Maybe it's cheaper when your cartridges run out to buy a Wilkinsons filter jug & cartridges for about a tenner! :))
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Really? Oh dear sodium wouldn't be good though would it? :(
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I think it should be fine, Piggies seem to have a problem with the calcium. So reducing this is always gonna be benficial.
 
Taken from the Brita website Q & A :

Quote:
"BRITA cartridges contain potassium partly due to the production process and partly from naturally occurring potassium in the activated carbon. This potassium is gradually released into the filtered water over several litres; the rate of release depends on the hardness of the water. The higher the hardness the faster the potassium is washed out.

Potassium is essential for many functions in the human body, especially for cell renewal. As it is considered to be such a beneficial mineral, there is no maximum limit for potassium in the drinking water standards. The amount of potassium in BRITA water is negligible and not relevant at all for people with normal health.

Individuals with kidney disease or those who have to monitor their potassium intake should be aware of the possible increase in potassium in the early litres of water filtered through each new BRITA cartridge and may wish to discuss this with their doctor. Contact BRITACare Customer Services for further information."

Maybe it's best not to use filtered water then? :...
 
Interesting, Potassium and sodium are very similar chemically.Personally I would still use the filter as I think in a piggies life span the calcium causing bladder stones is far more of an issue than the potassium.

Incidentlly potassium is better than sodium, its what's in low sodium salt.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Taken from the Brita website Q & A :

Quote:
"BRITA cartridges contain potassium partly due to the production process and partly from naturally occurring potassium in the activated carbon. This potassium is gradually released into the filtered water over several litres; the rate of release depends on the hardness of the water. The higher the hardness the faster the potassium is washed out.

Potassium is essential for many functions in the human body, especially for cell renewal. As it is considered to be such a beneficial mineral, there is no maximum limit for potassium in the drinking water standards. The amount of potassium in BRITA water is negligible and not relevant at all for people with normal health.

Individuals with kidney disease or those who have to monitor their potassium intake should be aware of the possible increase in potassium in the early litres of water filtered through each new BRITA cartridge and may wish to discuss this with their doctor. Contact BRITACare Customer Services for further information."

Maybe it's best not to use filtered water then? :...
Click to expand...

Potassium is better than sodium.

Broccoli, herbs, carrots, spinach, raw tomatoes, banana and some melons are all high-potassium foods - its a case of moderation. I think the small increase in potassium in filtered water is worth the decrease in calcium personally, just my opinion though!
 
sport_billy said:
Interesting, Potassium and sodium are very similar chemically.Personally I would still use the filter as I think in a piggies life span the calcium causing bladder stones is far more of an issue than the potassium.

Incidentlly potassium is better than sodium, its what's in low sodium salt.
Click to expand...

That's what makes it taste funny :P
 
Thanks, I may do this then as the water here is very hard rolleyes I've only had 2 piggies so far with small stones that they've passed or I've helped them pass :... so I was fortunate as they were all females which meant that it was possible for them to pass them naturally, it's still not nice for them though!
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Thanks, I may do this then as the water here is very hard rolleyes I've only had 2 piggies so far with small stones that they've passed or I've helped them pass :... so I was fortunate as they were all females which meant that it was possible for them to pass them naturally, it's still not nice for them though!
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I dread stone's, Putt has bladder problems so is on a low calcium diet, she doesn't drink much water as seems to get it from her veggies.... We are gonna get a water filter over next few weeks
 
Cameo has been drinking a lot since her recent issues so I'm all for filtering her water!
 
We have a few bladder issues at the moment amngst the herd so filter all of their water now. I did before but got a bit lazy with it and now know that we should be doing it all the time.
 
I too live in a hard water area. After having two pigs with bladder problems I now filter there water. So far no more problems.
 
What a really interesting and useful thread. Having recently lost my beloved Jackson to recurring stones I will certainly get filtering from now on, thanks for all the advice and thoughts.
 
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