What Should Guinea Pig Wee Look Like?

[Swissgreys]

I can't believe I am asking this, but what should guinea pig wee look like?

Our pigs wee a lot (obviously), but for the first time today one of them did a wee on a hard surface (wood), and it looked sort of milky?
Does this sound normal?
I don't know what I was expecting (more like human wee I suppose) but is guinea pig wee darker and milkier?
At what point do I start panicking?!

 

[7squeakers.]

Guinea pig wee should be a clear yellowish colour. Bear in mind that some foods, such as beetroot, can colour the wee and make it appear reddish. . Wee can appear white-ish when there is calcium in it. You will see the calcium on whatever surface is wee-d on. it will show up as a white powdery substance. Wee will oxidise on contact with air and turn stains a rusty brownish colour. What you don't want is bright red - this is a sign of blood in the urine.

 

[Wiebke]

I can't believe I am asking this, but what should guinea pig wee look like?

Our pigs wee a lot (obviously), but for the first time today one of them did a wee on a hard surface (wood), and it looked sort of milky?
Does this sound normal?
I don't know what I was expecting (more like human wee I suppose) but is guinea pig wee darker and milkier?
At what point do I start panicking?!

Milky wees happen when excess calcium is excreted with the urine. This the normal way guinea pigs get rid of it and nothing to worry about it. You can find it as a white powdery residue on cosies when the wee as dried off.

I would have a only have a look at your diet if milky wees are a daily occurrance as that can mean that your diet it is too high in calcium, which can contribute to the formation of bladder stones in the long term.

Otherwise, urine colour depends on a number of factors - water intake, veg (some can colour the urine like beetroot, carrots or peppers), bacteria in the bladder etc. Urine oxidises as it ages, so dried urine spots on light towels/fleece underlay etc. are often orangey or rusty.

 

[Swissgreys]

Thanks for the replies.
I feel slightly reassured about it now.
I will keep an eye on things, but I am pretty careful with the calcium balance in their diets, so not overly worried.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the replies.
I feel slightly reassured about it now.
I will keep an eye on things, but I am pretty careful with the calcium balance in their diets, so not overly worried.

Cutting out all calcium is not healthy, either. In my own experience, some guinea pigs on a low calcium diet can get very sensitive, so you still get calcium pees - they react rather differently and individually to calcium. The occasional calcium pee is normal and shows that the system is working.

 

[Maria71]

can i jump on this thread and ask if the wee is milky looking should I give less of a certain veg or fruit . Mine have carrot ,parsnip, green cabbage, cucumber ,blueberries, strawberry tops , handful of grass everyday , grapes, tomatoes . they don't have that every day that's just a rough guide of what they get .

 

[Keiko The Pig]

i too have seen milky wee from my older boy, what veggies should be cut out if milky wee is a common occurrence?

 

[Veggies Galore]

can i jump on this thread and ask if the wee is milky looking should I give less of a certain veg or fruit . Mine have carrot ,parsnip, green cabbage, cucumber ,blueberries, strawberry tops , handful of grass everyday , grapes, tomatoes . they don't have that every day that's just a rough guide of what they get .

i too have seen milky wee from my older boy, what veggies should be cut out if milky wee is a common occurrence?

This thread has a list of veg that can be given daily

Recommendations For A Balanced General Guinea Pig Diet

This thread lists low calcium foods ...

Low Calcium Diet For Bladder Piggies


but , please remember what Wiebke has already said, Guinea Pigs need some calcium in their diet - it's about getting the balance right.