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White patches of calcium

Eddie & Elvis

Eddie & Elvis

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hello, so for the past few weeks I've seen white patches of what I think is calcium on the fleece liner in their cage. I did some research and saw that if it is gritty then there is a problem so I checked and it's smooth. From what I read if it is smooth and powdery is it ok but I wanted to check that's correct. Is this normal or do I need to cut back on calcium? I try not to give them too much calcium because I know it can cause bladder stones but maybe I have still been feeding too much.
Thank you :)
 
Yes it’s fine. That’s how they get rid of excess calcium. There’s no harm in checking what you feed them in terms of calcium rich foods.
 
Eddie & Elvis said:
Hello, so for the past few weeks I've seen white patches of what I think is calcium on the fleece liner in their cage. I did some research and saw that if it is gritty then there is a problem so I checked and it's smooth. From what I read if it is smooth and powdery is it ok but I wanted to check that's correct. Is this normal or do I need to cut back on calcium? I try not to give them too much calcium because I know it can cause bladder stones but maybe I have still been feeding too much.
Thank you :)
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Hi!

More calcium in the diet comes via the water and pellets than from veg; unless you feed a grossly overloaded high calcium diet with additional alfalfa hay!
Please filter your water if possible and reduce the pellets to 1 tablespoon per piggy per day. that will go a long way towards minimising the risk of bladder stones. Even the lowest calcium pellet brands still contain more calcium than the highest veg brands.
Unfortunately you can't cut out all calcium because that has long term health consequences every bit as severe as too much calcium in the diet.

Please take the time to read our comprehensive diet guide, which looks at all food groups in practical detail. Unless you have a guinea pig with acute urinary tract problems, which you haven't, I would recommend to follow a a general diet. Keep it green and balance out any highly nutrious but high calcium foods with low nutrition but high fluid veg to help keeping it flushed out; especially if you have a bad drinker. Calcium pees are the normal way any excess calcium in the diet is being excreted.
Here is the guide link: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
 
The two things which will dramatically decrease calcium intake are to : stick to one tablespoon of pellets per pig per day - overfeeding pellets will greatly over do the amount of calcium they intake; and to filter their drinking water
 
Thank you I didn't realise how much calcium comes from pellets and water. I think I might have been overfeeding pellets so I'll cut down on that and measure it out properly too. I don't have a water filter is there any particular one you would suggest?
 
Eddie & Elvis said:
Thank you I didn't realise how much calcium comes from pellets and water. I think I might have been overfeeding pellets so I'll cut down on that and measure it out properly too. I don't have a water filter is there any particular one you would suggest?
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I use a simple Brita filter. it does the trick in most areas unless you have very sensitive piggies or live in a very difficult area.
You can find them usually in any larger supermarket or order online.
 
This photo is from my two Guinea pigs grazing box which is full with hay on floor times.
Both pigs have a pretty low calcium diet.

A tablespoon measuring of pellets per pig per day.

Filtered water.

Low calcium veg mainlly, and eat loads of grass everyday. No bladder issue yet View attachment 139697
 
Wow that's more than I've ever seen from my two! So seeing the white patches is perfectly normal then?
 
Eddie & Elvis said:
Wow that's more than I've ever seen from my two! So seeing the white patches is perfectly normal then?
Click to expand...

As the advice given above, white pee is the excess calcium coming out - that is fine, but itif it is gritty in anyway that it is of concern and vet checks are required
 
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