How much water?

[newpiggiemommy]

I have two guinea pigs and neither one of them drinks much water. I have seen both of them drink out of both of the water bottles, but there is never much missing.

If I fill up their bottle and put it in the cage, I will not even notice any missing 24 hours later. In two days the water level might drop about a centimeter.

What can I do to help them drink more water?

[gfserna]

I have the same problem, sometimes I think he might go 4 days without a drink. I believe that he is getting his water from the fresh vegetables I give him and from the lawn when I let him graze.

Gerard

[clotho]

Soak their veggies in water before you feed them. Then you will know they are getting some extra water from their veggies. Green, leafy veggies contain a lot of water to begin with and sometimes piggies won't drink much from the water bottle when they are getting enough from their veggies.

[newpiggiemommy]

Thanks! That is what I will do. I am off to soak their breakfast for a few minutes. I should have thought of that.

[Maisiepaisie]

Its possible the water bottle isn't working properly which is why I always have at least 2 water bottles per cage. I've also noticed that some brands of water bottle are less popular than others. When I worked in rescue the 'Critter Canteen' bottles were always untouched if there was another type of bottle given too. I think they're harder to drink from. Of all the bottles I've tried, it seems to me that guinea pigs prefer the 'Classic Pet Products' type (available in Wilkinsons in the UK) and they prefer the smallest size.

[julsie]

Any time you think your pigs aren't drinking, check to make sure the bottle is working properly! I've had a few get clogged, which could be a disaster if you only have one.

I've noticed my pigs drinking less when it's colder (plus, they play with the bottle more when it's hot!), and they definitely drink less when they have lots of fresh veggies.

[urockstar]

This is an issue for me too. I've had Bean and Marley for around a month now and they've never seemed to be big drinkers, but then today Marley had to go in for a subcue now that she has a baby, because of a little dehydration, and I'm worrying that she NEEDS to be drinking her water now. She did just gobble up a bit of green pepper which I soaked in water, so maybe that was as much as she needed. (Obv today with the subcue she's fine, but then other days...) I'm worried now that she gave me this dehydration scare that I won't know in the future if she's really getting enough that she needs.

I am using the water bottle that originally came with the store cage I bought (I have a 2x5 c&c now) -- It's a "Critter Canteen" bottle, and I just read someone else say that is always untouched from what they've seen...

So what's a guaranteed good bottle here in the US?

[newpiggiemommy]

Thank you for the soaking veggie idea. It seems to be working just fine. They actually like the veggies better when they have been soaked. I feel better now.

As for the water bottle: I do have two water bottles and they both seem to be working. I think they are just getting enough veggies and don't want anything to do with the bottles.

Thank you all so much!