Urine white urine stains?

Hopefully someone will be able to clarify me on this, but I believe white urine means that your guinea pig has to much calcium in their diet. I think just give them less calcium rich veggies, and it will help with the urine.

Yeah, let's not post your phone number on the internet. That doesn't seem like a particularly good idea.

Anyway, the calcium deposits. Have you felt them? Are they gritty or powdery?

Take a peak at this nutrition chart: https://www.guineapigcages.com/foru...-charts-poisonous-plants-list.html#post254730

It color codes veggies based on how often to feed them. Some veggies are higher in calcium than other and need to be fed less often.

Sometimes romaine can cause some pigs to have white spots. Something to do with composition of romaine and the pig's genetics. I've also noticed a reduction in white spots from switching from Oxbow to KMS. (broken link removed)

MissJean said:

Sometimes romaine can cause some pigs to have white spots. Something to do with composition of romaine and the pig's genetics.

Click to expand...

I noticed this just a bit ago with my piggies! I was worried about feeding them too many carrots, and the only veg they like so far besides that is romain lettuce. Glad I was creeping this post...

i have been following the nutrition chart on the link above, and from time to time i see white spots, which are sometimes gritty or powdery. they get no romaine. which other high-calcium veggies should i eliminate?

A number of things can cause powdery or gritty urine. Romaine definitely causes it in some pigs, Oxbow pellets cause it in other pigs. Hard water can cause it. But some pigs eat romaine and Oxbow pellets and have no problems at all. The particular genetics of a pig is probably the biggest factor in whether they excrete excess calcium.

Cilantro, and especially parsley, can also cause powdery urine.

What I'd do first is to filter their water. You're in an area of the country with a lot of hard water, and a filter on the tap or a filter pitcher may solve your problem. Or your refrigerator may have a filter. But filters will only work if you change them regularly.

If that doesn't clear it up, then either take them off pellets, or switch brands. Oxbow and Sweet Meadow Farms both use the same calcium compound for their pellets, Kleenmama uses something different. Many people have seen an improvement after switching to KM (see (broken link removed)).

If those two things fail, I'd put them on an elimination diet. Pick one item that you're already feeding them daily, like lettuce, and feed them only that for 2-3 days. If the spots are still there, you've probably found the culprit. If they go away, then add one other vegetable back for 2-3 days. Do that until the spots reappear, and you've probably found the culprit.

Yeah, their water is filtered. The only thing I can think is maybe the food they gave me is NOT guinea pig food. It was in an un marked container. Maybe I will throw it out and start giving it my guinea pig food, My other pigs don't seem to have a problem, and I don't feed them romain. That is the only thing I can think of. Thanks guys!

Guinea pig pellets that come out of a bin where you dip out as much as you want and have it weighed for purchase are generally not high quality pellets.

Just take them off pellets for a few days and see if that clears it up. You can always give them a sprig or two of parsley to replace the calcium in the pellets.