Water How much water?

[SpicyPiggies]

How much water should pigs drink? My two girls empty their bottle (standard small animal water bottle) in 3-4 days. theyre really active and big eaters, so maybe that has something to do with it? just want to make sure theyre drinking the right amount.

 

[petgal49]

Water intake per day (or 24 hour period) really depends on the guinea pig as each guinea pig is different. It also depends on what vegetables you are feeding them, some vegetables have a high water content and so they do not need to drink as much water from their water bottle.

Sometimes water bottles leak, so to determine if the water bottle is leaking place something like a wash cloth underneath it. Check the wash cloth the next morning, if it is wet you know it has been dripping and a new water bottle may be needed.

 

[SpicyPiggies]

I don't think it leaks because i have a little rock underneath (like one for ferrets) and it has no water spots. I give them mainly bell peppers, baby carrots, and baby spinach. The occasional grape.

 

[petgal49]

You should try giving them some lettuce (not iceberg) because lettuce has a high water content.

 

[SpicyPiggies]

So does that mean they aren't drinking enough water? If I need to give them lettuce?

 

[sarah0712]

Lettuce (not iceberg), corriander (cilantro) and bell pepper should be the basis of their veggie diet. My girls have a variety of veg including these and also: carrot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, broccolli and various herbs and they seem to hardly drink any water. I change the water everyday and there is usually only a small amount of water gone.

 

[HannibalLecter]

Make sure you always change their water every day, no matter if it's empty or not. Stale water tastes just as bad to pigs, and that will make them drink much less.

 

[bpatters]

Spicypiggies, spinach is too high in oxalates and vitamin A to be fed on a regular basis -- it's recommended no more often than twice a week.

I'd also suggest that you teach them to eat a variety of things -- that way you don't get yourself into a bind when you can't find the foods they'll eat in your grocery store some week. If they'll reliably eat 10-12 different veggies, you can almost always find something suitable for them.

 

[SpicyPiggies]

Okay! Thanks everyone. I didn't know that about the baby spinach.