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I know it sounds crazy, but guinea pigs naturally eat their veggies with water in them, and so they associate drinking with those foods. If you’re trying to get your piggie to drink more water, try taking away the watery vegetables from his diet for a little while. A cavy’s main daily food should be hay anyway.
What do you do if your guinea pig won’t drink water?
Guinea pigs need water! Even if they’re not drinking it, you should refresh their water every few days. You never know when a thirst will take them. Like all animals, guinea pigs should always have fresh, clean water to drink.
How can I tell if my guinea pig is dehydrated?
An ill guinea pig may not drink enough water on its own to do well. Your guinea pig may be dehydrated if you see any of these problems: thick sticky saliva, crusty eyes, poor appetite, small amounts of dark colored urine, or hard dry fecal pellets.
Can guinea pigs drink water out of a bowl?
Water bowls are safe for guinea pigs to use. As long as safety precautions are taken, water bowls are an excellent substitute for water bottles. In fact, some guinea pigs prefer bowls to water bottles.
How do I get my guinea pig to drink from a bowl?
However, guinea pigs might drink more from a water bowl because it’s less work than a bottle. If you opt for water bowls, choose a style that won’t tip, because some guinea pigs like to lean against bowls or walk over them.
How do you get a pig to drink water?
My pig will not drink water! Change the type of water you offer them. Add a bit of juice to the water, as small of an amount as possible, which they will still drink. Put edible “treats” into the water, but again, adjust the overall diet for the increased calories, if necessary.
How often should guinea pigs drink water?
Guinea pigs must have access to adequate and appropriate water for their age, stage of production and weather conditions. Guinea pigs require a minimum of 80–100mls water per day, per animal.
How do I rehydrate my guinea pig?
You can hydrate your guinea pig by immediately doing the following: Offering your guinea pig his water bottle. Feeding him/her water via an eyedropper or medicine dropper (if he/she is unable to drink on his/her own). Offering veggies that have high water content, i.e. cucumber, iceberg lettuce, melon.
Can I give my guinea pig sugar water?
Claire W said: Hi, please do no feed your piggy sugar water. You’re right and guinea pigs shouldn’t have a lot of sugar.
How do you keep a guinea pig hydrated?
Feed your guinea pig water-heavy foods to help keep it hydrated. Opt for foods that have a higher water content, such as cucumbers and berries, which will help to ease discomfort in high heat. You can also soak your guinea pig’s leafy greens in ice water before feeding it to give it extra water in its food.
How long can a guinea pig go without water?
A healthy guinea pig may be able to survive up to 24 hours without water, but they will be dehydrated after that time. Furthermore, it is possible that the resulting dehydration can cause semi-permanent or even permanent damage to the guinea pig’s health.
How long can pigs go without water?
How long can pigs go without water? – 48 hrs max! Water makes up approximately 80% of the empty body weight of a newborn pig and approximately 55% of a finishing pig. Water intake should be approximately 2.5 times the feed intake of the growing pig.
Can guinea pigs get wet?
Guinea pigs don’t enjoy being wet, and in cold climates bathing guinea pigs and not drying them off properly can give them chills, and make them feel very miserable at the very least.
Can guinea pigs drink too much water?
Excessive drinking could be a sign of diabetes, which guinea pigs can get. A guinea pig who has diabetes will also urinate much more than usual because of the high water intake. As a result, you might find yourself having to change the bedding more frequently than usual.
Do guinea pigs need water bottles or bowls?
Water bottles are preferred by most owners and experts as the best way to provide clean, fresh water to guinea pigs. However, water bowls are a safe alternative if your guinea pig is elderly, injured, or simply dislikes using water bottles.
What do you give a dehydrated pig?
Treating Dehydration: Add electrolytes to the water through a medicator and use palatable starter feeds. Electrolytes contain important nutrients and sugars that encourage piglets to drink more frequently, balances the gut flora, and improves appetite.
How do you make electrolyte water for pigs?
Dr Burlatschenko says that in instances where replacement electrolytes are not immediately available, calf replacement electrolytes will work or producers can use can use a World Health Organisation recipe which includes one litre of water, eight teaspoons of sugar, one teaspoon of table salt and, if desired, Apr 16, 2019.
How do you give pigs electrolytes?
For show pigs, sheep, and goats, we recommend feeding 4Sure® the week up to your animal’s target show at a rate of 2.5 ounces (one scoop that’s included in the container) twice a day. When mixed with water, we recommend 2.5 ounces (one scoop) per 16 ounces of water or more and mixed thoroughly.
Do guinea pigs need fresh water everyday?
Fresh Water: Guinea pigs drink a lot of water and need the bottles cleaned and fresh water added daily. It is recommended that you have more than 1 water bottle in the cage. Do not put anything but water in the bottles.
How do baby guinea pigs drink water?
Guinea pigs get enough water from their veg to not dehydrate, but the more veg you feed, the less good for their health and the less incentive they have to take heed of the water bottle. If they have never learned from an older guinea pig to drink from a bottle, they usually struggle at first.
Can I give my guinea pig Pedialyte?
( These were not ill, just unable to eat dry pellets.) Water or Pedialyte can also be offered by syringe but they do get a lot of fluid from the mixtures. 50-100 mg of Vitamin C should be given orally at least once daily.
How much Pedialyte do you give a guinea pig?
Adding a second water bottle with a 50/50 mix of water and Pedialyte will help with dehydration. Make sure that the guinea pig has lots of hay available at all times and also pellets.
How much water should I give my sick guinea pig?
It is much easier to help a sick guinea pig that has been assist fed until you are able to have it seen by a doctor than it is to help one that has been hungry and thirsty for several hours. Make sure that your guinea pig is also getting one or two tablespoons of water by mouth several times a day.
