An owner should exercise caution by acting on the very first signs of dehydration, which is especially important during the summer months.
If your guinea pig is refusing to drink water, you should try to figure out what is causing this behavior on his part. There could be a variety of factors contributing to this.
Keeping a close eye on things will assist you in determining the exact reason for such behavior.
Some children may dislike the smell of the water, or there may be a problem with their bowl or bottle, among other possibilities.
Dental problems can also be the source of the problem. The exact cause of your guinea pig’s dehydration must be determined because water is essential for his survival.
Do guinea pigs drink water?
Yes, guinea pigs need to drink water. Water is essential for all animals.
If your guinea pig is not drinking water regularly then it will place their life at risk.
A large percentage of a guinea pig’s body is made up of water. Drinking enough water is essential for several cellular functions:
- Water is essential as it maintains the thickness and rate of blood flowing in your guinea pig’s body. That ensures that your guinea pig’s organs continue to function in the best way.
- Water helps your guinea pigs body in the digestion process and to move food, at the end leading to elimination.
- Water also helps in flushing excessive calcium from your guinea pig’s blood. That prevents a lot of health issues including urinary tract infection, sludge, and bladder/kidney stones.
The most obvious concern is that your guinea pig will become dehydrated if he or she does not drink enough water. There is also the possibility of dealing with other issues.
Your guinea pig will have difficulty urinating and defecating, which will result in intestinal blockages in your pet. That will quickly deteriorate into a life-threatening situation.
Guinea pigs are acutely aware of the importance of maintaining proper hydration. A reason will be given for your guinea pig not to be able to drink from a water source.
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How much water do guinea pigs drink a day?
A healthy guinea pig can drink anywhere from 50 to 300 mL of water per day on average, depending on its size. There are a variety of factors that can influence actual consumption. These are some examples:
- What is the age of your guinea pig? Guinea pigs that are young and growing have a greater need for water than guinea pigs that are older.
- What is the current temperature? Guinea pigs require more water in the summer than they do in the winter.
- What is the diet of your guinea pig? If your guinea pig consumes dry hay or pellets, he or she will require more water, whereas if he or she consumes leafy greens, he or she will not require as much water because they will receive some dietary hydration.
- What is the level of energy in your guinea pig? Guinea pigs who are running and exercising are more likely to dehydrate themselves than guinea pigs who are sitting around doing nothing at all.
A guinea pig that is healthy and happy needs to drink 10 percent of their body weight in water each day. If your guinea pig weighs between 800 and 1200 grams, he or she should drink a minimum of 80-120ml of water every day.
Your guinea pig’s health and hydration can be maintained with just one cup of water per day. Make sure to change the water in your guinea pig’s tank on a regular basis to ensure its safety.
You should always make sure that the water bottle or bowl for them is fully stocked with water. Never allow the bottle to sit empty for more than a few hours at a time during the day.
How long can a guinea pig live without drinking?
A guinea pig can survive for up to 24 hours without food or drink. When the temperature is high, this time period is reduced.
Because not providing your guinea pig with drinking water can result in a life-threatening condition, it is extremely important that you provide them with drinking water.
There is a significant difference between a guinea pig who does not drink any water for 24 hours and a guinea pig who drinks some water over the course of 24 hours.
This 24 hour period is for the guinea pig, not drinking water at all. A guinea pig drinking some water, but not enough, is not in immediate risk of danger.
However, You must still look into such a situation like this. A guinea pig not drinking enough water will become dehydrated soon.
If your guinea pig is unwilling to drink water, Find the reason behind it and resolve it. As not doing this will soon make your guinea pig unwell.
Why does my guinea pig not drink water?
There can be many reasons for your guinea pig, not drinking water. That spans from the medical to the psychological. The following can be the reason for your guinea pig, not drinking water:
- The temperature of the water is incorrect: Your guinea pig is fond of drinking water, which matches the ambient temperature. Your guinea pig will show reluctance to drink water which is too hot or too cold.
- Your guinea has a dental problem: If your guinea pig is suffering from dental pain, they will not eat and drink, which will increase the pain. The professional vet should resolve this issue.
- The water bottle or bowl is unclean: Make sure you clean your guinea pig bowl or bottle on a regular basis. Your guinea pig will show an unwillingness to drink water in case their bowl or bottle is dirty.
- Your guinea pig gets hydrated from their food: Increased in the feeding of leafy greens may make them feel hydrated. You should take care of this. Only food does not provide enough water to your guinea pig.
- Your guinea pig is sick: Several types of illness cause guinea pig to reject water and food.
- The water smells or tastes different: Guinea pigs are animals that are hard to please. Your guinea pig will refuse to drink water that tastes or smells different. In such a case, change the water by refiling it.
It is unusual for a guinea pig to refuse to drink water, and this is not typical behavior. It’s possible that such behavior is motivated by something.
Even if they are being overly fussy, you should take this matter seriously. This type of behavior can put your guinea pig in a potentially life-threatening situation.
How can I stop my guinea pig’s water bottle from leaking?
One of the common problem that most guinea pig owner go through once in their lifetime is of a leaky bottle. But how can you fix that? Let’s find out!
- Take the water bottle out from the enclosure. Unscrew the lid counterclockwise, holding a water bottle with the drinking tube in an upward direction. Take out the lid from the water bottle and empty the remaining water from the bottle.
- Look closely at the rubber washer that takes place inside the lid where the tube enters. Take it out and bend it to if it is flexible or become dry and breakable. Change the washer, in case it has become breakable, or it has cracks. Your guinea pig water bottle will leak if the washer is damaged, as it will not be able to create an airtight seal. That will allow the water to leak from the seal or the feeder tube.
- Clean the inside of the tube by pushing a pipe cleaner through the tube and the metal ball placed inside it. You should make sure that there is no piece of food attached to the inside of the tube or the metal ball.
- Thoroughly clean the water bottle while it is apart. You should use a brush and water to clean the inside of the water bottle. An owner should make sure that the threads which join the bottle and lid are clear of any rubbish. Clean the outside of the water bottle and the drinking tube with a soft clean cloth.
- Fill the water bottle with fresh and clean water. Compress the bottle while you put the lid on if you have a plastic water bottle, as having a little vacuum inside helps stop dripping. Ensure that the cover is on securely after that reattach the water bottle to your guinea pig enclosure by turning the bottle upside down.
How can I keep my guinea pig water from freezing?
During the winter, the most difficult factor to deal with is frozen water. Guinea pigs are able to withstand cold temperatures quite well. Water in their bottle, on the other hand, may freeze in sub-zero temperatures, causing them to become dehydrated.
During the winter, the bottle is frequently frozen. It is possible that the ice will spread and crack the bottle as a result of this. If your guinea pig drinks from a bottle, you should consider purchasing a thermal case for the winter.
As a safety precaution, it is recommended that you use a dish or bowl in the winter. It is preferable to use containers with deep sides in order to prevent the contents from freezing and turning into ice.
Make sure that the water does not become too cold by running it through a heater. Guinea pigs do not enjoy drinking ice-cold water, and this is especially true for males. During the winter, they prefer to drink water that is slightly warm.
How long does it take for a guinea pig to dehydrate?
A Guinea pig can survive without water for up to 24 hours. Depending on the temperature, this time period can be shortened significantly.
During the summer months, all it takes is a few hours of water scarcity combined with a lack of vegetables for your guinea pig to become dehydrated.
Guinea pig dehydration signs
The most instant and concerning result of a guinea pig, not drinking water, is dehydration. The owner must know about the signs of dehydration. Signs include:
- Foul-smelling urine: If your guinea pig is suffering from dehydration, then the ammonia scent will be much more noticeable. You will also notice darkness in the color of the urine.
- Loose skin: Pinch your guinea pigs fur around the neck in a very kind manner. If it doesn’t get back to its position quickly, then your guinea pig is dehydrated for sure.
- Lethargy and disorientation: Your guinea pig’s energy level will be affected because of dehydration. They may also become clumsy.
- Fever: Your guinea pig is in critical condition if they have a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Loss of appetite: Your guinea pig body will not function properly if they are not drinking water. They will not be very fond of eating as well. Not eating can be critical for your guinea pig.
Dehydration can make a life-threatening condition for your guinea pig.
Old, young, or unsafe pets are most at risk. If you detect that your guinea pig is dehydrated, then they need to be rehydrated immediately.
How to rehydrate a guinea pig?
It is critical to rehydrate your guinea pig in this situation, and you should seek assistance from a veterinarian. Providing your guinea pig with a large bowl of water will not aid in his or her rehydration.
Even if your guinea pig consumes the solution, the problem will remain unsolved. Rehydration is a slow and steady process that takes time to complete. A syringe and intravenous fluids can be used to feed your guinea pig, which is a very effective solution.
If you want to feed them with a syringe, you can purchase one from a pet supply store. Fill the syringe halfway with water and insert it into the corner of your guinea pig’s mouth to administer the medication.
Make sure you’re releasing water in small, controlled bursts to avoid flooding the area. That will make it easier for your guinea pig to swallow and rest in between drinks.
As soon as your guinea pig shows signs of refusing to drink or is unable to swallow, take him to the veterinarian immediately.
Your guinea pig is in need of intravenous fluids. That is an extremely urgent situation, so make sure that your guinea pig is seen as soon as possible.
How to get my guinea pig to drink more water?
If your guinea pig is showing unwillingness to drink water, then you should first fix this.
At first, your very first concern is to get some fluids into your guinea pig. The techniques to try are as follows:
- If your guinea pig is not drinking tap water, arrange bottled water or purify the tap water.
- Make your guinea pigs stream more engaging with tasty additions.
- Change water bowls to bottle, or vice versa.
- Make sure you clean all water vessels so there may not be an issue of smell.
If your guinea pig shows an unwillingness to drink, add some unsweetened fruit juice to their water. That will make them gain interest in the water again. Stop providing such juice as soon as they start drinking again.
However, don’t stop mixing the juice immediately after their first sip. Your guinea pig will again start showing unwillingness to drink water, holding out for the more juice.
Also, Make sure that you know exactly the difference between unsweetened and sugar-free juice.
The unsweetened one will include naturally-occurring sugars. These are guinea pig-safe when provided in small doses. Most Juices contain toxic artificial sweeteners, which are marketed as sugar-free juices.
Guinea pig water bowl or bottle
Water Bowl
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Your guinea pig can always see and access their water. | Many guinea pigs take water bowls as toys, hence they may throw their bowls around. |
| Drinking from a bowl allows guinea pigs to drink as much water as they want to, at their suitable speed. | The bowl of your guinea pig should be cleaned on a regular basis. Different bacteria and mold may grow if not being cleaned on a regular basis. |
| A bowl seems to be an instinct to your guinea pig’s life. As they would lap water from a stream or river in the wild. | Your guinea pig can drop hay or other food inside the bowl. Dropping hay or other food inside their bowl will make the water not usable in their eyes. |
| Bowls seem to be better for your guinea pigs neck. They will not have to twist themselves to reach their water. | If you are having more than one guinea pig, then they will empty the bowl very fast. In such cases, you have to make sure to fill their bowl regularly. |
Water Bottle
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Your guinea pig will only drink as much water as they want to drink by sipping from a bottle. | Chewing the end of a water bottle can result in hurting their teeth. |
| Most of the bottles release when your guinea pig licks the tip of the bottle. This minimizes the risk of spilling of water. | It is possible that your thirsty guinea pig may be irritated by drinking water from the bottle, as the bottle releases water slowly, a few drops at a time only. |
| Using a bottle will provide a last long supply of water in case multiple guinea pigs share an enclosure. A single guinea pig is not able to drink all the water or knock over the bottle. | Water bottles need to be close or do up securely to an enclosure. Your guinea pig has to reach to access it. |
| The water is less likely to freeze in cold weather, with the right safeguard. Invest in a thermal case for the bottle. | Water bottles are very tough to clean. Cleaning the bottle is very important to prevent the bottle from the risk of bacteria. |
Try both bowl and bottle, and watch which one your guinea pig prefers to drink.
Most guinea pigs have a fondness, one way or another. You can also offer both bottle and bowl to your guinea pig.
Teach guinea pig to use a water bottle
It’s possible that your guinea pig has never seen a water bottle before. It is determined by their previous experiences. Generally speaking, a guinea found in a pet store will prefer to be fed from a bottle, whereas a breeder may prefer to use bowls.
In order to teach your guinea pig how to drink from a bottle, you must first entice them to do so. Put something visually appealing on the spout.
If you want to use sweets, because guinea pigs are fond of sweet flavors, sweet sugar-free jam will do the trick (without xylitol). Your guinea pig will lick the spout of the bottle as a result of this.
Your guinea pig will eventually figure out that this produces water. Continue to use bowls in your guinea pig’s enclosure until they become accustomed to drinking from bottles.
Make sure you don’t give your guinea pig treats for an extended period of time, as they will come to expect them all of the time once they get used to it.
Encourage your guinea pig to drink water on a regular basis, and be on the lookout if they suddenly stop drinking. A Guinea pig will never be thirsty for an extended period of time. If they do, there will be a reason for this, and it will be necessary to investigate this further.
Drinking water is even more degrading than eating food in terms of health. If your guinea pig does not drink water for more than 24 hours, he or she is at risk of becoming sick. Never allow this situation to reach this point.
