Health problems such as dental problems, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and other conditions can cause your guinea pig’s thirst to become less intense. Temperature fluctuations as well as dietary modifications can also cause them to lose their thirst. If you suspect that your guinea pig is not getting enough water, you should consult a veterinarian right away.
Despite this, it is important to remember that owners can become overly emotional in certain circumstances.
This is especially true if you are a new owner and you notice that one of your guinea pigs is drinking a lot of water while the other isn’t drinking anything at all.
However, you must understand that if there is no significant change in their water consumption, the situation is ideal for both parties involved.
Let’s learn more about guinea pigs’ water consumption and when you should be concerned about your guinea pigs’ water consumption in this article.
How much water should a guinea pig drink per day?
A healthy guinea pig can drink anywhere from 50ml to 300ml of water per day on average, depending on their weight.
The amount of water consumed by your guinea pigs is determined by a variety of factors, including their age, size, and diet, among others.
Aside from these seasonal considerations, diet plays an important role in determining the amount of water consumed by your guinea pigs.
When comparing the consumption of one guinea pig to that of another, the majority of guinea pig owners become concerned.
Because they are living together and eating similar foods, it is reasonable to assume that their water consumption will be the same. Right?
No, absolutely not. In reality, the consumption of one guinea pig may be completely different from that of another.
Depending on which guinea pig you have, one of them may be drinking 50-60ml of water while the others may be drinking 100-120ml. Moreover, under both circumstances, the situation is ideal.
It is never appropriate to compare the consumption of one guinea pig with that of another.
What would be more concerning is if your guinea pig suddenly stopped drinking water or if they are drinking less water than they were previously.
More information on the water consumption of your guinea pigs can be found in our in-depth article on the subject. It is a must-read for anyone who is just starting out.
Is it normal for guinea pigs to not drink water?
No, it is not normal for guinea pigs to not drink any water. They will always need a sip or two to keep their body hydrated.
If your guinea pig is not drinking water at all, then it means something is wrong with them.
They could be in some physical trauma or some mental one. We must look out for other signs in them to find out a possible cause.
Some of the common causes include:
- Dental problems: Dental problems are a common occurrence in guinea pigs. In most cases, their molars grow inward, hurting their gums and chin, which makes eating and drinking painful for our guinea pigs.
- Stress: Stress is one of the significant mental problems that can reduce the appetite for food and water in your guinea pigs. A stressed-out guinea pig will hide more and are less likely to come out and eat or drink.
- Dietary changes: Dietary changes can also affect the intake of water in your guinea pigs. Feeding more vegetables or increasing watery vegetables in your guinea pig’s diet can fulfill their hydration need. Thus, they are less likely to drink water.
- Gastrointestinal problems: Health problems like bloating, GI stasis, etc. can hamper the digestive system of your guinea pigs. Thus, your guinea pigs will be less likely to eat or drink anything.
- Respiratory problems: Guinea pigs are also susceptible to cold and pneumonia. This can cause breathing difficulties in guinea pigs, sometimes leaving them with the only option to breathe in from the mouth. Thus, affecting their regular appetite.
- Living environment: Temperature fluctuations and living environment also directly impact the consumption of water in your guinea pigs. Guinea pigs will drink less in a colder climate.
- Severe pain: Pain caused by any significant surgical procedure or any health problems, including injury, can impact the consumption of food and water in your guinea pigs. Guinea pigs tend to hide more and avoid food and water when they are in pain.
What do you do if your guinea pig won’t drink water?
It is necessary to begin monitoring the consumption of water by your guinea pig as soon as you become aware that it is not getting enough water from its environment.
You can either mark the bottle with a marker and observe whether or not they drink from it, or you can install a surveillance system that uses a camera to monitor the behavior.
You should never leave your guinea pigs alone to recover on their own because the problem could quickly escalate from a mild to a severe state.
As soon as you notice that your pet is not drinking any water, it should be taken seriously and brought to the attention of a professional veterinarian right away.
The majority of the time, you will notice that your guinea pig is drinking water, but the amount may not be sufficient.
We will take a closer look at some of the situations that guinea pig owners may find themselves in when it comes to the same.
Table of Contents
Guinea pig not drinking water from bottle
Guinea pigs might struggle to drink water from their bottle in some circumstances. These include:
- The nozzle of the bottle is not working
- The water contains some additives(vitamin supplement)
- Chemical like fluoride and chlorine in water can also reduce consumption
If you notice anything like this, you can either offer them fresh water in a bowl or clean their bottle and refill the same. In most cases, they will start sipping water as soon as you fix the particular problem.
New guinea pig not drinking water
It is normal for a new guinea pig to require some time to become acclimated to their new surroundings.
Due to the fact that they may not feel safe and secure, they may choose to hide more and only emerge when they believe no one is watching.
This will undoubtedly have an impact on their food and water consumption. You must make them feel at ease and provide them with a variety of drinking water sources.
You can either start with a single bottle and a bowl or add 2-3 bottles at a variety of different heights. You can remove the bowl once they have become comfortable.
Baby guinea pig not drinking water
Baby guinea pigs are nursed for 3-4 weeks.
During the nursing period, the baby guinea pigs will feed on their mother’s milk for the first few days, and then the mother guinea pig will start teaching them to chew on food and drink water from bottles.
You shouldn’t be worried about the baby guinea pigs until and unless they are with their mother.
Once separated, you can provide them a water bowl if you feel they are not drinking.
Although in most cases, they will start drinking once they are 3-4 weeks old.
Guinea pig not drinking water or eating
If your guinea pig is not eating and drinking at all, then it means they are suffering from some significant health problems.
It is likely something that will need professional medical care, and thus it is recommended to visit a vet immediately.
Please note that guinea pig’s health will deteriorate within a few hours itself, and therefore you must rush them immediately.
Health problems like overgrown teeth, malocclusion of teeth, dental problems, respiratory problems, digestive problems are some common issues that can impact the diet of our guinea pigs.
How do I get my guinea pig to drink more water?
The majority of your guinea pigs’ hydration requirements will be met if you provide them with a well-balanced diet. Guinea pigs require a well-balanced diet that includes hay as a significant portion of the diet, as well as a cup of fresh vegetables, some pellets, and occasional treats in addition to the hay.
You can, however, encourage guinea pigs to drink more water by employing some of the following strategies:
- Provide your guinea pig with a significant portion of his or her diet in the form of high-quality timothy hay. Guinea pigs are more likely to drink more water if they are fed dry food such as hay.
- Check out different heights for different bottles to see what works best for you. It is also possible that placing the bottle too high or too low will make it difficult for the guinea pigs to consume the liquid.
- Apply a small amount of honey or other tasty treats to the tip of the bottle. Guinea pigs are drawn to the bottle as a result of this.
- Consider using fresh, clean water that is at room temperature or a little cooler in temperature. If the water is too warm, the guinea pigs will not drink from it.
- If you are adding any additives to your diet, such as vitamin C drops or anything similar, eliminate them completely. Some guinea pigs will not drink the water if it has been contaminated with something.
- Give them a larger play area to enjoy. As the guinea pigs run and exercise, they will become thirsty and will drink an increased amount of water.
- If you believe your guinea pig is dehydrated, you can also feed him watery vegetables such as cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, and so on.
- If your guinea pigs appear to be dehydrated, taking them to the veterinarian would be a good idea.
FAQ
How can I tell if my guinea pig is dehydrated?
To check for signs of dehydration in guinea pigs, simply pull the skin at their shoulder blades and look for signs of dehydration. Unless the skin snaps back immediately, they are not sufficiently hydrated. if the skin appears to be forming a tent-like structure and it takes a few seconds for the skin to return to normal, your guinea pigs may be dehydrated.
Can guinea pigs die from no water?
No, guinea pigs will not die from dehydration if you provide them with a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of hay and vegetables, as previously stated. It is critical, however, to ensure that your guinea pigs have constant access to fresh and clean water, as water is a necessity for all living things.
