Guinea pig is not drinking

[lialooszoo]

Hello everyone I rescued my guinea pig Kenneth on Monday and it’s been going really well except from the fact that he isn’t drinking. I haven’t seen him drink water at all. I’m getting pretty concerned now because it’s getting really hot here. Kenneth seems to be in really good health, he’s always eating so that’s promising- I assume he’s managing with the water he’s getting from the veg I give him. When I brought him home I brought home a clear glass water bottle (all my guinea pigs have the same.) I change the water every day and both water bottle and bowl are clean. I have even tried putting a bowl full of water down for him but he’s not having it. Any advise would be appreciated, just getting a little bit worried now as it’s getting hotter.

Lia

 

[Piggies&buns]

Guinea pigs won’t dehydrate themselves. The amount they drink will vary hugely and is also dependent upon how much veg they get. Ensure he knows where the bottles and bowls are bottles are and watch for wet bedding. If you are seeing wet bedding then he is getting enough liquid.

Is he living with another piggy?

All About Drinking And Bottles

 

[lialooszoo]

Guinea pigs won’t dehydrate themselves. The amount they drink will vary hugely and is also dependent upon how much veg they get. Ensure he knows where the bottles and bowls are bottles are and watch for wet bedding. If you are seeing wet bedding then he is getting enough liquid.

Is he living with another piggy?

All About Drinking And Bottles

Thank you this is very reassuring! I’m always seeing wet bedding so that’s positive! I’m currently quarantining him for 2 weeks. I’m planning on getting Kenneth to meet my other male guinea pig Bumble. So hopefully they’re a good match, they have very similar temperaments, so fingers crossed!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you this is very reassuring! I’m always seeing wet bedding so that’s positive! I’m currently quarantining him for 2 weeks. I’m planning on getting Kenneth to meet my other male guinea pig Bumble. So hopefully they’re a good match, they have very similar temperaments, so fingers crossed!

Are Kenneth and Bumble both over four months of age? If so then quarantining is the right thing to do.
If one of them is under four months of age, then you do not quarantine and must introduce them immediately. Their social needs are so great if they are under four months that you forego quarantine for the sake of their urgent need for companionship (and just have to accept that if the newcomer is carrying something then you just have to potentially treat them both)

 

[lialooszoo]

Are Kenneth and Bumble both over four months of age? If so then quarantining is the right thing to do.
If one of them is under four months of age, then you do not quarantine and must introduce them immediately. Their social needs are so great if they are under four months that you forego quarantine for the sake of their urgent need for companionship (and just have to accept that if the newcomer is carrying something then you just have to potentially treat them both)

Yes they are, Bumble is four and Kenneth is three!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone I rescued my guinea pig Kenneth on Monday and it’s been going really well except from the fact that he isn’t drinking. I haven’t seen him drink water at all. I’m getting pretty concerned now because it’s getting really hot here. Kenneth seems to be in really good health, he’s always eating so that’s promising- I assume he’s managing with the water he’s getting from the veg I give him. When I brought him home I brought home a clear glass water bottle (all my guinea pigs have the same.) I change the water every day and both water bottle and bowl are clean. I have even tried putting a bowl full of water down for him but he’s not having it. Any advise would be appreciated, just getting a little bit worried now as it’s getting hotter.

Lia

Here is our information on hot weather with the most comprehensive collection on practical tips you can find anywhere; you may want to bookmark the link and step up your measures especially during heat spikes or prolonged heat waves. It really can make the difference between life and death.
The need to drink comes before the need to eat; if you see a healthy piggy eating normally, they are not dehydrated: Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

How much your boy will drink depends on how much fluid he gets from his veg and any fresh grass and how big a drinker he is naturally. Also always make sure that the water in the bottle is cool and drinkable. If necessary, place a little dish underneath in case he has never had a bottle.

Here is more detailed helpful information on drinking:
All About Drinking And Bottles

And here is some important information on diet and the relationship between drinking water and eating more fluid containing foods. Keep in mind that hay and fresh grass make the bulk of what a piggy eats in a day (80%). If your boy is getting a lot of fresh growing spring or autumn grass, this also counts toward the veg allowance because he will get more fluid that way. Grass that is not growing much or brown counts as hay.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
The temptation to overfeed watery veg and fruit in hot weather!
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time

 

[Claire W]

My 4 piggies have been spending a lot of time outside in their run during the nice weather. They have a water bottle in there but none of them touch it and they can be out for 8 hours at a time. They have two water bottles in their cage and only go through a bottle of water every two days between the 4 of them. I don’t worry as there’s always wet bedding and I know they’re getting enough water from their veggies. Kenneth is probably getting all the water he needs from his veggies and he will drink when he’s thirsty

 

[lialooszoo]

My 4 piggies have been spending a lot of time outside in their run during the nice weather. They have a water bottle in there but none of them touch it and they can be out for 8 hours at a time. They have two water bottles in their cage and only go through a bottle of water every two days between the 4 of them. I don’t worry as there’s always wet bedding and I know they’re getting enough water from their veggies. Kenneth is probably getting all the water he needs from his veggies and he will drink when he’s thirsty

Thank you for this, this puts my mind at rest a lot! X