Water is one of the basic sustenance for every living thing, and guinea pigs are no exception. If you are wondering what do guinea pigs drink, they drink water. So, you should ensure that your guinea pig has access to clean water at all times.
Although the water shouldn’t be distilled, it should be free from contamination. You shouldn’t add any vitamin or supplement to your guinea pig’s water, and you should try to change the water daily. You also want to keep an eye on your guinea pig’s water intake as any changes can indicate an underlying medical condition.
What Do Guinea Pigs Drink?
Like I mentioned earlier, guinea pigs drink water to survive. Although the diet of guinea pigs are veggies that have high water content, they may still need to supplement that intake by drinking water. This is because water is very important for life, and giving it to your pet will help to maintain their overall health.
Guinea pigs, like most mammals, need water. And when this water level dips due to being used to function by the body or lost due to breathing, urinating, or other processes, you will need to replenish the water.
Not only does water help to replenish the guinea pig’s body water level, but it also helps to regulate their temperature, lubricate and cushion joints, protect their spinal cord, and help to ensure a smooth passage of waste.
Guinea pigs normally drink about 80 – 100 ml of water daily, and This amount might fluctuate slightly due to factors like temperature or humidity, activity level, or illness.
If you notice a sudden change in your guinea pig water drinking pattern, you may need to take your pet to a vet checkup, as this can indicate some serious underlying medical conditions. Without water, your Guinea pigs won’t survive long.
Also, drinking too much water can also be an indication of a health problem. Immediately take Your guinea pig to a veterinarian who can determine the cause of a sudden change in drinking habits.
Read Also: What Guinea Pigs Like to Play With
Type Of Water You Should Offer Your Guinea Pig
Although guinea pig is an animal, you do not want to offer them any type of water at your arm’s reach. A good thumb rule is to only offer your guinea pigs the same type of plain water that you drink. So If you drink tap water or Bottled water, go ahead and offer it to your guinea pig.
The same goes for reverse osmosis and filtered water. Before offering your guinea pig Alkaline water or softened water, you might need to double-check with your veterinarian to make sure it is okay to do so, especially if your guinea pigs already have a chronic health condition.
Do not offer your guinea pig hot or cold water; the water should always be at room temperature water.
If you ever have to offer your guinea pig cold water, maybe during hot weather, you can start by adding one or two ice cubes to the water bottle and note your guinea pig’s reaction.
Always be on alert to your guinea pig’s reaction to introduction changes, and whenever they have a negative reaction to something, you definitely want to stop doing it.
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Drinks You Shouldn’t Offer Your Guinea Pigs
Only offer your guinea pigs Fresh, clean water with nothing added. Any other drinks like soda, juice, or alcohol are very unhealthy for your guinea pigs because they are high sugar, high salt, or high-fat drinks.
Caffeine, chocolate, and dairy drinks are unhealthy for guinea pigs, so do not offer them any of it. Any drink that also contains Artificial sweeteners like xylitol can cause health problems in some pets, so it should be best avoided.
Even water can be bad for guinea pigs if it is a puddle or contaminated water. Do not offer water to your guinea pig that you wouldn’t drink yourself.
How To Offer Guinea Pigs Water
Due to their messy nature, you need to provide your Guinea pigs water in a way it doesn’t get mixed up with its food or even waste. You definitely don’t want your guinea pig’s feces ending up inside its water bowl.
This is one of the reasons using water bowls isn’t recommended for guinea pigs. However, guinea pigs might find it easy to drink from a water bowl because it’s less work compared to a bottle.
If you want to use water bowls, ensure it carries a style that helps to keep it up so it doesn’t tip because your guinea pigs might lean against bowls or walk over them when trying to drink water.
If you are using water bottles, the tips might be clogged by your guinea pigs with bits of food. So you will need to constantly Check the tips of the water bottle and make sure they are clog-free.
Whether you choose to offer your guinea pig water in bottles or bowls totally depends on you and your guinea pigs. Try out both options and see what your guinea pigs prefer.
If you have more than one guinea pig, some might prefer a water bowl, and while others might prefer the water bottle, Some might even like both. This will help to determine the best way to offer your guinea pig water.
How to Keep Water Bowls And Bottles Clean?
Try to wash the water bowls and bottles frequently to make them look clean and also prevent your food and water containers from becoming breeding grounds for bacteria. You need to offer your Guinea pigs unlimited access to fresh, clean water.
So, use warm soapy water to wash your guinea pig’s water bowls and bottles daily. You can use a dishwasher for Those that are dishwasher-safe. Also, keep an eye for any wear-and-tear on any bowl or bottle, and replace anyone that isn’t in good condition.
Read Also: Foods Guinea Pigs Should Not Eat
Conclusion
Knowing what guinea pigs drink will enable you to offer the right drink to your pet. Guinea pigs can only drink clean water, and any other drink might affect their health. Therefore, ensure to take proper precautions when next you want to give your piggies something to drink.
