How Much Water Does A Guinea Pig Need? Is It Even Necessary?
Water is essential to a guinea pig because it helps with many body processes like temperature regulation, digestion, and excretion.
How much water does a guinea pig need? A guinea pig should drink between 70 ml and 310 ml of water daily. A cavy should drink water equal to at least a fifth of its weight. However, water consumption varies depending on factors like diet. To avoid health issues, provide plenty of clean, fresh water.
Now that we’ve established how much water your cavy needs, what is the best way to give it some, and what factors affect its water consumption? Read on to find out.
How Much Water Does A Guinea Pig Need Per Day?
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), guinea pigs should have water available at all times. A guinea pig typically drinks between 70 ml and 310 ml of water every day. However, that amount is dependent on several factors like;
Body weight
The recommended minimum daily water consumption for a guinea pig is around a fifth of its body weight.
Weather
The amount of water consumed by a cavy varies according to weather conditions. For instance, your pet cavy will drink more water in the heat of summer than in the winter.
Most pet guinea pigs are kept indoors in cages, so the house’s temperature can determine the amount of water they consume. If the place is too warm, your cavy will drink more water than when it’s colder.
Diet
A guinea pig’s water requirements can also vary depending on its diet. A cavy that eats many water-rich foods like cucumbers and watermelons will only need a little water to satisfy its needs. However, if your pet pig’s diet comprises mostly dry feeds like hay, it needs lots of water.
Convenience
Placing the water source in an easily accessible area encourages the cavy to drink more water daily. However, if the water is not easy to reach or drink, your pet pig’s consumption will drop dramatically.
So, how much water should a guinea pig drink daily? That can be anywhere between 70ml and 310ml, but as shown above, the amount varies depending on factors like body weight, weather, and diet.
How To Give your pet guinea Pig Water
It is vital to provide your cavy with water conveniently because it will drink less if you use an inconvenient method. There are several ways to give your pet pig water;
Use a bowl
A bowl is an easy and most convenient way to give your pet guinea pig some water. The openness of the bowl allows your cavy to access the water easily and encourages it to drink more.
Since water can be contaminated by poop or food particles making it undrinkable, you should replace it regularly. Besides, guinea pigs typically refuse to drink any dirty water.
Use a water bottle
Water bottles are the most common way to give guinea pigs water. Just attach the bottle to the outside of the cage and bend the pipe inwards in an easy-to-reach way. Since a ball is used to prevent water leakage, your cavy only has to use its tongue to push the ball and release some water.
Use a sippy bottle
Sippy bottles provide an easier, more convenient way to give guinea pigs water than water bottles. A sippy bottle has a lid and nozzle, which releases a stream of water and prevents spilling when the pig latches onto it.
Since it allows more water to come out at a time, this method increases the amount of water your pet pig consumes.
Using a syringe
your pet guinea pig could be sick or refusing to drink water for some reason. In this case, use a syringe to give it water. Place the syringe at the mouth’s corner and push the water in amounts the cavy can swallow easily.
Repeat the process until you give the rodent enough water or it can’t drink anymore.
Take the following precautions before you give your pet pig any water;
- Don’t add salt, sugar, or nutrient supplements.
- The water should have no alcohol content.
When it comes to water, the golden rule is; don’t give your furry friend any water you can’t drink.
Why Is My Guinea Pig Drinking More Water Than It Requires?
Typical water consumption varies from one guinea pig to another. However, your cavy generally drinks roughly the same amount of water every day. There are many reasons why your cavy might start consuming more water, including;
Diet change – Cavies are very sensitive to even the slightest changes in their diet. For instance, foods like hay that contain less water might make your pet guinea pig start drinking more water.
Weather change – The ambient temperature directly affects the water consumption of your pet guinea pig. A weather change that increases the temperature will make your cavy more thirsty.
Diabetes – The elevated sugar levels that diabetic cavies experience causes frequent urination. Hence, your pet guinea pet pig will be more thirsty than usual, consuming more water.
If your pet cavy starts drinking a lot of water and you can’t figure out why, it might be ill, so you must consult a vet immediately.
How To Ensure your pet guinea Pig Drinks Enough Water
Sometimes, your pet pig is healthy but takes very little water, so you may want to increase the pig’s water intake. Here are some things you can do to improve your furry friend’s water intake;
- Increase the amount of water-rich vegetables you feed the guinea pig.
- Ensure that the bowl, water bottle, or sippy bottle you use to give your pig water is clean.
- Frequently check the nozzles of the water bottles to ensure they’re working perfectly. If any bottles are too old, replace them.
- If the water in your area has some added chemicals, consider filtering for a better taste.
Related Questions
Here are answers to common questions about how much water guinea pigs need.
How many days can guinea pigs stay without water?
Although your cavy is unlikely to experience any issues after missing water for about eight hours, it may begin to experience health problems beyond that. Generally, a guinea pig will dehydrate after 24 hours without drinking water. Dehydration eventually leads to organ failure and death.
Diet is also important in determining how long a cavy can stay without drinking water. For instance, hay is dry food, so a guinea pig will be thirsty after eating it. However, if your cavy consumes vegetables like cucumber, it can stay longer without drinking water since they are rich in water.
How much water does a baby guinea pig need?
Baby cavies require enough water in their diet to grow healthily. Typically, the amount of water they should consume daily is equal to a fifth of their body weight. For example, an average infant guinea pig weighs about 100 g, so its daily water intake should be about 10 ml.
Do guinea pigs need to drink fresh water every day?
If a guinea pig stays for more than 24 hours without water, it may experience dehydration-related issues. Hence, it is important to provide fresh water at all times, since your cavy needs a drink at least once every day.
Conclusion
A normal guinea pig requires between 70ml to 310ml of water per day to stay healthy. However, your pet cavy’s water consumption will depend on factors such as diet, health, weather conditions, and weight. You must ensure that your furry friend always has water to avoid dehydration and health issues.
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