Q: NOT DRINKING

Apr 06, 2009

Do not soak greens in water unless you want to add diarrhea to her problems.

KavyKeeper is right -- you should not put bowls of water in guinea pig cages. They just make a mess -- soaking the cage bedding, soaking the guinea pig, soaking everything within range if tipped over.

I echo KavyKeeper -- force-feeding liquids is risky business if you don't know what you're doing. If the fluid gets into their lungs, it causes them to aspirate (which is fatal).

If your guinea pig won't drink from a water bottle, there are three possible causes:

1. Doesn't know how to drink from a water bottle. Being with another guinea pig would help her learn.

2. Tooth problem is making it difficult for her to drink from a water bottle. Another question you posted mentioned drooling, which is another red flag for teeth problems.

3. She's getting enough fluids from her fresh veggies and fruit, and doesn't need more.

HOWEVER, with everything you've been describing in the questions you've posted around ZooToo, everything is pointing to problems with the teeth.

In which case, you absolutely MUST get her to a veterinarian -- one who specializes in small exotic animals -- and have her thoroughly checked out. And you MUST do this ASAP.

Until you get her to the vet, try leaving chunks of cucumber in her food dish. Cucumbers have a high water content, and can be a successful temporary solution to keep your guinea pig hydrated for a few hours until you get her to a vet.

Please get her to a vet.

Now.

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Mar 27, 2009

Guinea pigs also get water from vegetables. Do not give head lettuce as it's nearly all water and can cause diarrhea. What type of bottle are you using? Make sure it's a guinea pig bottle and hang it so the tip is a few inches from the bottom of the cage so she can easily reach it and so it's not too low to the ground. Keep it in the cage even if she doesn't drink. Don't offer water in a bowl. Soak romaine lettuce, parsley or any other leafy green vegetable in water and feed it to her so she gets liquids that way. You have to be very careful force feeding liquids. She can get it in her lungs which can be deadly. What type of cage do you have her in? The cage setup might be the problem. Keep us updated on her condition.

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Mar 27, 2009

I think your best bet is to take her ot the vet to see if something is wrong. She may have to get some fluids through and IV due to the dehydration.

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Mar 26, 2009

I think she needs to visit a vet to make sure she is ok ... meanwhile ... can someone stay with her or him during the day while you are out?

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Mar 25, 2009

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Mar 25, 2009

Hmmm...Maybe she is ill. I am assuming that you got her from a pet store, so pet store guinea pigs are sometimes sickly. I would go to the vet ASAP.

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