Water for Cavies

Fresh water is very important for cavies. You can create a blend by adding supplements to it that can be beneficial. Be aware that adding anything to your cavies water can cause a change in taste. This may result in them reducing their intake. I like to provide the supplemented water in an additional bottle, so my cavies still has access to plain water as well. Supplemented water should be disposed of at the end of the day. In hot weather this should be done even sooner to avoid undesirable bacteria growth.



You may add to water

Unsweetened Cranberry Juice - To help prevent issues of the urinary tract, use 100% cranberry juice that is completely unsweetened. I use 1/4 juice and 3/4 water however you may like to adjust the ratio to your cavies taste. I would not exceed a half and half dilution once a week.

Apple Cider Vinegar - It is best to use a cold pressed, organic apple cider vinegar if possible. Apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It is also a good source of easily absorbable potassium. Potassium is necessary for strength building and fighting bacteria by flushing out toxins. It also aids digestion by lowering the ph levels in the stomach, which inhibits the growth of unfriendly bacteria. I regularly add half a cup or so to the bucket of water before refilling my water bottles.

 

Colloidal Silver - A natural and powerful broad spectrum antibiotic, with excellent antiseptic, antifungal and disinfectant properties is colloidal silver. It is made from 99.9% fine silver particles suspended in purified water. It works to destroy bacterial, fungal and viral infections in cavies and because it is odorless, barely tasteless and non-toxic, you can use it both internally and externally. I add a few drops to the water bottle when I have unwell cavies.

Vitamin C - Cavies, like humans, cannot create their own vitamin C. They are quite susceptible to scurvy, a debilitating and often deadly disease. There are specific water soluble cavy varieties on the market that you can add to their water. If the diet you are providing is appropriate then they will be receiving plenty of vitamin C already. Supplementing is more just an added boost for those who are most likely to benefit. This might include heavily pregnant sows, new babies and ill cavies.

You can also buy human chewable 100 mg tablets (be sure not to use a multivitamin formula). A quarter of a 100 mg tablet daily is a recommended dose for most adult guinea pigs (The water soluble guinea pig tablets are often 50 mg, but small excesses over that daily requirement are easily excreted.) Many guinea pigs will chew the tablets like a treat and eat them. If yours don't you can crush them up and mix them in with their usual pellets.