You probably have a picture of a guinea pig ingesting out of these water bottles connected to the facet of their cage. Nonetheless, it’s additionally regular to marvel if they’ll drink out of an everyday bowl as properly. Guinea pigs can drink out of water bowls too. Nonetheless, there are precautions and steps to take in the event you place a water bowl of their enclosure.
You have to to scrub and fill the bowl extra frequently than a bottle. On this article, you’ll be taught the professionals and cons of getting a water bowl in your guinea pigs’ enclosure and the right way to educate them to make use of a water bowl.
Are Water Bowls Secure?
Water bowls are normally secure if utilized in the precise method. Water bottles is likely to be a extra handy choice for guinea pig house owners and far much less work. They need to at all times be provided as a clear supply of water. Some guinea pigs might want a water bowl so they’re advantageous to make use of along with a water bottle.
In case your guinea pig is having bother with the water bottle, go to with an unique animal veterinarian. In case your guinea pig is in ache or has a well being drawback they may want veterinary remedy.
Cons of Water Bowls Over Bottles
The primary drawback of offering water bowls on your guinea pigs is that, typically, the water turns into contaminated with feces, urine, hair, hay, bedding, or different parts present in your guinea’s enclosure. You’ll must preserve refreshing the water bowl all through the day, as guinea pigs require clear water. Beneath is a listing of cons to having a water bowl.
1. Spilling Hazard
When guinea pigs are energetic, they popcorn, chase, run, and wheek from pleasure or playful exercise. Water bowls usually tend to get tipped over. Guinea pigs can’t have damp bedding for too lengthy, as it can trigger bumblefoot, or irritation of the pores and skin and toes.
2. Danger to Child Guineas
On the one hand, water bowls are most accessible for child piggies to make use of, however on the opposite, if the water is just too deep, you danger your infants drowning. If grownup guinea pigs encompass child guinea pigs, they might by accident tip the water bowl onto one and injure them. There are strategies to this insanity, and we’ll talk about them later.
3. Mistaken for Baths
Whereas it might be cute, some guinea pigs might mistake a water bowl for a wading pool. Though this exercise appears harmless, it’s not hygienic and contaminates the ingesting water.
4. Unsanitary
As talked about, water bowls can develop into soiled pretty shortly. Guinea pigs will develop into sick in the event that they drink contaminated water. In the event that they select to not drink it, they’ll develop into dehydrated.
5. Extra Work
Because the bowls are way more vulnerable to getting soiled or spilled this may imply you have to spend extra time cleansing and refilling the water. Additionally, you will must take away moist bedding from the enclosure.
Professionals of Water Bowls for Guinea Pigs
Water bowls make it extra comfy for guinea pigs to drink. With water bottles, your guineas should tip their head, which might be difficult to maneuver if they’ve well being issues. Extra execs to utilizing water bowls embody:
1. Simpler to Clear
Water bottles are more durable to scrub since you use small devices to clean the within of the nozzle. With a water bowl, you may simply add it to the remainder of your dishes and clear it with dish cleaning soap. Make sure you get all cleaning soap residue from the water bowl earlier than putting it within the cage.
2. Extra Comfy for Sick Guinea Pigs
Painful or sick guinea pigs take pleasure in water bowls as a result of they don’t need to tip their head to drink from a water bottle. Since water bowls are positioned on the ground, guinea pigs can comfortably drink as a lot or as little as they’d like.
3. Doesn’t Require Coaching
Younger guinea pigs have to be skilled to make use of a water bottle. For pets which have by no means used a bottle earlier than, ingesting from a bowl is instinctive and might stop dehydration whereas they be taught to make use of the bottle.
Ideas for Retaining a Water Bowl in Your Guinea Pig Enclosure
The three most necessary measures to take when utilizing a water bowl over a bottle on your guinea pigs are cleanliness, maintaining it safe, and watching how a lot water they drink. Beneath is a listing of suggestions for safely maintaining a water bowl in your guinea pig’s enclosure.
Cleanliness
Sadly, there is just one method to preserve the water bowl constantly clear in the event you refill it all through the day. Nonetheless, you may place the water bowl away from meals, hay, or some other mess to forestall the bowl from getting soiled as typically. One of the best technique is to put the water bowl close to towels within the nook of the cage, away from busy areas.
Retaining It Safe
To cease the water bowl from tipping, you are able to do one in every of two issues: duct tape the underside of the bowl to the cage or use a clip-on bowl to the bars of the cage. You’ll need a shallow bowl so it’s not tippable, and your guinea pig’s weight gained’t spill any water. With clip-on bowls, it sticks to the facet of the cage, which is most handy for each guinea pigs and house owners.
Water Consumption
Water bottles have indentation traces exhibiting how a lot water your guinea pigs have drunk. With ceramic or glass bowls, you should use a everlasting marker on the skin of the bowl to estimate how a lot water has been drunk.
One of the best bowls to make use of for guinea pigs are glass or ceramic. By no means place plastic bowls within the enclosure, as guinea pigs will chew via them and both choke or break the dish. Steel bowls are one other secure various.
Conclusion
So, are water bowls secure? Can guinea pigs drink from a water bowl? Sure, water bowls are okay to make use of in the precise circumstances. Whereas there are some challenges to offering a water bowl, like tipping hazards, moist bedding, and mistaken bathtubs, there are hacks to regulate these habits.
Some guinea pigs won’t ever be taught or need to use water bowls, so it’s at all times finest to supply each bottles and bowls. In case your guinea pig will get not less than 80 ml of water every day, it gained’t matter which technique you employ.
See Additionally: Can Guinea Pigs Drink Faucet Water? Vet Authorised Security & Care Information
Featured Picture Credit score: Nop1-Shutterstock
