Can Guinea Pigs Drink Cold Water? Let’s Discover

Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 06:29 pm

Guinea pigs need to drink water daily for better hydration and overall health maintenance.

Can guinea pigs drink cold water?

Guinea pigs can drink cold water, but not too cold, it is best to be closest to room temperature. You can also put some ice in the water itself, but the whole water should not be covered with ice. Guinea pigs should not drink ice water or water straight from the refrigerator, it is too cold for them.

The ideal drinking water temperature for guinea pigs should be between 60-70 F.

In today’s article, you will learn more about whether and how much guinea pigs can drink cold water and other water-related issues.

Is drinking cold water harmful to guinea pigs?

First, we must say that guinea pigs can drink cold water, but not ice-cold water. Cold water can be given to guinea pigs as it helps to cool their bodies.

Guinea pigs prefer colder than warm when they drink water. So it is not harmful if you give them water with some ice in it.

Water is not harmful to guinea pigs, in fact, besides food, it is an important part of their nutrition and hydration.

Guinea pigs need to drink fresh and clean water which helps their health.

Water helps guinea pigs in many ways, besides hydration allowing them to have healthy, soft, and supple skin.

The cold water helps guinea pigs and reduces their stress levels and helps them to be calmer especially in the summer when our pets are hot.

Can guinea pigs drink ice-cold water?

No guinea pigs can’t drink ice-cold water, it’s too cold for them and won’t help them properly hydrate their body.

If you give them ice water the guinea pigs may become dehydrated because they will not want to drink the ice-cold water.

The guinea pigs will try a little and see that it is too cold and they will not want to drink it, they will wait for the water to warm up a little, to be the closest to room temperature.

They will keep checking until the water warms up a bit, but that waiting can only lead to dehydration.

Therefore, the best option for guinea pigs is to drink water that is at room temperature, you can possibly put an ice cube, but nothing more than that.

Water with a little ice will help them in the summer, while in the winter there is no need to put ice in the water.

When you put ice on them, you have to wait for the water to cool down a bit, and then you can take out the rest of the ice so that the water doesn’t get too cold for them, so they don’t want to drink it.

Is it good to put ice in guinea pigs’ water?

YES, you can put some ice cubes in water to cool their water a bit.

Especially in the summer period, a few ice cubes can help refresh the guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs do not have sweat glands, which means that when they need to cool down, they do so by peeing, panting, and hiding in cooler areas of their home.

Therefore, a few ice cubes in the water will help to maintain a better temperature of their body and maintain it at an optimal level.

If you want to cool down the guinea pigs in the summer period, put some ice cubes in a bowl of water and you will see how the guinea pig will enjoy cooling off with it.

However, this does not mean that this type of cooling should be done all the time, because if you overdo it, your pet may eventually catch a cold and get sick.

However, room-temperature water is always the best choice for guinea pigs.

The guinea pig will enjoy both options, but ice cubes are not for everyday use and cooling your pet.can guinea pigs drink cold water

Do guinea pigs need to drink water every day?

Yes, guinea pigs need to drink water every day just like they eat every day.

Water is important for hydration and for easier digestion of food in their digestive system.

Guinea pigs need to drink clean and fresh water every day.

You should pay attention to the cleanliness of the water, because possible parasites, bacteria, and dirty water are harmful to the health of guinea pigs and can cause diseases in your pet.

How much water should a guinea pig drink each day?

To know how much water to give your guinea pig, you first need to know how much weight your pet is.

For each kilogram of weight, they should be given 100 milliliters of water. Apart from the weight, the activity of your guinea pig is also an important factor.

It’s normal for guinea pigs that are more active to drink more water, while those that spend more time resting do not need larger amounts of water.

For example, if a guinea pig spends most of its time sleeping, it needs half the amount of water that the guinea pig drinks when running and playing around all the time.

To know if you give the guinea pigs enough water, you should pay attention to their water bowl, so that there is always enough water.

If you notice that your guinea pigs have sunken eyes and are constantly licking themselves then something is wrong and they are not getting enough water.

Specifically, check their water bottle to see if it is clogged or has any issues with them.

Can guinea pigs go without drinking water for a long time?

A guinea pig needs to have access to fresh and clean water all the time.

They are constantly eating so they need more water than they need to be adequately hydrated.

If guinea pigs do not have access to water for 2-4 hours, they will immediately start showing signs of dehydration.

Those signs are:

  • movement coordination problems
  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • lethargy

The need for water for guinea pigs and how often they need it depends on:

  • the temperature in the environment
  • the diet
  • physical activity
  • air humidity
  • their size
  • old age

However, as we say, in general, they cannot last more than a few hours without water.can guinea pigs drink cold water

Why are hydration and regular drinking of water important for guinea pigs?

Water is an important factor for the survival of the guinea pig. Regular drinking and hydration will help your pet to be healthier and live longer.

By drinking water, guinea pigs ingest certain minerals that improve their health even more.

Here are some of them and their role in guinea pig health:

  • Phosphorus – is an excellent mineral that helps in the formation of cartilage and connective tissue, as well as for the better development of the entire bone system in guinea pigs.
  • Potassium – helps guinea pigs to have healthy and toned skin, as well as to maintain a normal rhythm of their heart, and for better work of the muscles and nervous system.
  • Chloride – with its action, it creates an excellent balance of acids in your pet’s body, and at the same time helps to overcome inflammation and swelling more easily.
  • Boron – is a special mineral that maintains strength and strengthens the nails and hair follicles of guinea pigs.
  • Calcium – is one of the most important minerals for the health of guinea pigs as it helps them to have strong teeth and bones. Calcium is also great for healthy and strong muscles and better blood clotting, which helps your pet heal more easily in case of possible wounds and injuries.
  • Magnesium – it is also great for bone health, but it also helps with nerves and proper contraction of muscle tissue.
  • Sodium – Helps with many guinea pig functions: blood electrolyte balance, better metabolism, better digestion, healthy heart, and proper kidney function.

Read more: Why Guinea Pig Drinking A Lot Of Water? (Find Out Now)

What are the symptoms and signs when a guinea pig is dehydrated?

If the guinea pig is not getting enough fluids and drinking enough water it will become dehydrated.

Here are some symptoms and signs that indicate your pet is starting to become dehydrated:

  • weight reduction
  • decrease in appetite
  • fatigue
  • lethargy
  • need for more water
  • urine becomes dark in color
  • the eyes appear large
  • dry and hard stools
  • decreased activity

All of these signs and symptoms are due to dehydration, and the amount of water the guinea pigs are drinking should be increased immediately.

In addition to water, in order to prevent dehydration, you should also regularly feed the guinea pigs with vegetables and fruits that contain larger amounts of water.

If you measure the weight of the guinea pig, it will be easier to know if your pet is dehydrated or not.

If it starts to lose too much weight then it is definitely dehydrated, while a small difference does not necessarily mean a problem.

To prevent dehydration, it is necessary to regularly put water in their bottles every day, so that it is clean and fresh.

Make sure that the bottles are not clogged because then they will not be able to drink as much as they need and they will start to dehydrate.

Also, pay attention to the food, it should always be varied and rich in nutritious and healthy ingredients that will help to keep them hydrated and healthy.

Frequently asked questions

Can guinea pigs drink vitamin water?

Guinea pigs can drink vitamin water, but not everyone will want to drink it because of the change in its taste. Vitamin water will not be of much use to guinea pigs because the vitamins in it will break down quickly and the effect will not be the same. It is still best to give only clean and fresh plain water to your pets.

Is it better for guinea pigs to drink bottled or tap water?

It is better for guinea pigs to drink tap water. Bottled water often has added vitamins and minerals that may be too much for your pet. However, tap water is the best choice for your pet.

Does food help hydrate guinea pigs?

Yes, food plays an important role in whether the guinea pig will be sufficiently hydrated. Some foods contain more water, so give your pets more parsley, spinach, cucumber, and kale.

Why do guinea pigs sometimes drink too much water?

When guinea pigs drink too much water, it may mean that they are too thirsty, or if it is hot and they have a lot of physical activity. Sometimes drinking a lot of water means they have kidney problems, diabetes, and other diseases. Therefore, in such situations, consultation with a veterinarian is necessary.

Can guinea pigs drink anything else besides water?

No, guinea pigs should drink only fresh and clean water and no other drink. If they drink juices, milk, or something similar, the guinea pigs may have health problems, etc.

Read more: How Long Can a Guinea Pigs Go Without Food And Water?

Conclusion

Guinea pigs can drink cold water, but they should not drink ice-cold water.

It is best for them if the water is at a temperature of 60-70 Fahrenheit, or slightly lower than room temperature.

You can put an ice cube in the water to cool them down, but you should not accustom them to too cold water. Cold water can help guinea pigs cool down.

Always give him fresh and clean water and, if necessary, some ice cubes so that the guinea pigs can enjoy the summer period when it is very hot.

Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon? (Benefits and Risks)