Water and your hamster, guinea pig, rat, mouse or gerbil

Your little critter is big on water, and making sure he gets enough of it is one of your most important jobs as a pet parent. Companion animals who eat pelleted diets in particular get very little water from their food, so you’ll need to ensure a ready supply. Read on to find out how to wet your pet’s whistle – or should we say squeak?!

Abundant water is fundamental

No other nutrient is as much of a multi-tasker as water. Your hamster, guinea pig, rat, mouse or gerbil uses water to:

• Keep his tissues moist
• Regulate body temperature
• Lubricate joints
• Remove wastes
• Transport nutrients throughout his body

Water is evaporated through the skin and lungs, and is also expelled via droppings. Should your little guy not get enough of the wet stuff, he can quickly become dehydrated. This is a very serious condition, and if left untreated, is fatal.

To make sure that your small animal friend never goes thirsty, you’ll need to make sure he has access to fresh, pure, clean water at all times. The daily intake will vary from species to species, and from individual to individual. The average adult gerbil drinks about 4 to 10 ml of water every day, while your typical rat may take in up to 2 ounces. And a rabbit who spends some supervised time outside during a warm summer day may need to guzzle down 10 to 20 ounces to remain properly hydrated. No matter how much your pet imbibes, it is recommended that you change his water at least once a day.

And now’s a good time to clear up a misconception about hamsters and gerbils. Because these desert species require little water in the wild, some caretakers believe that their pets can derive an adequate amount of fluid from occasional fruit and veggie snacks. Not true! Gerbils and hamsters will need access to fresh, clean water 24/7, thank you very much!

What kind of pet waterer should you buy?

Do you know what kind of water receptacle works best for your buddy? The most simple of water dishes is a sturdy ceramic crock. These are virtually unbreakable, but may not be the best choice if your pet tends to drop bits of food in his water. If he’s a digger, as many rodents naturally are, it’s just a matter of time before his water dish becomes filled with bedding or nesting material. And one final precaution:

Water dish + Little critter with long hair = Matted mess!

Plastic water bottles

We highly recommend the easily affordable plastic water bottles with sipper tubes that attach to the side of the cage. Not only are they great space savers, they’ll solve the problem of contamination – just remember to make sure you’ve positioned the bottle low enough for your pet to get to. And even if your little guy barely makes a dent in the total volume throughout the day, it is still very important that you rinse and refill the bottle. It’s also crucial that you conduct a daily check to make sure that the tube is functioning properly. Saliva and food can easily clog the tube, denying your critter access to the water he needs.

Small animal waterers

If you have multiple rodents living in one cage, you may want to consider a small animal waterer. The strong plastic receptacle is equipped with a drinking valve that your pet can quickly learn to operate. Furthermore, this easy-to-install system doesn’t leak or drip and, because it doesn’t operate on a vacuum principal, is virtually clog-proof.