[Gpdd] Health: Water choices

[Cazza177]

Dear Giki

My two piggies will not drink water and instead have loads of veggies -- but
especially lots of cucumber.  I don't know if a vegetable 'water' is gentler
on the system or not, but it would have nutrients in it of benefit.

We have had 2 cats that have both (in older years) suffered from chronic
renal (kidney) failure and the books I read said to get them off tap water
(full of cholorine and other stuff) and move them over to bottled water --
their reason being that tap water makes your kidneys work that much harder
to deal with the cholorine -- and if there's a kidney problem this does help
to take some of the strain off.  We did this and she seemed to enjoy the
water all the more (and rainwater, as we would leave little tubs out on the
lawn to let it collect).

Carole

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From: "hk fox" <gandhfox1 at earthlink.net>
Reply-To: hk fox <gandhfox1 at earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:03:56 -0500
To: <Gpdd at gpdd.org>
Subject: [Gpdd] Health:  Water choices

Again I want to thank everyone for their kind words for my Princess
Jellybean who crossed the Bridge on New Year's Day.  She was my beloved girl
and I miss her terribly.  Unfortunately, a week later I also lost my little
Brownie Pig.  Brownie was a wonderful pig who chirped, danced in his
cuddle-cup, and came to me like a puppy whenever I came near.  The last time
he was at the vet, when she let him loose he ran right to me and up my
shirt.  She said that she'd never seen a piggy do that!  Brownie, I miss you
hugely!

My question is what kind of water should piggies have?  Both of these died
from stones and both drank tons of water.  I have never had a piggy with
stones in all the years I have had them, but few drank water like these did.
They could both empty a full bottle a day and ask for more.  My sister says
that she gives her cats only bottled water, and distilled at that.  I also
read on GuineaLynx that we should avoid distilled water, but not why.  I
have switched my 2 remaining boys to bottled water and they have vet
appointments for xrays next week and plan to ask her re: water.

I am just wondering what you think about tap vs bottled water and what do
you serve your guys?  I keep thinking that maybe there is a connection
between the stones and the tap water minerals, etc.  I am anxious to hear
what you all think about this issue.

Many thanks,
Giki  and the Florida Boys
Remembering all my babies at the Bridge.