Suddenly thin...?

Willow Bean · Feb 19, 2008

I got the 2014 and the 2018 at the same time. Emma was still in QT so the daily routine was 4 blocks of each HT for Willow and Brenna and 2-3 of the 2018 for Emma. So they have been on those blocks since we got them... All three girls have been eating their HT blocks greedily since we got them, loving every bite. I rarely found more than 2 uneaten blocks when I did cage cleaning.

I'm thinking that their water bottle may not have been working correctly since they REALLY drank a lot last night and now they all three have nice full tummies. I feel AWFUL thinking that they may not have been able to drink from their water bottle for days even though it was right there, ful of water... :cry: :cry: It makes me feel dreadful. I held the water bottle for them last night and they just drank and drank forever! I really think that may have been why they weren't eating... Now Emma has a nice round tummy again and Brenna isn't sunken in any more and Willow doesn't look so thin!
I'll remember the tips for checking for dehydration! Thank to sooooo much for your help! I never knew that the bottle could possibly not be working... I thought it was a pretty straight-forward thing. I'd hate to think what might have happened if I didn't check it and notice that they hadn't been drinking much lately! :cry:

user 78 · Feb 19, 2008

I obsess over my water bottles, especially when the level doesn't seem as low as it should be to me. It's handy that their cages and bottles are practically in my face here at the computer. Every time I move it, change out their water, or it gets banged around, I just depress the ball a few times and double check the water is coming out okay.

It's good that they're all eating as they should be again!

Godmother · Feb 19, 2008

I am a worrywart about their water supply, having heard some stories like yours. I keep at least two water bottles plus a dish of water in every cage. Some prefer the dish, some prefer the bottles. The dish has to get changed at least once a day because they drop crud in it, perch over it, etc.

Sounds like that was the problem, though, since they have regained their shape already. :tumkiss: to them all!

LA · Feb 19, 2008

I have had problems with water bottles as well. When I first got Ruby and Hazel I got a really big bottle but they have springs behind their balls and they couldn't get their little tounges to push hard enough, that was for a few days. And just recently I bought a bigger bottle then I had because I got more girls and it didn't work properly. Now I have two smaller bottles in which we fill every two days or so but I don't care they work and that's all that matters.

Willow Bean · Feb 22, 2008

Just wanted to put everyone's minds at ease! The girls are all looking great! Willow gained a little more of her tummy again, but still looks nice and lean. Brenna has a little bit of a "teenager tummy" with nice, lean limbs. Emma has a nice little pot belly again and is running around like mad. ^_^ Everyone looks great again, it must have been the water bottle malfunctioning! I make sure to check them every time that I touch them now to make sure that they are working!