Water Bottle Problem

[Chinwawa]

Hi everyone, I am a new Chin Mom. I had a close call with a water bottle problem.

I have an Oasis plastic water bottle in a metal holder. I was worried that my chin might chew the plastic. She had not been chewing the bottle but I bought a Lixit glass bottle anyway.

I mounted the glass bottle and showed her the new bottle. She went right over and drank a bit. I checked the nozzle with my finger. Water was flowing.

The next day I noticed that the water level in the new bottle had not gone down as fast as with the plastic bottle. I thought it was the new size and shape of the bottle.

The second day when I went to change water there was also less water used. I got worried and put the plastic bottle back in the cage.

OH MY GOSH. My poor chin ran over and drank and drank for about 15 min. It seems that she was not able to work the nozzle on the Lixit bottle as easily as the nozzle on the plastic 8 ounce Oasis Bottle.

Has anyone else had this problem? She is only about 14 weeks and her mouth is so small. Could that be the reason she was not able to get as good a drink from the Lixit bottle?

I felt terrible that she had been thirsty. She was lively and all but oh my gosh I felt like a bad MOM.

Faye

 

[yummychinchillatoys.com]

I have had the same problem, but I don't think it was because they couldn't use the nozzle on the new bottles... I had the cheap plastic bottles that you can buy at walmart, then I bought the super pet glass bottles because I noticed the plastic ones where leaking a lot and the one glass bottle I had didn't, anyways, i noticed that the glass bottles, the water wasn't going down, a few days went by and i put back the plastic bottle and my boys went and drank for like 15 minutes too.. I felt so bad... i always checked with my finger to make sure that the glass bottles where working... I took the cap off and blew in the tube and now they work fine... Have had no problems since..

 

[Rickman]

The super pet bottles work very well if you START them - bounce them off the heel of your hand, after filling. Wait until all the bubbles come out, then check it with your finger, making sure bubbles are coming up when you depress the balls.
There's 2 balls in there to avoid backflow, and they have to be started - wish they'd say something in the directions!

 

[Chinwawa]

Ok. But I was so angry that I threw the bottle out. If she is NOT chewing the plastic bottle do any of you see any reason to switch her? I clean it well and have a bottle brush and will swap it out if it seems worn inside or out.

 

[Essentia]

Most of my bottles are plastic. Running a rescue I use whatever bottles I have on hand as long as they don't get chewed. I only have one chin who chews the bottles, so he does have a glass.

People prefer glass because they are easier to clean and the threat of being chewed isn't there. If you are cleaning the bottle often and your chin isn't chewing on it, it's fine to leave it.

 

[Rickman]

I've also wrapped plastic bottles with 'hardware screen' to avoid chewing - actually any kind of bendable metal will deter chewing. Attatch it as a cover!

 

[Chinwawa]

Thank you so much Essentia and Rickman. I feel so much better now. I will continue with the plastic, clean them often and watch for any chewing.

Faye

 

[Rickman]

Wish I had all the ones thrown out because instructions weren't included! Been hearing this for a few years!!
Super Pet is about a mile from where I work, and since E-mails haven't changed anything, I'm gonna stop over there and raise some ****!
As far as I know, everyone's caught the problem in time, but who really knows?
Don't want to hear about anyone accidentally loosing a cagefull!!

 

[mishellyshel]

if the bottle is on the outside of the cage, how do they get to the plastic? or do you mean the plastic part on the nozzle?

 

[Essentia]

In a FN the bars are far enough apart that they can get their snouts out just far enough to chew on bottles if they really feel like it.

 

[kogia]

if the bottle is on the outside of the cage, how do they get to the plastic? or do you mean the plastic part on the nozzle?

I've had my chin chew my wall right through 1850's wall paper to PLASTER through 1/2"x 1" mesh martin's cage. The cage wasn't even pushed up against the wall...

 

[Silverrose]

if the bottle is on the outside of the cage, how do they get to the plastic? or do you mean the plastic part on the nozzle?

Chins are so naughty! I have 1"x1/2" cage spacings, and they can still stick their little noses outside to chew on plastic bottles! I have many edstrom bottles that are missing corners because of it! If only edstrom made a glass bottle with their valve...

 

[menagerie]

There is a difference in the say that you need to fill glass and plastic bottles to make them work properly.

With glass bottles you need to leave an air space in the bottle when you're filling them. They need air in the bottle to make them work. With plastic bottles you have to fill them all the way to the rim so that they form a vacuum seal and don't leak. Squeezing a plastic bottle to force water out the nozzle and flicking the ball will also help create the vacuum and reduce leaking.

 

[Chinwawa]

Thank you all.

Of course none of this good information is on the instructions of either type of bottle.

The holder I have for the plastic bottle hangs the bottle inside the cage. But she is not chewing on it at all. I will watch carefully and switch to outside the cage if necessary.

I may try another glass bottle now that I know the proper way to make it work.
Either way at least now I have the correct information to take good care of my new Chin.