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Low calcium water - filter?

JackieS

JackieS

Warren Scout
Hi :)

We have just taken on a new bun who is now besties with our bun Axl....they have bonded well although she is unwell with UTI currently. We know from her previous owner that she has had occasional issues with bladder sludge before, so I’ve been doing my research about how best to reduce this. Low calcium water seems to have been recommended a number of times and I was wondering if there is a way to achieve this with water from home without having to buy bottled? Would water put through a BRITA filter achieve a similar result? (We have one of these at home already!)

Also she seems quite keen on biolapis (have been syring some alongside her recovery food) but you obviously don’t get much for your money any one box only lasts 6 days! I see some people have suggested avipro plus in water to encourage drinking, anyone had any luck with this?

Thank you!
 
There is no way of measuring the calcium content from Brita filtered water, and it varies so much depending on the calcium content to start with. If your water is very hard, like mine, it only reduces it down a bit. I can tell this by how often I have to descale the kettle. My guess is that it roughly halves the calcium content, but it is only a guess.

The lowest calcium bottled water that is quite cheap and easy to find is Tesco Ashbeck.
 
SarahP said:
There is no way of measuring the calcium content from Brita filtered water, and it varies so much depending on the calcium content to start with. If your water is very hard, like mine, it only reduces it down a bit. I can tell this by how often I have to descale the kettle. My guess is that it roughly halves the calcium content, but it is only a guess.

The lowest calcium bottled water that is quite cheap and easy to find is Tesco Ashbeck.
Click to expand...
I hadn’t thought about not being able to measure it! Doh!

We shop regularly at Tesco so getting ash beck shouldn’t be an issue if needed
 
JackieS said:
Hi :)

We have just taken on a new bun who is now besties with our bun Axl....they have bonded well although she is unwell with UTI currently. We know from her previous owner that she has had occasional issues with bladder sludge before, so I’ve been doing my research about how best to reduce this. Low calcium water seems to have been recommended a number of times and I was wondering if there is a way to achieve this with water from home without having to buy bottled? Would water put through a BRITA filter achieve a similar result? (We have one of these at home already!)

Also she seems quite keen on biolapis (have been syring some alongside her recovery food) but you obviously don’t get much for your money any one box only lasts 6 days! I see some people have suggested avipro plus in water to encourage drinking, anyone had any luck with this?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
I use bottled water for me and my buns because my water is really hard. I used to have a brita filter but was always replacing it often. And as Sarahp said you don't really know about how much calcium would be left. I would just stick to bottled water if you can or get one of those fancy brita filter taps fitted in the sink which I can't afford!

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk
 
I actually spoke to my vet about this and he said just be careful with bottled water. He said make sure you stick to one brand only as they all contain different levels of minerals which would effect the gut. I also have low sodium which is volvic although pricey and really annoyingly isn't in many shops!

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk
 
loobers25 said:
I actually spoke to my vet about this and he said just be careful with bottled water. He said make sure you stick to one brand only as they all contain different levels of minerals which would effect the gut. I also have low sodium which is volvic although pricey and really annoyingly isn't in many shops!

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Interesting loopers - thank you for that! I don’t want to upset her tummy more, so when she’s recovered we’ll do some water changes bit by bit to be sure :)
 
They do have different levels but, unless you buy spring water, all the details are on the label.
 
SarahP said:
They do have different levels but, unless you buy spring water, all the details are on the label.
Click to expand...
Yes I would change the water slowly Jackie and make sure you can always buy the same brand.

I agee spring water! I couldn't find spring water round here but the only one I could find had added fluoride. Some baby waters are really good low calcium etc supposed to be gentle on tummys and around 20p a bottle however I again could only find ones with fluoride around here.

I did a course on fluoride of which I am happy to put it on humans but I wouldn't be happy for animals to be having it especially bunnies

Oh yes my vet said what about distilling your own water, boiling it and cooling it etc as he said I must be spending a fortune and to be fair I am and recycling is through the roof but again I just like to be on the safe side and have what's in it on a label x

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Jack's-Jane said:
Sarah is always my go to for advice about low calcium water !!
Click to expand...

:lol:

I recently had a vet mention a list she had in a previous surgery with low calcium waters. I ended up having to say 'yes, that was written by me, I think!' :lol:
 
loobers25 said:
Yes I would change the water slowly Jackie and make sure you can always buy the same brand.

I agee spring water! I couldn't find spring water round here but the only one I could find had added fluoride. Some baby waters are really good low calcium etc supposed to be gentle on tummys and around 20p a bottle however I again could only find ones with fluoride around here.

I did a course on fluoride of which I am happy to put it on humans but I wouldn't be happy for animals to be having it especially bunnies

Oh yes my vet said what about distilling your own water, boiling it and cooling it etc as he said I must be spending a fortune and to be fair I am and recycling is through the roof but again I just like to be on the safe side and have what's in it on a label x

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

What bottled water have you found with fluoride added? The only bottled water that I've ever found with minerals added is Smart Water. Any other waters these days have minerals that are naturally present.

Most low calcium waters also tend to be low in other minerals too. Particularly fluoride, as natural fluoride is in the form of calcium fluoride (different to the type that is added in certain areas of the UK to water - weirdly no-one ever seems to be bothered about that for their pets, well I don't think I've ever seen a thread about it anyway).
 
SarahP said:
They do have different levels but, unless you buy spring water, all the details are on the label.
Click to expand...


I always quote SarahP for the latest and best low calcium water :)

I have a filter, so I don't keep up to date with the various varieties.
 
SarahP said:
:lol:

I recently had a vet mention a list she had in a previous surgery with low calcium waters. I ended up having to say 'yes, that was written by me, I think!' :lol:
Click to expand...


Haha, only just seen this! I was right to say you're the guru of bottled water :D
 
Haha, I'd better make sure I stay up to date then! :lol: I am such a freak - I'm always looking for new brands of water and reading the details. :oops:
 
SarahP said:
What bottled water have you found with fluoride added? The only bottled water that I've ever found with minerals added is Smart Water. Any other waters these days have minerals that are naturally present.

Most low calcium waters also tend to be low in other minerals too. Particularly fluoride, as natural fluoride is in the form of calcium fluoride (different to the type that is added in certain areas of the UK to water - weirdly no-one ever seems to be bothered about that for their pets, well I don't think I've ever seen a thread about it anyway).
Click to expand...
It was a weird foreign one in a shop called pound stretcher! I always look at the labels on water out of curiosity. Have you made a list? If so that's awesome!

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk
 
My list is definitely out of date now, as there used to be a water called Isklar you could buy that's now gone. The lowest I've found is Deeside, then Tesco Ashbeck, then Volvic. I used to buy Deeside, but it's too hard to get hold of (Ocado and Waitrose, and they are often out of stock).
 
SarahP said:
My list is definitely out of date now, as there used to be a water called Isklar you could buy that's now gone. The lowest I've found is Deeside, then Tesco Ashbeck, then Volvic. I used to buy Deeside, but it's too hard to get hold of (Ocado and Waitrose, and they are often out of stock).
Click to expand...
Phew I'm so glad volvic was in your top three SarahP! Nice to know i am on the right track

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