What Do Guinea Pigs Eat? How to Give Them a Healthy Diet

On probably the most elementary diploma, guinea pigs are herbivores. That signifies that they merely eat fruits and veggies—no dairy, eggs, meat, or bugs for these little guys. Up to date hay and up to date leafy greens should make up nearly all of your guinea pig’s weight reduction plan.

Examine all about feeding guinea pigs, along with meals that they shouldn’t eat.

Vitamin C

Guinea pigs can’t formulate their very personal vitamin C, making them vulnerable to scurvy. Guinea pig pellets should embrace vitamin C to keep up your pet healthful.

On frequent, guinea pigs need 10 to twenty mg of vitamin C per day. Nonetheless, converse to your veterinarian for many who aren’t sure about how so much your pet needs, significantly within the occasion that they’re unwell, youthful, earlier, pregnant, or nursing—you might want to make sure you current them with the appropriate amount for his or her distinctive needs.

Hay

Guinea pig enamel are always rising. It’s essential to current your guinea pig one factor fibrous to chew on. That’s the place hay is great needed. There are two kinds of hay that guinea pigs can eat: grass and leguminous. Onerous pellets alone gained’t do the trick.

For hay, a combination of timothy, orchard, and oat is best. Some alfalfa hay is acceptable however it certainly incorporates an extreme quantity of calcium to be the precept part of your pet’s weight reduction plan.

Guinea pig hay should be saved in a cool, dry place to stay away from mildew or mildew.

Industrial Weight reduction program

Most pet mom and father will select to feed their guinea pigs store-bought pellets and hay. Ensure you purchase pellets that are significantly formulated for guinea pigs.

Complement your guinea pig’s hay with a small amount of high-quality pellets. Go for plain pellets barely than a mixture, as this prevents your guinea pig from merely deciding on out the tasty bits and ignoring the healthful ones.

Greens

Up to date veggies are good treats and dietary dietary supplements in your guinea pig, and you may give your pet about ½ to 1 cup of various greens every day. It’s best to make the most of these as extra-special selections to help bond alongside together with your guinea pig, or as treats for teaching.

Good up to date greens to feed your guinea pig embrace:

• Inexperienced peppers
• Parsley
• Inexperienced and crimson leaf lettuce
• Romaine lettuce
• Cauliflower
• Cilantro
• Broccoli
• Carrots and carrot tops
• Beet greens

Always it is best to undoubtedly clear up any uneaten up to date meals on the end of the day to avoid mildew or rot.

Fruits

Like greens, fruits are moreover nutritious treats to produce your guinea pig. A couple of of the best up to date fruits for them embrace:

• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes (solely the ripened fruit, not the stem or leaves)
• Watermelon
• Apples
• Pears
• Kiwi

Present your guinea pig further greens than fruits. They may love fruits, nevertheless they’re like candy for guinea pigs. Moreover, the extreme amount of sugar in fruit might set off excessive diarrhea.

What To not Feed Guinea Pigs

Not all fruits and veggies are protected for guinea pigs to eat. Ensure you avoid feeding your guinea pig:

• Avocados
• Chives
• Coconuts
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Onions
• Raisins

These meals are actually dangerous for lots of pets, and generally pop up on lists of toxic meals for canine, parrots, and cats.

Always avoid feeding your guinea pig sweet or salty human “junk meals,” even when not one of many elements are toxic. Since guinea pigs can’t eat garlic or onions, plenty of our cooked meals is off-limits as correctly.

Meals that are extreme in starch, carbohydrates, and fat additionally must be prevented. Examples embrace:

• Seeds
• Nuts
• Beans
• Peas
• Cereals
• Oats

It’s sometimes best to remain to feeding your guinea pig a weight reduction plan of hay and high-quality pellets, with occasional treats of up to date fruits and veggies.

When Must I Feed My Guinea Pig?

Like most herbivores, guinea pigs are primarily grazers. They munch on hay and veggies all day. Which suggests it’s needed to keep up up to date hay accessible all the time.

It’s best to dump out your guinea pig’s meals and water every day, clear the bowls, and fill them with up to date meals and water.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Eat Their Poop?

You might catch your guinea pig consuming their very personal poop, nevertheless don’t be alarmed. Guinea pigs actually produce two varied sorts of feces. One is clean and nutritious, and the guinea pigs re-ingest this to get further nutritional vitamins (rabbits do the similar issue).

The other type of poop is extra sturdy and is produced after the meals has been digested twice. That’s the poop that you just simply clear up when you clear your guinea pig’s cage.

Concepts for Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Sooner than bringing dwelling a guinea pig, discover out about their dietary needs and the meals they should and shouldn’t eat. Keep in mind the truth that some meals will likely be fed in small portions whereas others shouldn’t be given to guinea pigs the least bit.

When feeding your guinea pig up to date greens and fruit, wash them completely earlier to giving them to your pet. And envisage to take away any produce that they don’t eat sooner than it spoils of their cage.

Always have up to date, clear water accessible in your guinea pig to drink.

In case you uncover that your guinea pig’s urge for meals modifications or there are modifications of their feces, search the recommendation of a veterinarian, as your pet would possibly want a effectively being draw back that should be dealt with.