Guinea pigs must consume high quality, low calcium hay and pellets as well as accessing fresh vegetables and herbs every day.
Leafy greens such as bibb lettuce, red and green leaf lettuces, cabbage, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale and cilantro make great daily choices. Other good choices are bell peppers, carrot tops and zucchini.
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Fresh Vegetables
Guinea pigs require large quantities of vitamin C, which they can access best through fresh foods. Without enough Vitamin C, a guinea pig may develop scurvy.
Offer an assortment of leafy green vegetables and herbs on a daily basis, offering one teacup per guinea pig in both morning and evening feeding sessions.
Watercress, spinach, turnip greens, dandelion leaves, chard, mint, kale and carrot tops should be part of our diets. Iceberg lettuce (it has minimal nutritional value, can cause diarrhea and is high in calcium), cabbage and cauliflower should all be avoided as part of an optimal healthy lifestyle diet.
Fruit can be an integral part of a guinea pig’s diet, but should only be given in moderation. Too much sugar may upset their gut and lead to digestive problems; offering small slices such as apple up to 1/4″ thick should suffice.
Fresh Fruit
Yes, guinea pigs can enjoy fruit in moderation as part of their diet, although this should only comprise a minor part of it. Sugary fruits like kiwis and strawberries should be limited; occasional citrus fruits provide them with essential vitamin C while they also enjoy eating berries, carrots with cores intact, kale, cucumber and celery!
Vegetables are an integral component of a guinea pig’s diet as they require lots of fiber-rich food sources like vegetables to maintain good gut health and continue growing teeth at an appropriate pace. Fibrous foods also help wear down constantly growing teeth – which is essential as overgrown ones can be painful and cause health problems for these aquatic creatures. Guinea pigs primarily get their fiber needs met through high quality hay/grass piles but some is available from vegetables/herbs too.
Pellets
Most guinea pigs require pellet food designed specifically to provide balanced nutrition for them, which you can purchase either from your veterinarian or online; just read through and check the label to ensure a pellet does not contain seeds, nuts or dried fruits as these may be harmful to their health. Also look for one made by companies who support local purchases while using recycled products like Small Pet Select.
A basic diet for guinea pigs consists of unlimited quantities of low calcium hay such as Timothy or other low calcium grass hay and high quality commercial pellets. You should also offer fresh leafy green vegetables and herbs daily as well as fruit that contains vitamin C such as oranges, kiwis, or citrus fruits. Finally, ensure they always have access to water.
Hay
Guinea pigs are herbivores and require a diet rich in fiber-based foods such as hay to prevent their teeth from overgrowing, leading to serious dental issues like tongue entrapment or malocclusion, while also keeping their gut moving efficiently – an integral component to good digestive health.
Veterinarians generally recommend Oxbow brand timothy-based pellets without seeds or dried fruit added as the most appropriate choice.
As part of a healthy diet, provide daily servings of leafy green vegetables such as romaine lettuce, rocket or dandelion greens, parsley, broccoli, red or green pepper and turnip greens. Also try including fresh herbs like marjoram, borage, nasturtium and rosemary for extra nutrition and flavor! However, alfalfa hay should be avoided (unless recommended by your veterinarian) due to its high calcium content which can lead to abnormal calcification and bladder stones!
Treats
Guinea pigs enjoy treats such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs; however, these should only be given sparingly to avoid overfeeding or an abundance of foods containing sugar or additives such as soy products or peanut butter. Avoid giving too many treats at one time and focus instead on offering quality nutrients in moderation such as in the following ways:
Commercial guinea pig treats tend to be high in sugar content with no real nutritional benefit, leading to obesity and numerous health issues. Therefore, it’s wise to limit their exposure as much as possible.
Healthy guinea pigs enjoy being provided with free-choice timothy hay and pellets as well as fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit from time to time. Foliage such as red or green bell pepper, romaine butterhead lettuce and bibb lettuce as well as broccoli kale endive mint parsley and dandelion greens make great daily options; fresh grass that hasn’t been fertilized or treated with pesticides makes a welcome treat as does cucumber tomatoes baby spinach grapes however must be fed occasionally so as to prevent dental and weight issues from occurring.