As with other animals, guinea pigs require a balanced diet consisting of hay, pellets, vegetables and fruit for proper nourishment. Because they cannot produce vitamin C themselves, this must come through their food sources to prevent life threatening scurvy from taking hold.
Provide at least a cup of fresh vegetables daily, including leafy greens (romaine or other dark greens, not iceberg lettuce), carrot tops, celery stalks, squash and herbs. However, avoid cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and spinach which contain high oxalates that could cause stones.
Contents
Hay
Hay is a dried plant material used as food by herbivorous animals such as guinea pigs. To ensure they get enough nutrition, make sure they have access to high-quality timothy, orchard grass, meadow or oat hay at all times unless directed otherwise by their veterinarian. Avoid alfalfa-containing mixes as these tend to contain excessive sugar levels that don’t promote normal chewing patterns that aid digestion while preventing common gastro issues.
Guinea pigs require plenty of fresh vegetables as an added source of nutrition and as treats rather than as part of their regular diet. These should be given in small doses on occasion rather than being the mainstay.
Be sure to select vegetables with low levels of toxins and have not been treated with pesticides, and stay away from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale or collard greens that contain high concentrations of toxins; starchy ones like potatoes corn or peas. Try offering your pet fortified pellet mixes such as the Kaytee Food From the Wild Blend specifically tailored for guinea pigs for best results.
Fresh Vegetables
Guinea pigs enjoy eating leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce, carrots (with tops and seeds intact) and sweet bell peppers, in addition to celeriac and whole-leaf kale. Furthermore, they love eating parsley both curly-leaf varieties and flat-leaf varieties!
These vegetables are an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B Vitamin and soluble fiber, not to mention phytonutrients which may help prevent diseases while strengthening immunity systems.
Your pet should receive three vegetable servings each day, with at least one of these servings being leafy greens. Spinach may contain high levels of oxalates that could lead to calcium and oxalate stones in guinea pigs; tomatoes (with their skin and green stalk removed), raw beetroot that’s rich in Vitamin C but in moderation as this could cause red urine and gas problems; as well as occasional servings of raw beetroot can help avoid these problems as can red urine and gas; as well as Brussels sprouts!
Fruit
Guinea pigs enjoy snacking on fresh fruits and veggies, both as snacks and as part of their diet. Fruits such as apples (with their skin removed), strawberries, pears, as well as citrus fruits like satsumas, tangerines and clementines make great treats; just be sure to remove all pips and seeds as these may cause digestive issues in some guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs require ample amounts of vitamin C as their bodies cannot process it on their own and they can develop scurvy without enough. Calcium and phosphorus should also be included in their diet; watercress, turnip greens and red cabbage all offer good levels of Vitamin C while remaining low in oxalates.
Add variety to their daily feedings of fresh timothy hay by offering your guinea pigs vegetables such as Romaine lettuce, carrots, sweet bell peppers (with skin and seeds removed), kale, cucumber and celery for optimal health and happiness.
Treats
There are many commercial treats designed specifically for guinea pigs on the market; however, many contain unhealthy ingredients such as sugar and corn syrup, while also tending to be higher in protein and calories than their daily diet.
Your guinea pig will appreciate fresh vegetables and herbs like kale, collared greens, turnip greens, radicchio, endive, zucchini as treats! Additionally they enjoy cilantro and parsley too. Indulge them with other healthy options too, such as raisins, seedless grapes apples bananas watermelons orange papayas cantaloupes for the ultimate treat!
Guinea pigs love playing and exercising with toys such as paper towel tubes filled with safe hay, mazes, and popping in the air to demonstrate excitement – they even love doing “popcorn”. Other fun activities to share with your guinea pig include hiding and seeking, training them to perform tricks, running around “whisting”, jumping in the air (“wheeting”) to show their joy, as well as running around and “wheeting”.