Yes, guinea pigs can benefit from including grass as part of their healthy diet. The grass provides essential vitamin C benefits while it can serve as an ideal replacement for hay in situations when their owners can’t access it outside.
However, it’s essential that the grass you give them is safe. Avoid feeding any herbicide- or pesticide-sprayed grass as well as wet or frozen grass to your pet.
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Grass is good for guinea pigs
Grass can be beneficial to guinea pigs as a source of essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, fiber, vitamins A & C as well as alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Plus, its chewable surface helps wear down their teeth for improved dental health!
Guinea Pigs are natural herbivores who enjoy grazing for food in their natural environment, so it is best to feed them according to what they would eat in nature.
As part of their diet, it’s essential that grass hasn’t been treated with herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers, or has been contaminated by defecating and urinating animals as this could cause stomach upset in guinea pigs.
Timothy grass, western orchard grass and oat grass are popular options that can easily be purchased at pet stores and grown indoors in containers. Wheatgrass can also be a viable choice as it grows easily indoors; just be sure to watch for any digestive or other issues as your guinea pig consumes wheatgrass!
It’s healthy
Guinea pigs need a diet rich in long fiber to ensure proper digestion and wear on their teeth, so providing them with Timothy or Orchard grass hay should be made available 24/7 so they can nibble slowly throughout the day.
Your guinea pig’s diet should include fresh, high quality hay as the mainstay (at approximately 80%). Other food sources, including vegetables and fruit at least once daily should also be supplemented to give your pet enough variety and nutrition.
Be careful when feeding fresh foods to guinea pigs as too much can cause serious gastrointestinal upset and even result in death. Foods like potatoes and potato skins, rhubarb, garlic, mushrooms, green peppers and carrots should all be avoided entirely as these items are known to be toxic for these pets.
Uneaten fruit and veg should always be removed from the habitat of guinea pigs to prevent diarrhoea and attract flies, and vitamin C supplements like Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement could also help prevent scurvy.
It’s easy to grow
Growing grass in your garden or yard doesn’t need to be complicated if you choose grass seed that’s specially designed for guinea pigs – no worries about harmful pesticides or fertilizers here! You could even grow small patches indoors using flower pots as containers!
Your guinea pig needs fresh grass as their main source of nutrition; however, daily dosing of Timothy Hay will give your pet extra vitamin C and help their teeth from growing too long. In addition, leafy vegetables such as red or green lettuces and kale should also be included for their wellbeing.
Introduce fresh grass gradually when introducing your guinea pig to it for the first time, starting off by only letting them outside for short bursts and increasing over time. Too much fresh grass could upset their stomachs and cause bloat, which is deadly for these little rodents.
It’s safe
Guinea Pigs in the wild typically graze on grass as part of their diet, as herbivorous creatures need roughage for digestive purposes – fresh grass being an ideal source. Plus it provides vitamin C!
However, it is essential that if you provide grass that isn’t hay to your guinea pigs in small doses in order to prevent stomach upsets. Also ensure the grass you harvest hasn’t been treated with fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides which could potentially contain exhaust fume toxins that could harm them.
Your guinea pig should also receive plenty of nutrition by way of feeding hay as this contains more vital components than grass does; fresh grass should only ever be provided as supplements to their main source of nourishment, such as hay.
