Guinea pigs are herbivores by nature, yet can still enjoy eating certain fruits and vegetables such as lime. Lime is an excellent source of Vitamin C that can prevent dangerous disease called Scurvy which has symptoms such as rough coat, discharge, internal bleeding, weight loss and exhaustion.
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Vitamin C
Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, making dietary supplementation of it essential to keeping guinea pigs from succumbing to scurvy. If your pet begins showing any of the following symptoms of scurvy: a rough coat, decreased interest or eating less often, diarrhea and dental problems (elongated roots or abscesses), please seek veterinary attention immediately.
Help ensure your guinea pig gets enough vitamin C by selecting high quality pellet food specifically formulated for them, with added vitamin C content. Avoid foods designed for other pets as these won’t provide your guinea pig with as much.
Water-based vitamin C drops are available as another method to add to your guinea pig’s water, but this method may not be ideal as vitamin C quickly loses its potency and your pet may be reluctant to drink it.
Calcium
Guinea pigs do not produce Vitamin C on their own, so it is vitally important that their diet includes vitamin-C rich foods daily. A great way to do this is through feeding them timothy based pellets with added Vitamin C such as Oxbow, Small Pet Select, Sherwood or Zupreem pellets; avoid those containing seeds, nuts or dried fruit as these will rapidly degrade over time. As a general guideline it’s best to offer about an eighth cup of pellets daily along with fresh vegetables and fresh hay as needed to provide adequate amounts.
Guinea pigs require high fibre foods in their diet to support digestive health and remove waste products from their bodies. A good way to accomplish this goal is through adding low calcium veggies such as radicchio which contains little calcium but is safe enough to feed on several occasions per week.
Phosphorous
Guinea pigs need an adequate supply of phosphorous in their diet to support growth, bone formation and energy. Being incapable of manufacturing this essential nutrient themselves, daily sources must be included as part of their food.
Phosphorous can be found in foods such as timothy hay, fresh vegetables and certain fruits. It is important to ensure an appropriate ratio between calcium and phosphorous in their diet; too much could lead to bladder problems.
Guinea Pigs require high levels of Vitamin C in their diet for good health. Since they cannot produce it themselves, this must come from outside sources; feeding varieties rich in this nutrient such as romaine lettuce, red and green leaf lettuces, kale, parsley and spinach can all provide essential sources of this nutrient; cauliflower is another fantastic source with its combination of both Vitamin C and low oxalate levels is another great choice.
Fibre
Guinea pigs need a diet rich in fibre to maintain a healthy digestive tract and teeth. This should include feedings of fresh hay and grass from large piles.
Guinea pigs rely on the fiber in their droppings to get essential caecotrophs; since guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C on their own, it must come from outside sources.
Fruit should only be fed occasionally as its high in sugar can lead to dental disease in guinea pigs, as too much can cause dental issues and obesity. Instead, consider offering vegetables like turnip greens and watercress which contain plenty of vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous and oxalates (which helps prevent bladder stones) such as courgettes and red peppers – great sources of vitamin C. You should also avoid raspberries which contain high levels of oxalic acid, or strawberries as these both high in sugar content; similarly coloured treats often contain lots of sugar that leads to obesity as well as health issues in future guinea pigs!
