Oranges can make an excellent addition to a guinea pig’s diet, providing vitamin C and other essential nutrients. As with most fruits and veggies, however, oranges should only be fed in moderation.
Oranges contain acid that can erode away at sensitive guinea pig teeth. Furthermore, their high sugar content may wreak havoc with their digestive systems and lead to weight gain.
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Vitamin C
As with other mammals, guinea pigs do not produce their own vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Therefore, it must be included as part of their daily diet to provide enough of this important nutrient for their vital functions and protection from illness.
Guinea pigs require 10-15mg of Vitamin C daily for optimal health; young, sick and pregnant guinea pigs may require even more. Guinea pigs can get their daily dosage through fresh fruits and vegetables that are safe for guinea pigs as well as fortified pellet formulas with added Vitamin C content or water additives that contain Vitamin C.
Citrus fruits, guava and mango are excellent sources of Vitamin C for guinea pigs. Pears and pineapple should be fed sparingly as these can contain high levels of sugar, acidity, calcium and/or phosphorus which could lead to digestive problems for these creatures. Veggies rich in Vitamin C such as leafy greens, parsley and thyme also contain large amounts of calcium that could cause urinary tract issues including bladder stones in your guinea pig.
Calcium
Calcium in guinea pig diets is vital for bone development and waste dissolution; too much calcium may lead to Metastatic Calcification – the formation of calcium deposits within kidneys, urinary tract or reproductive organs of your pet guinea pig.
Baby and pregnant or nursing guinea pigs require more calcium than older ones due to their bones still developing, however when old enough Timothy hay may provide lower calcium intake than Alfalfa hay.
Your guinea pig’s diet should include low calcium vegetables such as parsnips, peas and tomatoes – just remove their green stalks before feeding sparingly! If they prefer pills over vegetables however, try giving vitamin C tablets; these soft quick-dissolve tabs with sweeteners can easily be administered using a syringe.
Phosphorus
Guinea pigs require both calcium and phosphorus in a balanced diet for proper bone development. Phosphorus works together with calcium to build strong teeth and bones while serving other crucial purposes, such as controlling heart rate and blood pressure levels.
Guinea pigs in the wild obtain these essential nutrients by eating an assortment of grasses and fruits; therefore it’s essential that caged guinea pigs receive fresh foods daily – in addition to high-fiber hays like Timothy grass or silage bales, as well as fresh veggies and fruit.
Reach for a ratio between 1.3:1 to 1.6:1 when feeding your piggies vegetables and fruit. Use Guinea Lynx’s calculator, which measures calcium and phosphorus content of various foods, as a starting point; then simply mix in their favorite veggies and fruits from Guinea Lynx into this meal plan – though limit grape access as its high sugar content could lead to dental issues and obesity issues.
Fiber
Guinea pigs require not only calcium, vitamin C and phosphorus found in pellets and fresh veggies but also lots of fiber as an integral component of their healthy diet. Fiber helps support gut bacteria to flourish; wild guinea pigs eat everything from fruits and leaves to root vegetables and high-fiber grasses; they need hay for tooth weardown purposes and an ample supply of Vitamin C to prevent scurvy.
Keep your guinea pig’s diet fresh with plenty of fresh leafy greens every day – including romaine lettuces, red and green lettuces, dandelion greens, snow peas and herbs like marjoram, borage basil or parsley for optimal health. Also add fresh fruits like bananas or citrus every week but gradually introduce any new foods so your pet becomes comfortable.
