Guinea pigs need vitamin C to protect them against the deadly disease scurvy. A balanced guinea pig diet includes fruits and vegetables rich in this essential nutrient.
Fresh fruits and vegetables should make up the bulk of a guinea pig’s daily diet, with leafy greens such as kale, spinach or cilantro particularly recommended as food items for their digestive systems.
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Vitamin C
As guineas do not produce their own vitamin C, it is crucial that they receive enough through food sources to heal wounds quickly, promote skin health and avoid diseases and conditions like scurvy.
Guinea pigs should receive access to unlimited quantities of timothy hay and smaller portions of pellets, in addition to fresh, well-washed vegetables high in vitamin C such as kale, parsley, turnip greens, tomatoes and bell peppers. It’s wise to steer clear of iceberg lettuce and cabbage since these contain little vitamin C.
Fruit can also be an ideal treat, though be aware of their sugar intake; too much could upset their stomach and lead to digestive issues, while they may have difficulty absorbing vitamins found in high sugar foods due to lacking the necessary enzyme.
Minerals
Guinea pigs and other herbivorous animals obtain all of their minerals from plant material they consume, so to prevent intestinal health problems and diseases. A diet formulated specifically to meet their nutritional needs should be provided.
Hay should make up about 80% of a guinea pig’s diet and should always be available, as their teeth constantly develop and need to be worn down by constant chewing.
Avoid providing your guinea pig with lucerne hay as this is high in calcium and may lead to health issues like bladder stones. Furthermore, monitor how much water they receive as too much may cause diarrhea in their system.
Your best way of making sure your guinea pig receives all the vitamins it requires is feeding a complete and well-balanced fortified pellet, such as Burgess Excel. This food provides all of its necessary vitamins – including an easily absorbable form of Vitamin C.
Antioxidants
Guinea pigs need plenty of antioxidants for optimal health. These vitamins protect their bodies against the damaging effects of oxidative stress on their lungs and other organs, as well as helping prevent calcium oxalate formation that could result in painful bladder stones.
Vitamin C is the main antioxidant consumed by guinea pigs through their diet, so foods rich in this nutrient should make up the bulk of their daily ration. Fresh produce like kale, parsley and salad peppers should provide additional sources of Vitamin C; fresh veg like kale, parsley and salad peppers as well as broccoli (florets not stems), carrots and sweet potato may also be offered regularly as snacks high in antioxidants such as Kiwis strawberries and citrus are great options!
Vitamin A
As with other fruits and vegetables, vitamin A is an essential nutrient for guinea pigs. Just like humans, they too can develop scurvy; therefore it is vital that they receive sufficient amounts of this vitamin.
Your best bet for providing your pet guinea pig with enough vitamin C is to select a high-quality pellet enriched with this essential nutrient, such as one made of Timothy grass or other grass species such as beech or maple, instead of ones coated in seeds, nuts or dried fruits that might provide only limited nutrition.
Many pregnant and nursing guinea pigs require more vitamin C than others, especially during gestation and nursing. Supplements of dietary vitamin C may be necessary; please check with your veterinarian first as high levels can lead to hypervitaminosis – which has been associated with health issues like bladder stones and arthritis.
Fiber
Guinea Pigs spend most of their day foraging for grass and tasty plants in the wild. To keep their guts functioning optimally and their teeth in good condition, guinea pigs require ample fiber in their diet – otherwise their teeth must constantly be chewed to wear down. When fed an inadequate fiber intake can also cause dental issues.
Guinea pigs get most of their fibre needs met from eating high quality hay that should be replenished daily. An occasional treat of high-fibre fruit may also help, though too much fruit could alter their gut bacteria balance and potentially cause disease.
Guinea pigs need a diet consisting of unlimited quantities of low calcium timothy hay, supplemented by some commercial pellets and fresh, colorful vegetables high in vitamin C content.
