Guinea pigs are intelligent, social creatures. When handled gently over time, they usually become quite tame and friendly.
Guinea Pigs require fresh veggies daily in order to obtain all of the vitamins they require, particularly lettuce which provides many essential nutrients. Iceberg lettuce should be avoided as it’s less nutritious and may contain too much water.
Contents
Vitamin C
Guinea pigs like humans cannot produce their own vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid). Therefore, it’s crucial that they consume sufficient amounts in their daily diets in order to stay healthy and remain disease free. Vitamin C plays an integral part in supporting blood vessels, connective tissues, immune function and many other vital processes within their bodies; you can find plenty of this nutrient in fruits and vegetables but for guinea pigs it’s found most importantly within Timothy pellets!
Unfortunately, vegetable stocks tend to lose vitamin C content after 10 days and it is important to provide your guinea pig with fresh produce with high vitamin C levels every day if possible. You could try offering fortified pellets such as Timothy and fresh fruits/veggies high in Vitamin C to your pet as part of their daily diet – or provide fresh fruits/veggies containing an abundance of Vitamin C each day as an additional boost!
Calcium
Guinea pigs require ample calcium in their diet in order to build strong bones and teeth, as well as enough phosphorous in order to produce enough proteins in order to build and maintain healthy organs.
Young guinea pigs require more calcium than adults as their bones continue to form. Alfalfa or clover hay that’s rich in calcium is recommended during development; later they should switch over to Timothy hay as part of a balanced diet.
A diet high in protein can help protect guinea pigs against calcium deficiency. Signs of calcium deficiency include dehydration, weakness, depression and muscle spasms – and pregnancy toxemia can even lead to death in pregnant guinea pigs.
Fresh vegetables should be provided daily to guinea pigs to provide vitamin C, calcium and folic acid – particularly leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, spring mix, mustard or turnip greens and kale are recommended as healthy choices. Other good choices for their nutrition are carrots, yams and sweet potato. However, fruit should be limited due to being high in sugar which could upset their gut bacteria balance necessary for optimal health.
Water
Make sure your guinea pig always has access to fresh, clean water at all times, changing it on a regular basis to prevent build-up of hard water residue, mildew or food particles.
Guinea pigs need about one cup of fresh vegetables each day in order to receive all the extra vitamins they require, especially Vitamin C, which they cannot produce themselves and need in order to prevent Scurvy. Without regular supply of Vitamin C, the condition will develop.
Romaine lettuce, green and red leaf lettuces and iceberg lettuce all provide ample amounts of Vitamin C; however, neither have any real nutritional value and consist mostly of water.
Guinea Pigs should also receive other Vitamin C-rich veggies like kale and broccoli as well as fruits like strawberries and kiwis to ensure optimal health. Just remember that fruits and veggies contain high sugar levels so introduce new food gradually in order to prevent diarrhea in your pet guinea pig.
Fiber
Guinea Pigs in the wild spend much of their time foraging for fresh grass and tasty plants that provide natural fibre, an important component for digestive health and feeding habits. Furthermore, wild plants can contain essential vitamins and minerals that provide essential nutrition such as blackberry leaves, nettles and rose petals – providing additional sources for essential vitamins and minerals that guinea pigs require for good health.
Hay is another excellent source of dietary fibre and can be found in a wide variety of pet-safe herbs. In addition to providing essential dietary fibre, hay also encourages normal chewing patterns that reduce risk of painful dental conditions.
Guinea pigs should receive a diet consisting of both hay and leafy greens for optimal health, such as lettuce. We suggest feeding them approximately one teacup full of veggies per day with two separate feedings of guinea pig hay in the morning and evening; you may also supplement their meals with small quantities of safe fruits high in Vitamin C.
