Guinea pigs are herbivorous animals that love to chew things. Chewing helps their teeth from overgrowing and digest food more effectively.
Fresh, leafy green vegetables and herbs should form part of every guinea pig’s diet, providing essential vitamins such as Vitamin C – something they cannot produce themselves – as well as potassium to balance fluid balance and nerve signals.
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Fruit Trees
Guinea pigs enjoy chewing on branches from trees such as apple, crabapple, pear and hazelnut trees as well as fresh, green garden leaves and hay which provides essential Vitamin C to avoid scurvy.
These leafy vegetables include romaine lettuce, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens and collard greens; as well as carrots, radish cucumber tomatoes and strawberries for optimal oral health and strong teeth. These diets will ensure their teeth remain strong.
Guinea Pigs enjoy chewing on paper rolls, cardboard boxes and wooden blocks (provided they have been kiln dried). A popular chewable for these rodents are natural wooden chew toys in various shapes and sizes – just be wary to steer clear from cedar, pine and eucalyptus varieties as these do not suit their digestive systems!
Fir Trees
Fresh produce is always preferable when feeding guinea pigs fruit and vegetables, although frozen versions won’t harm their health in any way. Guinea pigs generally prefer the texture and taste of raw veggies over those stored for shelf stability.
Dried fruits tend to be high in sugar and preservatives, and sticky vegetables may adhere to your dog’s teeth. Furthermore, grass hay should only be fed occasionally due to its limited nutritional value.
Cedar and pine branches should not be used as bedding material for guineas because they contain harmful chemicals as well as phenols that could potentially cause illnesses in guineas. To make sure it’s safe, all wood should first be kiln dried before being used as bedding material.
Guinea Pigs should never eat certain plants such as daisies and buttercups as well as the yellow celandine flower; all three of these flowers are poisonous to them, so take extra caution when picking grass for your piggies! Grass clippings left behind from lawn mowers could contain gasohol as well as harmful chemicals like chlorine.
Apple Trees
A guinea pig’s diet should consist primarily of hay and pellets, supplemented by vegetables, fruits, and other healthy snacks for added nutrition. Branch-feeding can provide additional sources of calcium, vitamin C, and fiber.
Apples should only be given in moderation as treats because of their high sugar content, which can lead to diabetes and poor digestion as well as overweightness which in turn may result in further health concerns for your guinea pig.
Be careful when feeding apple seeds to guinea pigs as these may contain small amounts of cyanide that is toxic for them. Also avoid woods such as pine, larch and redwood that release cyanide; try hazelnut, willow apple birch pear birch instead – all are safe options that guinea pigs can chew safely – however for best results use a branch that has been washed and sanded by your pet store or purchased specifically as rodent-safe!
Maple Trees
Guinea pigs require access to good quality hay and an assortment of vegetables daily in order to obtain enough vitamin C from food, which they are unable to produce themselves. Fibre helps keep their teeth clean and healthy as well. Kale, carrots and beetroots are safe options but only small handfuls should be fed regularly due to high Vitamin C concentration and their calcium, phosphorus and oxalate contents which must all be balanced out for the prevention of kidney stones forming in guinea pigs developing kidney stones over time.
Guinea Pigs should only be given natural materials that have not been treated with pesticides or chemicals, such as maple tree twigs. You can purchase natural chew toys to use to wear down their teeth at pet stores and online.
