A healthy and happy guinea pig life can be achieved if its diet includes constant fresh hay as well as access to free-choice forage that meets strict hygiene standards. Provide it with fruits, vegetables and treats fortified with vitamins and minerals for an additional source of nourishment.
As with anything high in sugar or containing oxalates, which may lead to digestive issues. Leafy greens such as romaine, bib and red leaf lettuce should be chosen instead as they provide plenty of essential nutrition.
Contents
Hay
Your guinea pig’s diet must include an abundance of high-quality hay for optimal dental and digestive health, and to prevent obesity. This is essential to maintain good dental and digestive health as well as avoid obesity.
Timothy hay is an ideal diet choice for adult guinea pigs and should comprise most of their food supply. It contains low levels of calcium while providing essential fiber benefits, which promote optimal digestive and dental health in your pet.
Baby piggies, pregnant and lactating females should all receive alfalfa hay which contains more protein and calcium compared to other forms of feed, since too much calcium may lead to bladder stones, hematuria or other serious health conditions.
Guinea pigs also love orchard hay for its sweet scent and soft texture; it makes an excellent mix-in to timothy hay.
Treats
Guinea Pig Food Samples can be an easy and stress-free way to introduce new treats into their diet without disrupting their routine. Not only can these samples prevent boredom and stress from setting in, they can also promote emotional wellness in your guinea pigs!
Guinea Pigs need access to fresh fruits and vegetables such as romaine lettuce, red and green leaf lettuces, kale, cilantro and parsley in addition to their daily supply of hay.
Chelated vitamins can be an excellent way to provide your guinea pig with additional Vitamin C that cannot easily be absorbed through their diet alone. Chelated vitamins may be especially useful for older or recovering from illness guinea pigs who may have difficulty digesting nutrients efficiently.
Oven baked crunchy bites make an excellent treat for rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters to satisfy natural gnawing instincts and support small animal dental health. These tasty treats contain delicious fruit centers filled with nutrients that your rabbit, guinea pig, or hamster will love munching away at!
Treat Size
Guinea pigs are small animals known for being selective eaters. This stems from their instinct as prey in the wild to choose and consume only those plants which offer maximum energy-dense nutrition.
To avoid selective eating behaviors in your guinea pigs, feed them pellets that provide uniform amounts of high-quality proteins, fiber and moisture as well as providing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
Treats may be given as rewards for good behavior or as a way to bond with them, though no more than 20% of their diet should consist of treats; those containing nuts or seeds should be limited and healthy options should always be preferred.
Fruit and vegetables make a healthy treat, providing high amounts of Vitamin C which is essential in keeping guinea pigs healthy and preventing diarrhea. When offering new fruits or veggies to your guinea pig, introduce them slowly so they can adjust before offering regularly.
Supplements
Guinea pigs require a diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals in order to keep themselves healthy and immune system strong, thus protecting against potential infections and keeping their health intact.
Provital’s Guinea Pig Vitamin and Mineral Supplements with Probiotics is an ideal way to ensure they receive all of the essential vitamins and minerals they require, while providing increased fiber for digestion and helping avoid diarrhea.
Oxbow’s Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement is another popular choice with guinea pigs. However, always consult your vet prior to adding new supplements into their diet.
Your pet should receive an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit throughout their daily feedings. Give these treats freely-choice.
