Guinea pigs spend most of their day nibbling on food sources like hay, pellets and vegetables – it is important that these foods remain fresh and varied to provide maximum stimulation and entertainment.
Hay should make up the bulk of a guinea pig’s diet, as it promotes digestion and wears down teeth. Pellets should only be given sparingly to avoid weight gain and dental issues.
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Hay
Hay is an essential element of the diet for guinea pigs. Not only is it delicious snack food; its presence provides essential high fiber diet to aid their digestive processes and help avoid deadly bloat or gut stasis conditions. Without constant access to fresh hay supplies, guinea pigs could develop deadly conditions like bloat or gut stasis which could end in tragedy!
Select grass-based (timothy or oat) hay that is free from seeds and nuts; alfalfa or moldy hay could potentially make your guinea pig sick.
Supplement the hay with fortified pellets approved by your veterinarian, along with fresh, well-washed vegetables and herbs every day, such as vegetables with high Vitamin C content like romaine lettuce, red and green leafy vegetables, kale, turnip greens and cilantro. Also offer slices of red or green pepper, tomato, cucumber squash or carrot at least once or twice each week for variety.
Pellets
As guinea pigs are natural herbivores, they should devote most of their time foraging and grazing – this helps wear down teeth that grow continuously and keeps digestive systems running optimally. Pellet food should only be given occasionally (typically 1 cup a day); high quality pellet foods tailored specifically for guinea pigs can be purchased at most pet stores with clear indication of how much to feed each day.
Avoid pellet foods containing high concentrations of Alfalfa or Lucerne as these may contribute to calcium issues in guinea pigs. Instead, choose pellet foods which list Timothy Hay or Orchardgrass as its first ingredient.
Fresh water should always be available and should be changed regularly (guinea pigs can develop urinary tract infections from drinking dirty or stagnant water), while vegetables should be provided two or more times each day but beware that giving too many may lead to digestive issues.
Fresh Vegetables
Wild guinea pigs enjoy eating diets which include an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, so it is wise to replicate this as much as possible; just be mindful that fresh foods should only serve as treats rather than regular part of their daily meals.
Guinea pigs should receive access to an assortment of leafy green vegetables daily. This should include dark leafy varieties such as rocket, dandelion and snow peas; carrot tops; celery; fennel; parsley; nasturtiums, rosemary & mint as well as turnip greens for their high calcium to phosphorus ratio and Vitamin C content as well as watercress; red cabbage & broccoli collard greens, kale and chard for their nutritional benefits.
Avoid feeding your guinea pig iceberg lettuce as it contains few essential vitamins and has a high sugar content. Also be sure to introduce any new vegetable slowly so as to avoid diarrhea, and give occasional treats such as oranges and kiwis as treats.
Fruit
Guinea Pigs love fruits and vegetables, but should only receive them sparingly. Kale, lettuce and parsley contain high concentrations of calcium which could potentially cause digestive discomfort when given in excess. Broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage contain oxalic acid that should either be avoided altogether or only fed at limited times. As a general guideline it’s best to feed those on our Vegetable Master List and Fruits Master List occasionally and clean up any leftovers daily.
Be sure your guinea pig can easily chew and digest its meals, and remove seeds or pips that could pose as potential choking hazards. Make sure fresh timothy hay is provided daily and supplement this with vitamin C-rich veggies and fruit for best results. Some owners prefer giving their guineas fresh water spiked with Vitamin C but this isn’t necessary and should be swapped out frequently in order to prevent mildew build-up and bacteria build-up.
