Guinea pigs love the taste of fresh herbs like mint, parsley and basil – and growing these on your windowsill can save money while providing your pet with nutritious treats!
Avoid vegetables that contain too much sugar, calcium or oxalates such as potatoes, iceberg lettuce, rhubarb and onions.
Contents
Vegetables
Guinea pigs require plenty of vitamin C as their bodies don’t produce it naturally, and green bell peppers are an ideal source. You should offer one daily to your pet as it’s low in sugar and full of essential vitamins. Other vegetables like oranges, dandelions (both stem and flower), romaine butterhead or bib lettuce as well as cabbage or cauliflower may cause gas and bloat issues in some individuals.
Other vegetables to feed regularly to your guinea pig include carrots, sweet potatoes and kale; cucumbers are another popular treat! Just be sure to wash these before offering as bite-sized pieces may pose a choking hazard and overfeeding can lead to obesity and dental issues in pets.
Fruits
Guinea pigs enjoy eating fresh fruit and vegetables as treats, which provide essential vitamin C that they cannot produce themselves. But treats should not make up too much of their diet due to being high in sugar content which could contribute to obesity.
Good foods for guinea pigs to consume in small portions include strawberries, apples (without the seeds), mango and papaya. You should also feed them dark leafy greens such as parsley, purslane, dandelion leaves, spinach or arugula; but avoid feeding iceberg lettuce, potatoes, carrot tops, leeks tomato vine leaves buttercups or most types of rhubarb as these could contain harmful pathogens that cause cancerous tumors to grow in them.
Other fruits to give guinea pigs include kiwis, which is a tropical fruit with fuzzy skin and seedy interior, providing them with an enjoyable treat. Pineapple can also be given as treats; just ensure to remove its core and any outer spikes prior to offering as food!
Hay
Guinea pigs need access to unlimited hay for digestion and to help trim their teeth regularly, and also require daily sources of vitamin C, which may come from vitamin-fortified pellets or fresh fruits and vegetables.
Avoid giving your pet too many new foods at once to prevent “hay fatigue” or other digestive issues. Instead, offer various leafy greens and herbs they enjoy such as romaine lettuce, sweet pepper seeds and cores, kale, chard, cilantro, parsley and mint.
Your guinea pigs should enjoy eating timothy hay too; just ensure it consists of 10% of their diet each day. Also keep a bottle or heavy bowl filled with clean drinking water at all times to prevent clogs in their sipper or an overflow of the bottom tray.
Treats
Some pet stores may sell an assortment of treats specifically tailored for guineas; however, such indulgence is generally unnecessary; providing high quality pellets, hay and vegetables along with occasional treats should suffice in keeping your guinea happy and content.
Guinea Pigs love to chew and gnaw on fresh wood pieces or branches from apple or pear trees; these provide them with the opportunity to satisfy their natural urge to burrow and build.
Other inexpensive and nutritious guinea pig snacks include whole leafy greens such as spring greens or kale, carrots, root vegetables such as celeriac and turnips as well as celery stems; Romaine lettuce or bell pepper seeds (including their core) can also make tasty treats! All these foods provide essential Vitamin C which guinea pigs cannot synthesize on their own; in addition, these items contain soluble fiber which helps prevent constipation.
