Guinea pigs should consume around 10% of their diet as plants and vegetables to promote optimal digestive health and wellbeing. A variety of leaves, herbs, fruits and vegetables should be included to support optimal wellbeing for these furry creatures.
When feeding guinea pigs, be sure to select flowers and plants which are safe from contaminants such as chemicals sprayed onto them by other animals or humans! Dandelion flowers should be eaten safely unless it has been exposed to such things like other animal urine or being sprayed by chemicals.
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Grass
Grass is an extremely nutritious food option for your guinea pig, offering them a strong source of Vitamin C while helping control tooth growth and strengthen bones – two key aspects in aiding faster healing when they experience injury.
grass is also very low in sugar, helping keep blood sugar levels under control and providing essential fiber for their digestive systems to function properly.
At minimum, aim to give your piggies at least 75% of their diet in the form of hay or grass; if this is impossible for whatever reason, combine other food sources with grass as needed in order to meet all their nutrition requirements.
No matter if you prefer growing or purchasing grass for your guinea pigs, it is vitally important that it does not contain pesticides or urine from other animals – this way you can ensure it will be safe to consume.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a versatile and tasty vegetable, often featured in salads or other dishes. It is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber calcium and potassium – essential components of good health!
Berrys are full of antioxidants and low in sodium content, helping your body maintain an acid/alkaline balance necessary for optimal health.
Based on the season, there may be various kinds of herbs that guinea pigs can consume such as Marigold, Rosehips, Dandelion leaves, Chamomile flowers, Raspberry leaves and Basil leaves.
All these vegetables should be fed to your guinea pig once every week in small doses, taking care not to make up a significant portion of its diet; Basil is especially high in calcium content so this should only be offered alongside other low-calcium vegetables.
Herbs
Guinea pigs enjoy sampling various herbs, but it’s essential to know which are safe. Certain plants can be toxic; check their label before feeding any new herbs you find growing outdoors to your guinea pig.
Foraging can be an excellent way to provide your guinea pig with fresh, nutritious food, but be wary when selecting greens – only select from places free from pesticides or pollutants!
Herbs that make an excellent diet addition for guinea pigs include basil, dill, parsley, thyme and mint. All these herbs can easily be grown indoors or in your garden and make great supplements to your guinea pig’s food regimen.
These herbs, such as dill, are rich in calcium and should only be fed sparingly to your guinea pig. Other safe plants to feed your guinea pig include plantain, dandelion and clover which are abundantly available outside for your pet to pick safely.
Vegetables
Fresh vegetables are an integral component of a balanced guinea pig diet, providing variety, nutrients, and essential Vitamin C!
Cages with guinea pigs often benefit from growing simple veggies such as lettuces. These crops can easily be grown either in gardens or containers and harvested throughout the season for harvesting purposes.
Romaine lettuce is an ideal food choice for guinea pigs as it’s high in nutrients and doesn’t contain pesticides, making it safe to give multiple times per week as long as it is washed well after each feeding to ensure all potential contaminants have been removed from the leaves.
Turnip greens, watercress and red cabbage are also nutritious options that your guinea pig would benefit from eating regularly – these vegetables contain Vitamin C, calcium and some phosphorus as well. You should feed these to them once or twice each week.