Guinea pigs must be slowly introduced to new foods. Any sudden shift can result in digestive and dental issues for them.
Basic diet for guinea-pigs should consist of unlimited timothy hay supplemented by small amounts of complete and vitamin C-fortified pellet food daily. Fresh vegetables should also be provided daily; just ensure they are guinea-pig-safe options such as kale, red and green leaf lettuces, romaine lettuce endive broccoli and cilantro to name just some examples.
Contents
Hay
Guinea Pig diets rely heavily on hay as its staple source. Guinea pigs need access to an ample supply of premium quality grass or timothy hay daily in order to maintain short teeth and good digestive function.
Grass hay can help guinea pigs wear down their constantly expanding back teeth to prevent them from becoming overgrown, which could cause serious issues like tongue entrapment and malocclusion. Guinea pigs need a moderate amount of protein in their diet; alfalfa (sometimes known as legume) hay is an ideal source.
Avoid feeding your guinea pig hay mixes that contain seeds, corn or fruits as these are full of empty calories that could contribute to obesity in their environment. Instead, offer fresh vegetables like green bell peppers, carrot tops, romaine butterhead or bib lettuce and fennel as treats daily for best results.
Pellets
There are various pellet-based foods for your guinea pig available, but some contain extra ingredients like nuts and seeds that could harm their health. Furthermore, some contain higher sugar contents than necessary which could contribute to obesity or diabetes in your pet.
Choose a pellet food such as Oxbow Essentials or Kaytee Complete Guinea Pig Pellets that is high in fiber, provides probiotics and vitamin C to maintain healthy digestive tracts, coats and immunity; uniform-sized pellets will also help minimize selective feeding.
Fresh fruits and veggies make great additions to a guinea pig’s diet, and one cup is the appropriate daily portion for one guinea pig. Any additional produce left over should be removed immediately to avoid attracting flies or spoilage.
Vegetables
Even though guinea pigs can survive on pellets and hay alone, it is essential to add healthy fruits and vegetables into their diet for maximum benefit. Guinea pigs need vitamin C as well as other vital vitamins found in fruit and veggies that will provide essential nutrition.
Spinach is an ideal leafy vegetable for guinea pigs to consume, as it’s packed full of antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C. Give them spinach daily or cut it up and feed it several times each week for optimal health!
Kale, red or green peppers and cilantro are among the many leafy vegetables guinea pigs can enjoy regularly. Zucchini offers important immunity-enhancing vitamin C benefits. All these vegetables should first be washed in warm water prior to being chopped into smaller, bite-size pieces for consumption by your pet guinea pigs.
Fruits
Guinea pigs do not produce Vitamin C themselves, making it an indispensable component of their diet. Vitamin C contributes to normal development, healthy gums and skin appearance in these creatures.
At least 15 percent of your guinea pig’s diet should include fresh fruits and vegetables that are safe for consumption with an abundance of Vitamin C content.
Green leafy vegetables should make up the bulk of your guinea pig’s fresh food diet, including romaine lettuce, red and green lettuce, rocket and cilantro (coriander). Other excellent choices for their diet may include carrot tops, zucchini, kale or silver beet.
Guinea pigs can enjoy occasional treats such as strawberries and blackberries (but be wary of blueberries as they contain oxalic acid), oranges, grapes and tomatoes.
Treats
Guinea pigs love tasty treats that are safe, healthy and entertaining. In nature, they test new food by nibbling a bit at first to see if it causes diarrhea; this should always be done whenever introducing new items into their diets.
Your guinea pig may enjoy snacking on some healthy fruits and vegetables as treats, but remember that serving sizes should remain small. Cantaloupe provides lots of vitamin C but should only be offered twice each week because its seeds pose a potential choking hazard.
