Guinea pigs are herbivorous animals, so it is crucial that their diet includes an abundance of leafy greens and vegetables like romaine lettuce, carrots, sweet bell peppers and kale to promote optimal health.
Fruit should only be seen as a treat and introduced gradually so as not to cause an upset tummy.
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Apples
Your guinea pig’s diet should consist of high-quality hay that should always be available as free-choice food, to both keep its digestive tract in tiptop condition and stimulate tooth growth.
As well as giving them hay, offer your pet fresh leafy greens and herbs daily, such as rocket, dandelion greens, snow peas, turnip greens and kale. Incorporate vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, endive carrot tops as well as herbs such as marjoram borage nasturtium in his/her daily menu for best results.
Guinea pigs can enjoy eating fruits in moderation; however, it’s essential that their sugar and acidic food intake be limited. Treats like kiwi, strawberries and citrus fruit may be offered several times weekly as treats alongside slices of banana. All fruits must first be washed off thoroughly with cold water before feeding as this can reduce pits/seeds from being inhaled by your pet.
Bananas
Guinea pigs should receive fresh fruit as an occasional treat. This could include bananas but they shouldn’t make up an excessively large part of their diet due to being high in sugar content; overeating can result in stomachaches, constipation and bloating for your pet.
Weight gain can lead to diabetes in guinea pigs. A good way to combat this issue is by offering low sugar fruits and vegetables such as apple slices.
Your guinea pigs should receive periodic treats like kiwi slices, strawberries and oranges as treats. Also provide low-sugar vegetables like leafy greens, carrot tops and celery as these will contain potassium that’s necessary for their heart and kidneys to work efficiently, as well as help prevent scurvy brought on by vitamin C deficiency.
Peaches
Guinea pigs often struggle to digest foods that contain high concentrations of sugar, leading to diarrhea and other health complications. As such, guinea pigs should instead be given leafy green vegetables and herbs which provide greater nutrition than fruit products alone.
Your guinea pig may still enjoy eating peaches occasionally, but keep their portion small and avoid giving them seeds and pits as these contain potentially poisonous chemicals that could prove hazardous for their health.
A medium sized ripe peach contains about 2 grams of fiber which is essential for healthy digestive processes in guinea pigs. Additionally, it provides moderate amounts of Vitamin C – something they require in their diet for immunity purposes and collagen production. Other fruits that provide Vitamin C include strawberries, peppers and parsley – these treats should make up no more than 10% of your guinea pig’s daily food.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes (technically considered fruits) can be fed to guinea pigs safely, though it shouldn’t be their sole source of Vitamin C. Your pet needs other sources like kale, dandelion leaves, sweet bell peppers and parsley which provide essential nutrition.
Blackcurrants provide Vitamin C but should only be fed on occasion as their high sugar content can cause mouth sores. Other fruit that should be offered safely include apples, bananas and mangos.
Other safe foods to include in their diets for your guinea pig include watercress and turnip greens, which both boast high amounts of vitamin C and calcium. But you must be wary when feeding fruits and vegetables like rhubarb which contains oxalate that binds calcium in their kidneys resulting in kidney toxicity; grapes and raisins can also be toxic, so avoid those as well as overripened fruits which could cause digestive issues.
