Many reasons may lead to pet owners running out of food for their guinea pig, so here are some safe alternatives that should help keep it healthy until more hay and pellets can be purchased.
Guinea pigs are herbivores by nature and require plenty of roughage to chew, which helps their teeth wear down over time. Furthermore, they require ample amounts of fibre in their diet in order to avoid serious dental issues.
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Emergency Feed
Guinea Pig’s digestive systems are designed to work continuously, so it is crucial that they eat regularly throughout the day. Otherwise, their system could shut down completely, potentially leading to their demise. A good daily selection of vegetables, herbs and fruits includes spring greens (especially romaine), carrot tops, sweet bell pepper seeds/core/coring/core and whole kale/cucumber/celery/mint as snacks or daily options. They may also enjoy foraging for food in your yard (under careful observation), enjoying foraging for food such as dandelion leaves/flowers/plantain/red deadnettle/chickweed/cleavers/mallow.
Baby guineas should receive unlimited alfalfa pellets until they reach six months old, as well as other vegetables in small doses each week or mixed into the daily meal plan if possible. Fresh water should always be available, along with daily cleaning to avoid clogs in their water bottle or bowls.
Fresh Vegetables
Guinea pigs should consume both grass and vegetables for optimal health, with hay being their main food source but vitamin-rich vegetables also necessary.
The most cost-effective vegetable options include romaine lettuce, sweet and red bell peppers without seeds, parsley, kale, carrots and cucumber. Cauliflower and zucchini may contain high levels of sugar so should only be offered sparingly.
Avoid commercial treats, which can often contain excess sugar without providing your guinea pig with any nutrition. Instead, opt for fresh veggies such as those listed above or some pieces of their favourite fruit to give them. Ceramic food dishes can reduce risk by being chew-resistant and hard to overturn in a cage environment.
Fruit
Guinea pigs love eating fresh veggies and fruit, providing them with essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C while keeping their diet varied and exciting.
Try selecting vegetables that are seasonal and affordable so they’ll remain at their freshest. When shopping for produce, look for items like Romaine lettuce, sweet bell peppers (with seeds and core removed), kale, carrots celery cucumbers as options; cauliflower leaves are another tasty choice! Iceberg lettuce contains toxins which could potentially upset guinea pig stomachs; it should be avoided.
Make sure that fruit and vegetables are pesticide free before feeding them to your guinea pig, but beware overfeeding as this could lead to weight gain as well as health problems like sore mouth. Offer them small pieces of each food each week and discard any that turn or wilt too quickly; additionally it would be wise to mix up vegetable combinations each week so your guinea pig doesn’t become bored of having the same foods repeatedly fed to it.
Pellets
Guinea pigs typically rely on pellet food to obtain balanced nutrition. When their supply runs out, be sure to replenish it daily; Guinea pigs often kick bedding or droppings into their pellet bowls and this may make the pellets unusable; to check that they remain fresh, look for “best before” dates on each packet.
Guinea pigs need a variety of vegetables in their diet for proper nourishment. Provide leafy greens, herbs and low calcium vegetables such as kale and broccoli at each feeding; additional treats like strawberries, oranges and sweet bell peppers high in Vitamin C may be provided as treats in small quantities.
Avoid giving guinea pigs nuts, seeds or dried fruit that could lead to weight gain and blockages in their intestinal tracts. Furthermore, avoid giving sunflower seeds in their shells as many guinea pigs die every year from accidentally choking on these.
