Guinea pigs require fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs as part of their diet to provide essential vitamins such as Vitamin C that cannot be found solely through pellet food.
Avoid offering your guinea pig anything high in sugar or seeds, like cantaloupe (which can lead to stomach upset). Furthermore, ensure all fruits and veggies are thoroughly cleaned prior to giving them to your pet.
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Leafy Greens
Guinea pigs need fresh vegetables in their diet in order to obtain key vitamins and minerals, in addition to the high quality timothy hay and pellets they typically eat. A cup of fresh greens (such as kale, spring greens or parsley) per guinea pig should be included daily; suitable choices include romaine butterhead or bib lettuces as well.
Guinea pigs need plenty of Vitamin C, which can be found in leafy greens and some fruits. Celery is low in calcium and sugar content and should be included several times each week for best results.
Spinach, chard and Swiss chard are excellent choices of green vegetables to feed to guinea pigs, while cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts should be avoided as their high calcium content could lead to bladder stones that could prove fatal for your pet. Be mindful about giving too many watery veggies as overfeeding could result in diarrhea and bloating for your guinea pig.
Root Vegetables
Guinea pigs require plenty of fibre in their diet to stay healthy. This can come from sources like fresh hay or grass piles as well as raw vegetables.
Most root veggies can be enjoyed by guinea pigs, including carrots (especially long varieties), radish, parsley (curly or flat leaf varieties), dandelion greens and kale. Other good options are spinach, squash and romaine lettuce.
Avoid feeding guinea pigs any vegetables that cause gas or burp, such as cabbage, cauliflower and beetroot, which contain high concentrations of oxalates.
As with humans, it’s crucial that guinea pigs receive sufficient Vitamin C in their diets. As they don’t produce it themselves, supplements must be added through food and supplements; thus making choosing vitamin-fortified pellets and offering fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C essential.
Fruits
Guinea pigs can enjoy eating an assortment of fruits and vegetables when fed in moderation. Many fruits are abundant with vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin C from fruits such as berries, citrus, avocado, kiwi and strawberries; however it should be noted that certain produce contains calcium, oxalates or phosphorus which could potentially be toxic to guinea pigs.
Fresh vegetables are also integral parts of a balanced guinea pig diet, providing essential dietary fiber and helping prevent overgrown teeth.
Guinea Pigs enjoy most leafy greens such as spinach, kale, romaine butterhead and bib lettuce, while watercress is another tasty semi-staple veggie with low levels of oxalates and calcium while providing plenty of vitamin C. Parsnips are another tasty, nutritious vegetable that should be fed on an occasional basis as they contain less sugar than carrots and provide lots of essential vitamin C.
Herbs
Guinea pigs can safely enjoy eating certain herbs such as parsley, mint, coriander, basil and dill as part of their daily vegetable serving. Fresh grass that hasn’t been fertilised or treated with pesticides should also be given as treats under supervision – these varieties of herb contain vitamin C which guinea pigs cannot produce themselves and must obtain from external sources in order to thrive.
Guinea Pigs should receive one cup of fresh vegetables daily, consisting mainly of leafy greens and herbs. Root vegetables (such as radish tops or carrot tops) as well as occasional fruit can also be provided to them, although too much could lead to weight gain and digestive issues; to manage this you can gradually introduce new fruits and veggies over a number of days or weeks; it is best to avoid providing your guinea pig with iceberg lettuce due to its limited nutritional value and tendency towards diarrhea more easily.
