Guinea pigs should be fed small amounts of fresh timothy-based guinea pig pellets daily as a staple food source, supplemented with hay and vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes. Iceberg lettuce or light-coloured veggies with little nutritional value should not be fed either.
Variety in their diet will keep them engaged, so try providing some of these guinea pig-approved veggies:
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Corn on the cob
Guinea pigs will love snacking on corn on the cob, which makes an excellent addition to their diet. Corn contains ample amounts of fiber and Vitamin C – however beware not to overfeed as too much may lead to bloat.
Though you can offer your guinea pig kernels from the cob, they may prefer eating the husk and silk as this provides more nutrition than kernels themselves.
Make sure that guinea pigs only consume the outer layers and silk from a cob, rather than its inner part which could contain potentially toxic ingredients. Furthermore, avoid feeding canned corn as this may contain preservatives that could harm them.
Cucumber
Cucumbers provide guinea pigs with plenty of vitamin C, making it essential to prevent scurvy (which can be fatal). Unfortunately, however, their high water content could result in diarrhea in some instances.
Your guinea pigs need fresh cucumber slices once or twice every week in their diets to stay hydrated, just make sure that there’s plenty of fresh hay available as too much water can lead to issues in their systems.
Be wary when feeding pickled cucumbers to your guinea pigs as these are high in salt content and could potentially harm their health. Be sure to wash cucumber thoroughly prior to offering it as some varieties could contain chemicals or wax coating that could harm sensitive tummies.
Green beans
Green beans are packed with Vitamin C and an ideal way to provide extra vitamins in your guinea pig’s diet. But they should only be consumed freshly and in small amounts; canned and cooked green beans contain chemicals which could be toxic for their wellbeing.
Guinea Pigs contain high levels of calcium and oxalates. Excess calcium may build up in their kidneys and bladders and form into foreign bodies known as “stones”, leading to health problems in their bodies.
Other vegetables to add to a guinea pig’s diet include strawberries, asparagus, kohlrabi, and mint (in moderation). Always rinse fresh green vegetables before offering them to your guinea pigs and remember to gradually introduce any new food items by monitoring weight change and stool consistency changes as an indicator.
Peas
Guinea pigs need a diet rich in fresh veggies and herbs for optimal health and happiness. This should include vegetables high in Vitamin C such as peas and herbs such as dill, mint basil or parsley to maintain good digestion. Too much of any one vegetable could upset their tummies so it is best to introduce new items gradually with other greens.
Guinea pigs should also receive bell peppers, romaine butterhead lettuce, and rocket salad leaves as staple foods. Carrots and kiwi fruit should only be fed occasionally as these treats may lead to weight gain or dental issues if fed too frequently; their diet needs fiber for digestion purposes and teeth overgrowth prevention.
Parsley
Parsley leaves and stems are safe for guinea pigs to consume in moderation as they contain vitamins C and K as well as many essential nutrients, along with antioxidants which neutralize free radicals that damage cells and lead to various illnesses and conditions.
Guinea pigs should receive a variety of fresh leafy green vegetables and herbs every day, such as dark leafy lettuce varieties, dandelion greens, silver beet and mint. Options high in calcium or oxalic acid content (such as spinach and kale) should be fed less frequently.
Parsley can be fed to guinea pigs safely, though more than 2-3 feedings should not be given at once as its high calcium content could lead to bladder stones in your pet.
