The key is to provide it with a lot of variety so that it gets a balanced diet. Veggies that are good for guinea pigs include celery, off-the-vine tomatoes, cucumber, corn (and corn husks), and bell pepper. [2] .
What foods are good for guinea pigs?
What can Guinea Pigs Eat?
- Majority of a guinea pig diet should be hay.
- And in that hay, the most recommended hay is Timothy hay or any low calcium hay.
- Apart from that grass, they can also happily feed on pellets meant for guinea pigs only.
- They also like fresh green vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
What is the best diet for guinea pigs?
Safe Fruits and Veggies for Your Guinea Pig
- Romaine Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Parsley
- Carrots (and the carrot top)
- Zucchini
- Sweet Potato
- Peas
- Cucumber
- Broccoli
What can guinea pigs eat and not eat list?
- Stone fruit (all kinds) Contains cyanide and is rich in sugar. Can cause diarrhea.
- All kinds of exotic fruits like mango, papaya, pomegranate Causes serious indigestion and colics.
- Rhubarb Rich in oxialic acid
What vegetables are good for guinea pigs?
- Lettuce
- Parsnip
- Bell peppers
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Celery leaves
- Tomatoes without stems or leaves
- Cucumber
- Zucchini
- Kale
What should I feed my guinea pig every day?
The preferred basic diet for guinea pigs is unlimited amounts of Timothy or other low-calcium hay, supplemented with smaller amounts of a commercial, high-fiber, Timothy-hay based guinea pig pellets. Vitamin C (see below) should be given each day. Hay should be offered free-choice throughout the day.
What can I feed my guinea pig when I run out of food?
Guinea Pig Food Alternatives and SupplementsRomaine Lettuce. Much more nutritionally dense than Iceberg lettuce, the high fiber content in Romaine lettuce (as well as red and green lettuces) can help keep your guinea pig's digestion working smoothly. ... Broccoli. ... Cauliflower. ... Kale. ... Bell Peppers. ... Oranges. ... Carrots. ... Squash.More items...•
What do guineas pigs eat?
TimothySpinachGrassesGuinea pig/Eats
What can I give my guinea pig instead of pellets?
Guinea pig feedingCommercial food: Choose vitamin C-fortified pellets with no seeds or dried fruit added. ... Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. ... Fruit and vegetables: Fresh vegetables can be offered once a day and should be equivalent to about one cup total per guinea pig per day.
How long can guinea pigs go without food?
So, how long can guinea pigs go without food and water? Healthy guinea pigs shouldn't go over 8 hours without food. They won't starve in this time, but they can develop potentially fatal GI stasis or other health issues. Healthy guinea pigs may go up to 24 hours without water.
What is poisonous to guinea pigs?
Make sure you do not feed your guinea pigs the following foods (this is not an exhaustive list): cereals; grains; nuts; seeds; dried beans, corn, and peas; buttercups; garden shrubs (such as hemlock or privet); lilies of any kind; sweet peas; nightshade; oak; avocado; onion grass; onions; potato tops; mushrooms; ...
Do guinea pigs need vegetables every day?
Guinea pigs' need fresh greens and vegetables every day to help them get enough vitamin C (they can't produce it themselves). Our vets' advise one teacup of greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day, which can be split into morning and evening feeds.
What fruit can a guinea pig eat?
The best fruits to feed your guinea pig include most berries, such as blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. Berries taste delicious to your guinea pig, but they are relatively low in sugar and carbohydrates in comparison to other fruits.
How can I make my own guinea pig food?
1:042:44How To Mix Your Own Guinea Pig Food - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo in your garden you could be growing different types carrots turnips. And even your roses. AndMoreSo in your garden you could be growing different types carrots turnips. And even your roses. And raspberries as well raspberries black relieves and strawberry leaves are fantastic for the digestive.
Can guinea pigs eat crackers?
Similar to human diets, avoid feeding your guinea pig foods with too much sugar, carbohydrates and fats. This means no toasted oat cereals that are often used as treats for gerbils or hamsters. Do not feed her beans, breads, cookies, crackers, oats, potatoes or other human foods.
What can guinea pigs drink?
Fresh Water: Guinea pigs drink a lot of water and need the bottles cleaned and fresh water added daily. It is recommended that you have more than 1 water bottle in the cage. Do not put anything but water in the bottles.
What can guinea pigs eat vegetables?
Guinea pigs will take most veggies in many forms. It's best for everyone to chop up peppers, cucumber, broccoli, and carrots. Spinach and other leafy greens they tend to eat in their natural form.
What fruit should I feed my guinea pig?
Fruits for Guinea Pigs. Fruits should be handled as sweets for cavies and not to be provided too much (may be once a week) because of its fructose and fruit acids. Fruit. Hints / notes. Apple. Do not feed if one of your cavies has lip grind. Banana. Rich in sugar. Do not feed if one of your cavies has Diabetes.
What do guinea pigs eat?
Diet plan. Hay, vegetables, fruits, branches, herbs and other plant. There is very much you can feed your Guinea Pigs. Cavies listen to their natural instinct and really like to eat what grows on ground – raw. Most of all feed hay!
How to keep cavies soft?
At winter season you should replace grass with fresh vegetables to keep them healthy with a diet rich in vitamins.
How to care for guinea pigs in the evening?
Fresh hay has to be provided all time. Water has to be filled up from time to time. Only use clear and fresh water. There is no reason to provide special “rodent-water” from the pet shop if you take care about the food for your Guinea Pigs.
What is the best food for cavies?
Cucumber. Very popular food for cavies. Endive. rich in vitamins and minerals / appetizing. Fennel. rich in vitamins and minerals. Can take on color on urine. Helpful by digestive complaints. field salad.
What foods can you feed a da?
Feed carefully because of it oxialic acid. May take color on urine and feces. Can be provided with the green. Broccoli. High amount of vitamin C. Contains oxialic acid. Provide it increasing. Carrot. Rich in calories. Do not feed every da.
Can guinea pigs eat vegetables?
Vegetables for Guinea Pigs. Vegetables should be the main fresh food in their nutrition plan at the winter season if/and there is no way to get fresh grass. Of course vegetables does not replace hay. Fresh hay has to be provided permanent. All green marked vegetables can be used for proper diet. Vegetable.
What to feed guinea pigs?
Your pig will be perfectly happy with high quality pellets and hay and treats of fruits and vegetables. For a special snack, try mixing some rolled oats into your guinea pig’s pellets or stuff a small cardboard tube with fresh hay. Top 10 tips.
How to keep guinea pigs fresh?
Keep it fresh. The steady amount of produce in your guinea pig's diet means that you need to be conscientious about removing uneaten fruits, veggies and other perishable foods before they spoil. Check for untouched or unfinished treats an hour or so after they’ve been offered to your guinea pig.
What sweetener is good for guinea pigs?
Loaded with artificial sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup, fructose or sucrose, they provide little nutritional value and lots of empty calories.
What vegetables should I feed my pig?
It’s best to provide variety by feeding different greens each day. Vegetables like red or green pepper and broccoli have high levels of vitamin C in them and are great daily options.
Do guinea pigs need vitamin C?
Guinea pigs often kick bedding material or droppings into their food bowls and stale pellets will have little , if any, vitamin C. If there are many pellets left in the food bowl every day, you’re probably giving your pig too much. An eighth of a cup is all that's needed.
Do guinea pigs overeat?
How much to feed. Guinea pigs don't usually overeat, but it's important to provide the proper balance of pellets, hay and fresh vegetables. Like human beings, guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so they require vitamin C-rich foods in their daily diet.
Can guinea pigs eat salt wheels?
But if you’re feeding your guinea pig a varied and well-balanced diet, these products shouldn't be necessary.
What do guinea pigs eat?
Feed your guinea pig hay. Guinea pigs love hay! They need it for digestive and dental health. Guinea pigs should have unlimited access to hay, which often means refilling a good-sized dish 3 to 5 times daily. Timothy hay is the best hay for all guinea pigs in general.
How to feed a guinea pig pellets?
Be aware pellets are high energy, and eating too many can lead to obesity and dental problems. Feed only a 1/8 cup per day to supplement the other parts of its diet. Look for pellets that are supplemented with vitamin C. This is an important nutrient that guinea pigs need in their diet.
How to keep guinea pigs from overfeeding?
Control the number of veggies you give your guinea pig. Guinea pigs chew instinctively and will eat as much as you feed them throughout the day. Watch how much you give them and stick to a balanced diet. Explain this gently to small kids who own guinea pigs so that they do not overfeed their pets.
How much vitamin C should I give my guinea pig?
Guinea pigs are one of the very few mammals (along with humans) who can't make their own vitamin C, so they need to get it from their food. They need 10 - 30 mg of Vitamin C daily. Bell peppers are an excellent source of it.
What foods should I not feed my guinea pig?
High-calcium foods can be fed in small quantities. Vegetables to avoid feeding your guinea pigs include iceberg lettuce, potatoes, avocado, and cabbage.
Can guinea pigs eat alfalfa hay?
Alfalfa hay contains a lot of calcium, so is inappropriate for older pigs except as an occasional treat. Even if your guinea pig loves alfalfa hay, use it as a treat, not part of the normal diet. However, pregnant and nursing sows and guinea pigs under six months can eat more of it (in addition to Timothy).
Can you put vitamin C in guinea pig water?
Putting vitamin-c into your guinea pig's water is not recommended. Adding vitamin C to the water can cause a guinea pig to stop drinking water if they don't like the taste and most of the vitamin C breaks down within half an hour, anyway.
What is Oxbow Essentials for guinea pigs?
Your young, growing guinea pig has different nutritional needs than an adult guinea pig, which is why Oxbow Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food is created just for pets under six months. Made from alfalfa hay that’s higher in protein and fat than timothy hay, each serving is made up of 18 percent protein, 2.5 percent fat, 23 percent fiber, and 10 percent moisture. You can feed unlimited pellets along with grass hay to your young guinea pig. Pregnant or nursing guinea pigs can also receive unlimited pellets and grass hay, as well as alfalfa hay in small quantities. Pick from a 5 or 10-pound bag with a resealable zipper to help keep your food fresh.
What is Oxbow guinea pig food?
Oxbow Organic Adult Guinea Pig Food is an all-natural, 95 percent organic guinea pig food that’s created for active, adult guinea pigs. Formulated to mirror a guinea pig’s natural diet, Oxbow also includes added vitamin C to keep your pet’s immune system in great shape. These pellets are also made with high-fiber grass hay to help promote a healthy gut and should be combined with a high-quality hay mixture as well. Each bag contains three pounds of food and costs under $15.
What is the best pellet food for guinea pigs?
If you’re looking for a pellet food that’s high in vitamin C and fiber, the Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food is a great choice. This 10-pound bag is affordable, but also made with high-quality ingredients. Each serving contains 14 percent protein, 25 percent fiber, 2 percent fat, and 10 percent water, and an optimal calcium-to-phosphorus ratio for healthy body weight. It’s lower in protein, calories, and calcium than standard alfalfa-based pellet products. Oxbow Essentials should be fed alongside a healthy dose of treats and hay.
How many Oxbow vitamins are in a bag?
A bag contains 60 tablets, and the recommended dose for adult guinea pigs is one tablet per day. Owners say their guinea pigs love the Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement, and most state that they see a marked difference in their pig’s health when feeding them.
What are guinea pigs' favorite treats?
A healthy treat is an important component of a well-rounded guinea pig diet and we love the Kaytee Baked Apple Timothy Biscuit Small Animal Treats. These high-fiber timothy hay biscuits help your guinea pig’s digestion and satisfy his or her need to chew. Made from a mixture of baked apples and wheat flour, flaxseed, alfalfa meal, and dried cane molasses, Kaytee Biscuits can comprise up to 20 percent of your pet’s diet. If your guinea pig is a big chewer, they also provide a more challenging chew than standard hay.
What are kaytee biscuits made of?
Made from a mixture of baked apples and wheat flour, flaxseed, alfalfa meal, and dried cane molasses, Kaytee Biscuits can comprise up to 20 percent of your pet’s diet. If your guinea pig is a big chewer, they also provide a more challenging chew than standard hay.
What is pellet food made of?
Fortified with vitamin C and high in fiber, this pellet food is made with dehydrated alfalfa and contains antioxidants and omega-6 fatty acids for a healthy heart and coat. It contains 13 percent fiber, 1 percent fat, and 25 percent fiber, and should be fed along with hay and treats.
What to feed a guinea pig?
Remember that to supplement your vitamin and fiber intake, you need to provide not only feed, hay, and seeds, but also fresh vegetables. Also, make sure to always give enough water. If the guinea pig does not get the nutrients it needs, it gradually weakens and reaches a point where it stops eating.
Why do guinea pigs need hay?
The guinea pig needs to eat good quality hay to keep their digestive systems active, so the lack of food intake is the alarm signal, indicating that we should visit a specialist as soon as possible because the life of the guinea pig may be at risk.
What to do if guinea pig doesn't like pellets?
If you bought a new bag of pellets or hay and your guinea pig doesn’t like it, then you should give it away to someone else and get the one that your guinea pig likes.
How long can a guinea pig not eat?
If a guinea pig stopped eating its hay, vegetables, pellets and treats, it can affect its digestive system quickly. If a guinea pig won’t eat for 12-24 hours it can become dangerously unhealthy for the pet. If you are facing a not eating problem for more than 12 hours you should get ...
What temperature do guinea pigs eat?
Temperature fluctuations can affect the eating of your guinea pigs. A guinea pig can get anxious and aggressive if the temperature goes above 25°C. Make sure the temperature is well-maintained in the room of your guinea pigs.
Why do guinea pigs lose appetite?
It may cause loss of appetite by slowing down bowel movement in guinea pigs. Gases, blockages from foreign objects, or constipation can cause the guinea pig to feel unwell and lose appetite.
What happens if a guinea pig eats too much tartar?
Tartar Accumulation. If too much tartar builds up, this may cause discomfort for the guinea pig. In fact, if too much build-up happens, it can lead to infections and more serious oral problems. If this happens, you should take it to your veterinarian for oral cleaning.
What to Feed Guinea Pigs When Out of Food
You suddenly realize you are out of guinea pig food, and now you are scrambling to find alternatives. This can be a frightening situation for any guinea owner. However, there is no need to panic.
How Long Can Guinea Pigs Go Without Hay
In an ideal world, your guinea pig should never be without fresh timothy hay. It is recommended that guinea pigs do not go without hay for more than one day. However, sometimes these things happen. You may forget to buy hay, or your guinea pigs may go through it more quickly than you anticipated.
How Long Can Guinea Pigs Go When Out of Pellets?
Guinea pigs can go a surprisingly long time without pellets. This is because pellets are not necessarily the best source of nutrients for your piggy. This is why pellets should only make up around 20% of your guinea pig’s diet.
Seven Replacement Food to Feed Your Guinea Pigs When Out of Hay
While you must restock your guinea pigs with fresh hay as soon as possible, there are some healthy alternatives you can turn to in the meantime.
What Not to Feed Your Guinea Pig
If you run out of hay or pellets, it is important not to panic and feed your guinea pig, something that could make matters worse. The following foods should never be included in your guinea pig’s diet:
Conclusion
Guinea pigs cannot be without fresh hay or pellets for long. Ideally, your guinea pig should not be without these essential foods for more than 1-2 days. However, there are several alternatives to hay and pellets that you can provide for your piggy in the meantime.
Vegetables and Greens
Feeding vegetables and greens to your guinea pig are essential as they are safe to eat and nutritious.
Chews And Treats
For treats including fruits, it is recommendable not to exceed ten percent of the total food intake of your guinea pig.
Scurvy In Guinea Pigs and The Requirement for Vitamin C
Guinea pigs have an elevated risk of developing scurvy for their inability to synthesize vitamin C to prevent scurvy; your guinea pig requires 30 to 50 milligrams of vitamin C daily.
A complete guide to feeding vegetables for guinea pigs
A healthy guinea pig diet is made up of 80% hay, 5% pellets, and 15% fresh veggies. Vegetables are important because they provide vitamins and nutrients, especially Vitamin C, that are important for a healthy pet. They also provide your guinea pig with some much need variety.
How to Feed Guinea Pig Veggies
As I mentioned before, fresh vegetables should make up about 10-15% of a guinea pig’s diet. The general rule of thumb when it comes to feeding veggies to guinea pigs is they should get about one cup of veggies per guinea pig per day.
Vitamin C for Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are not able to produce their own Vitamin C. If they don’t get enough Vitamin C in their diet it can lead to scurvy and other health problems. Because of this, it’s important to provide good sources of vitamin C to your piggie.
Safe Vegetables for Guinea Pigs
When it comes to choosing safe and healthy vegetables for guinea pigs, the most important thing is providing a variety so they are getting a balanced diet. Providing variety will also be more exciting for your guinea pig since they won’t have to eat the same thing every day!
Final Thoughts on Feeding Guinea Pig Veggies
Feeding fresh veggies to your guinea pig every day is a great way to give them some variety and make sure they’re getting the nutrition they need. Feeding veggies to your guinea pigs doesn’t have to be so complicated or overwhelming!
What do guinea pigs eat?
What to Feed Guinea Pigs. We’re going to go over the different kinds of foods your guinea pig can and cannot eat. The most essential food in the cavy diet is hay. In fact, 80% of their diet should be composed of hay—Timothy hay is usually best. Vegetables and herbs make up 10%-15% of their diet, and pellets about 5%-10%.
Why are guinea pigs called pigs?
And then secondly, they are not related to pigs in any way. It is believed that they were named “pig” because of the cute little squealing noise they make that sounds somewhat piglike. Your guinea pig’s diet, like with any pet, is of the utmost importance. You want to be sure that you’re fulfilling your cavy’s daily dietary requirements and ...
What fruits are low in vitamin C?
Cherries. Watermelon. Bananas. Raspberries. Blueberries. Blackberries. Again, like the veggies low in vitamin C, go easy on the fruit and just provide, for example, a few blueberries, or thin slices of apple, banana, or oranges as occasional treats a few times a week. Image: Natalya Matyushina, Shutterstock.
What vegetables are good for guinea pigs?
Cucumber. Zucchini. Broccoli (small amounts or they might become gassy) Celery leaves. Kale. Cilantro/coriander. Mustard greens. All of the above vegetables are high in vitamin C, which is an essential vitamin for guinea pigs.
What is Kathryn's job?
Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a child, she hoped to work in zoos or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her all-consuming love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future – maybe another cat and a dog.
How often should you fill a water bottle with water for rodents?
Water should be provided in water bottles designed for rodents, and they should have access to fresh water 24 hours a day. This means filling the bottle once a day with fresh water and always checking that the water bottle is working properly and that it hasn’t run out.
Can you give a cavy a lot of food?
You should avoid giving your cavy any food that will cause gas, such as cauliflower and cabbage. Iceberg lettuce can cause diarrhea, onions (and anything in the onion family) can lead to a blood disorder, garlic is toxic, and avocado is too high in fat.
