Guinea pig
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig, also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea, nor are they biologically related to pigs, and the origin of the name is still …
Do guinea pigs teeth wear down naturally?
With a proper diet, your guinea pig’s teeth will naturally wear down. That is why keeping Timothy Hay as their diet staple is so important. The fibrous hay is quite tough, and keeps your guinea pig’s teeth in check.
What can guinea pigs eat?
Guinea Pig food list - food they can eat and food they should not. [Auto translated] There is a huge variety of plant you can feed your Guinea Pigs with. They are really vegans and like nearly everything which grows on ground.
What can I give my guinea pig for treats?
Commercial treats are unnecessary and a waste of money. 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.
Can guinea pigs eat vegetables instead of hay?
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.
Can guinea pigs eat without teeth?
The pigs can eat fine without the incisors, but not without the molars! Guinea pigs with this disorder will likely need periodic tooth trimming every 6-8 weeks or so for the rest of their lives, although some can be kept under control with proper hay supplementation.
Can a guinea pig survive without teeth?
Broken teeth, or the loss of teeth entirely, can also be due to injuries or accidents. With healthy guinea pigs, any damaged or lost tooth will grow back absolutely fine. However, monitor your guinea pig to check that the remaining teeth do not get too long and start causing damage to the gums or lining of the mouth.
How long does it take for guinea pigs teeth to grow back?
While our human teeth stay the same size and shape throughout our adult lives, guinea pig teeth grow continually at a rate of 1–2 mm per week. The reason why the teeth must keep growing is that they get worn down by all the tough fibre in the diet.
What soft food can guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs will eat lots of different types of hay, but the most popular is 2nd cutting Timothy hay. We call this hay our gold standard because it has the right levels of fat, protein, and fiber. It's super soft and tasty and is sure to have any piggy popcorning.
How do guinea pigs eat missing teeth?
Guinea pigs should have 1 cup a day of fresh veggies and/or fruits. Veggies you can feed him include carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, cucumber, lettuce, among others. Fruits include apple (no seeds as they are poisonous), banana, grapes, honeydew melon, and raspberries among others.
How do you feed a guinea pig with a broken tooth?
2:153:43How To Care For A Guinea Pig With A Broken Tooth - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCut vegetables in either stripes or in very very small pieces because the guinea pig can really chewMoreCut vegetables in either stripes or in very very small pieces because the guinea pig can really chew probably have oats kind of as problems showing.
Can a guinea pig eat cucumber?
Cucumber: Guinea Pigs can eat both the flesh, seeds (not too much) and the skin. Green beans:These contain vitamin C, and can be fed in a raw state. However, be cautious as they also contain calcium and phosphorus.
How long do guinea pigs live for?
4 – 8 yearsGuinea pig / Lifespan (In captivity)
What are the best foods for guinea pigs?
Good fresh foods to feed your guinea pig include:Blueberries.Cantaloupe.Green peppers.Parsley.Green and red leaf lettuce.Strawberries.Tomatoes.Watermelon.More items...
What can I feed my guinea pig with sore teeth?
Guinea pig teeth are meant to chew away on vegetation all day, so it's important that our pet piggies get enough of this to eat. The key is to feed a lot of hay – in fact, we advise that at least 80% of the diet should be hay or grass.
What human food can I feed my guinea pig?
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. Leafy greens like romaine lettuce, red and green leaf lettuces, kale, cilantro and parsley should comprise the bulk of your pig's fresh produce.
Can you make homemade guinea pig food?
The ASPCA recommends feeding commercial guinea pig pellets, made mostly from plant materials. A homemade version can incorporate similarly healthy plant materials in their fresh form. Along with vegetables and fruits, guinea pigs should have access to fresh grass and unlimited hay.
Can guinea pigs grow new teeth?
Guinea pig don't have baby teeth that fall out to give way for adult teeth. Instead, your guinea pig has a set of teeth in the front and a set along his cheeks that are always growing. While they're not supposed to fall out, if they do, they'll grow back.
Why do guinea pigs teeth fall out?
There are various genetic disorders that can lead to this kind of dental problem but a more likely explanation would be related to his diet. Guinea pigs are very susceptible to dietary problems, particularly related to vitamins C and D, which can both influence the health of their teeth and bones.
Do guinea pigs have back teeth?
It is very difficult for owners to examine their guinea pig's back teeth because of buccal pads (cheek pads) which block the view. Using buccal pad separators and a lighted scope, Dr Sarah Wong is able to see that the lower molars are growing towards the centre, creating a bridge over the tongue.
How do you tell if your guinea pig has teeth problems?
Signs that your guinea pig is having tooth problems include lowered appetite and hence stools, mouth sensitivity, redness of the gums, and long teeth. Almost always the cheek teeth are also affected. Greencross Vets recommend that you regularly check your guinea pigs' teeth.
Guinea Pig Teeth 101
To understand why a guinea pig might end up with some dental problems, we need to take a quick look at their teeth.
Common Guinea Pig Dental Problems
Though guinea pigs don’t have the same problems as we do (they certainly eat less sugar!), but we still need to be vigilant in keeping their teeth healthy.
Causes of Guinea Pig Dental Problems
Any number of factors can affect the health of your cavy’s teeth. While some might be out of your control, like genetics, you can certainly prevent many other causes.
Preventing Guinea Pig Dental Problems
These two problems often go hand in hand. With a proper diet, your guinea pig’s teeth will naturally wear down.
Prevention Is Better than Treatment
Unless your guinea pig’s teeth problems are caused by genetics, preventing them is quick and straightforward.
What About Genetics?
Unfortunately, this is the one factor entirely out of your control. Usually, this isn’t a problem, but it can occasionally result in a guinea pig whose teeth growth faster than even a health diet can handle.
How Do You Prevent Guinea Pig Dental Problems
Whether your guinea pigs have had healthy teeth their whole lives or have encountered dental problems, please share in the comments below. We would love to hear what you did to keep their teeth healthy. Or what did you do to help correct any dental problems that arose. We look forward to hearing about your experience.
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 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.
Can guinea pigs have bladder stones?
Note: Because guinea pigs are susceptible to developing painful bladder stones, and some bladder stones are comprised of calcium oxalate, reducing or eliminating foods high in oxalates—such as spinach, parsley and strawberries—can provide benefit in guinea pigs who develop calcium oxalate stones.
How do you know if your guinea pig has a tooth problem?
Signs that your guinea pig may have a tooth issue include: Hesitation or obvious pain when your guinea pig chews food. Cuts, sores or abscesses on or in the mouth.
What are some ways to prevent malocclusion in guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs have 1 trait that is extremely helpful in preventing malocclusion — chewing! Giving your guinea pigs wooden blocks or sticks (untreated wood only) to gnaw on in their cages will help them keep their teeth at the right length.
What are the teeth of guinea pigs?
No canines (instead, a gap called the diastema) A pair of upper and lower premolars. It is also worth noting that guinea pigs tend to have white teeth as opposed to other animals’ teeth in the rodent family, which tend to be yellow.
Why won't my guinea pig eat?
He won’t want to eat because it hurts. Always monitor how much your guinea pig is eating so you know what’s normal for him.
Can guinea pigs have malocclusion?
G. Richardson writes, “Molar malocclusion can be an inherited condition, or it can develop in any guinea pig over 1 year of age.
Can guinea pigs stop growing teeth?
Guinea pigs’ teeth don’t stop growing, so ignoring their dental needs can cause them a great deal of suffering. Without proper tooth care, guinea pigs can develop cuts, sores, abscesses or overlong teeth that interfere with eating. When handling your guinea pig, check on his teeth and see how things are looking.
How to Offer Soft Food for Guinea Pigs
If your piggy exhibits a decreased appetite from an ongoing dental condition, syringe feeding is the way to go. Aim to prepare a super thick liquid food, and provide about 1ml of water for every 5ml of food.
How Do You Know Your Guinea Pig Is Ready for A Normal Diet?
Your guinea pig will start to feed on slightly hard veggies, herbs, hays, and grasses. He will not require your assistance to force-feed it using a spoon or syringe.
FAQs
Feeding soft foods is imperative when your guinea pig is weak and not eating, rejected by its mother, sick or when it has dental or bad teeth problems.
In Short
When your guinea pig has a teeth problem, it can get hurt and reject hard foods due to pain. In such a scenario, it’s imperative to act quickly and help your pet feed to prevent its health from deteriorating.
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.
