Vegetables That You Can Give to Your Guinea Pigs:
- Tomatoes (the fruit but not the leaves)
- Sprouts
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Capsicums
- Radish
- Lettuce
- Mint leaves
- Basil
- Parsley
What extra stuff should I Feed my guinea pigs?
Some Vegetables
- Onions And Garlic. Onion and garlic are toxic in your cavy’s diet. ...
- Iceberg Lettuces. Lettuce generally is not poisonous, but it’s worth mentioning that it can trigger health issues when eaten by guinea pigs.
- Cabbage. ...
- Rhubarb. ...
- Leeks And Chives. ...
- Jalapenos. ...
- Mushrooms. ...
- Ginger. ...
- Asparagus. ...
- Carrots. ...
What food is bad for guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs simply cannot eat any kind of meat. Cooked, raw, dry–it doesn’t matter. If the food is made from another animal or creature, it is bad news for guinea pigs. However, guinea pigs may have tiny brains, but they are not stupid. Generally, guinea pigs will avoid eating meat on their own.
How often should I Feed my guinea pig?
Ok, So I Feed 1 Cup Of Vegetables To Every Guinea I Have?
- Age. As Guinea pigs get older, they eat less food. Like humans, they need less food to survive daily and will gradually eat less even if you provide them with ...
- Activity Level. If you take your Guinea pigs out for a daily walk, then of course you need to feed them more! ...
- Health. Finally, the last thing you should consider is their health. ...
What foods are good for guinea pigs?
- Meat (guinea pigs are herbivores, and cannot eat or digest any meat)
- Mushrooms
- Rhubarb
- Avocados (the skin is toxic, the flesh is just super fatty)
- Peanut Butter
- Unripe Tomatoes/Tomato Leaves/Stems (the rest of the tomato is fine, and nutritious)
Can you treat a sick guinea pig at home?
4:1512:26How to Look After a Sick Guinea Pig: Not Eating or Pooping?! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMedications. Rather than things that can be most helpful for a guinea pig who isn't eating. But ifMoreMedications. Rather than things that can be most helpful for a guinea pig who isn't eating. But if you don't have an exotics vet. Available.
How do you force feed a sick guinea pig?
1:203:23How To Syringe Feed Your Rabbit, Guinea Pig, or other Small PetYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIntroduce the tip of the syringe. Gently into the side of the mouth. And deliver a very small amountMoreIntroduce the tip of the syringe. Gently into the side of the mouth. And deliver a very small amount at a time ensuring that the pet swallows.
What to do when guinea pigs are dying?
A dying guinea pig will become very weak and unable to feed or water himself as his death approaches. You can make his passing less uncomfortable by offering him water from a spoon, syringe, or water bottle. Blend or mix a guinea pig "smoothie" that contains hay, water and ground up pellets and feed it to him.
How can you tell if your guinea pig is dying?
Lack of Appetite. Guinea pigs that are very ill will refuse to eat, and may show signs of weight loss if the appetite loss has persisted for some time. ... Bad Urine and Feces. ... Fever. ... Respiratory Problems. ... Eye Condition. ... Poor Coat Condition. ... Mobility Issues. ... Lethargy.More items...
How long can a guinea pig go without eating?
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.
How do you rehydrate a guinea pig?
You can hydrate your guinea pig by immediately doing the following:Offering your guinea pig his water bottle.Feeding him/her water via an eyedropper or medicine dropper (if he/she is unable to drink on his/her own).Offering veggies that have high water content, i.e. cucumber, iceberg lettuce, melon.
What noises do guinea pigs make when they are sick?
But Guinea Pig sized. Usually its nothing to worry about, however, if your piggy has signs of a cold you'll need to get it checked by a vet. Symptoms can include runny eyes and nose, heavy breathing and coughing, a crackling sound from its chest and half closed eyes. Your piggy may also have other symptoms.
Why is my guinea pig lying on its side?
Typically, a guinea pig laying on its side is a sign of a happy, relaxed guinea pig. However, if lying on his side is accompanied by twitching, shortness of breath, or other signs of illness, your guinea pig is ill and should be taken to a vet. Guinea pigs also lie on their sides if they're shocked or scared.
What is the most common cause of death in guinea pigs?
PneumoniaPneumonia. Pneumonia is actually the leading cause of death in Guinea pigs. It is generally caused by a bacterial infection. Some of the symptoms of pneumonia include wheezing, trouble breathing, discharge from the nose or mouth, weight loss, reddish eyes, and depression.
How often should I force feed my sick guinea pig?
However, for guinea pigs which are ill, they might struggle and it might take more effort to syringefeed them. Do persevere as they will need food in their system every 4 - 6 hours if they are not eating to prevent their digestive system from being affected.
When should I force feed my guinea pig?
For some guinea pigs it is better to give a small amount of CCH (10-15 ml) every hour than trying to force a large amount (30-50 ml) three or four times a day. You do not have to assist feed your guinea pig between 11 pm and 7 am unless you want to try to do so.
Can you give a guinea pig water through a syringe?
When syringe feeding your guinea pig, ensure you provide at least 1 millimeter of water for every 5 millimeters of food to help prevent choking and dehydration.
How can I stimulate my guinea pig's appetite?
Treatment is based on the underlying cause of the appetite loss. But very often, your veterinarian will recommend special foods for the guinea pig such as commercial hand-feeding formulas, ground up pelleted chow, and vegetable baby foods; vitamin C supplements are sometimes necessary.
Why does my guinea pig make a clicking sound?
Upper Respiratory Infections are usually noticed because the guinea pig will be puffed up, lying in a corner, and breathing faster than normal. You may also hear a clicking or wheezing sound. A vet should examine your pet to determine if the issue is a URI that requires antibiotics. URI’s can be fatal if not treated. Respiratory issues can also be caused by bedding allergies, as well as other allergies.
What to do when guinea pig is sick?
If your guinea pig becomes sick, there are several important things that you can do to help the piggie feel better and to help him recover. The most important thing is to make sure your pet gets the medication your veterinarian prescribes. Also, make sure that he’s drinking, eating, and warm enough. In some cases, you might want to limit certain activities.
Why do guinea pigs stop eating?
Sometimes guinea pigs will stop eating when they are not feeling well. This can become serious quickly due to their size and fast metabolic rate. Guinea pigs that are not eating can go into gut stasis within hours. Even with quick treatment, this can often prove fatal. Moving his food dish closer to his sleeping area will give him access to his food without having to go too far. As soon as you notice your guinea pig not eating or eating a lot less, it would be best if you started force-feeding. Force-feeding can be very difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it is fairly easy. To force-feed a guinea pig, you will need a feeding syringe (a syringe without the needle), “slurry” or critical care, and a towel or two.
Can guinea pigs pee?
There also may be urine staining the fur. UTI’s require a veterinary exam and antibiotics. If you notice that your guinea pig cannot pass urine, it should be treated as an emergency.
Can guinea pigs live without water?
If your guinea pig becomes dehydrated, he may become weak and will, in a short time, be the cause of death. No living thing can live without water. It may help to offer extra fluids in times of illness. Alternatively, your veterinarian may inject fluid under the skin (subcutaneously), which may help. At home, you can help by making sure your guinea pig has access to clean drinking water in his bottle and be sure that he can reach it.
Do guinea pigs need vet care?
Just like any other pet, guinea pigs sometimes require veterinary care . This is something to consider before making a gerbil, or any pet, part of your family. Your commitment should be for life and must always include proper veterinary care.
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How long does it take for a guinea pig to produce milk?
The mother sow generally doesn't start lactating or producing milk until 24 hours of the birth. Within this time, it's normal for the guinea pig pups not to consume anything.
What to do if guinea pig stops eating?
If your guinea pig is refusing to eat, you'll need to prepare an emergency food. This article will show you how.
How long can you keep guinea pig milk in the fridge?
Store the milk in a refrigerator for up to 2 weeks , and feed to baby guinea pigs every 1-2 hours.
Can guinea pigs choke?
There is a risk of aspirating or choking your guinea pig due to the difficulty of controlling how much food goes into their mouth with a bigger syringe. You can purchase a syringe at your vet office. Otherwise, a pet shop or drugstore will likely sell something similar.
Can you grind pellets with water?
You can also grind pellets with lukewarm water in a processor. As an alternative, pellets can be soaked with Pedialyte, Odwalla juice, wheatgrass juice, or natural cranberry juice (no added sugar or preservatives) instead of water to improve palatability and nutrition. ...
Can you feed Oxbow to guinea pigs?
Oxbow Critical Care for herbivores is a great emergency food to feed to sick or critical guinea pigs. You can purchase emergency food from most leading pet stores, or your local veterinary clinic. Supreme Science Recovery is another alternative to Oxbow. Otherwise, Emeraid Herbivore can be fed to critical guinea pigs.
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 happens if a guinea pig runs laps?
But many illnesses are subtle. If a guinea pig who runs laps every morning abruptly stops their daily run, it may be worth looking into. Sulking in corners, sitting puffed up more than normal, drinking a ton of water, suddenly becoming aggressive or getting picked on — any of these can be a sign of illness.
Why are guinea pigs bottomless pits?
Guinea pigs are built that way: their digestive system starts to shut down if they haven’t eaten for several hours. The lack of food also damages their liver, so it’s important to get food into them if they’re not eating on their own.
Why wait a day before going to the vet?
Waiting a day or two before going to the vet allows the infection/illness to have a stronger hold on their little body. Treatment can be hard on their systems ( antibiotics) or stressful (xrays and injections) . It’s much less of a strain on the guinea pig (and their caretaker!) to tackle an illness in its early stages.
Why is it important to address loss of appetite in guinea pigs?
When your guinea pig is not eating, it is very easy for their condition to spiral out of control, which is why it is so important to act quickly. By syringe feeding your piggy, you are preventing:
How much should I syringe feed my guinea pig?
Aim to administer 20 - 30 ml of liquid feed each session every 3-4 hours. When a guinea pig has lost their appetite, it is strongly advised to consult your vet for further investigation.
DIY Alternatives to Commercial Emergency Formula
If you don't have a commercial liquid feed mix available, it is important to still get something into your guinea pig's system. Guinea pigs that are not eating should be syringe fed every 3-4 hours. The longer a guinea pig goes without eating, the more detrimental it is to their health.
How to prepare your homemade emergency formula
Here is a great demonstration by Scotty's Animals on Youtube on how to prepare a homemade emergency formula:
Appetite Stimulants for Guinea Pigs
In addition to the above recipes, there are also natural herbal remedies to help stimulate your guinea pig's appetite. These remedies can be safely used in addition to your piggy's recovery feeds.
A word of advice on syringe feeds
When syringe feeding your guinea pig, ensure you provide at least 1 millimeter of water for every 5 millimeters of food to help prevent choking and dehydration. Don't rush the feeds as you want to go at the pace of your piggy.
Conclusion
When your guinea pig has lost their appetite, it is important that you act quickly to keep them well nourished. When you do not have critical care or recovery mixtures on hand, it is important to opt for an alternative until you can source the appropriate materials.
How to treat bumblefoot in guinea pig?
Treatment generally includes vitamin C supplementation, bandaging, antibacterial therapy, and pain relief. Generally bumblefoot sufferers have a good prognosis if the case is mild or caught early. If not, and if your guinea pig has developed osteomyelitis, more stringent measures may be indicated.
What to feed guinea pigs to prevent infection?
Your vet may also advise a high fiber diet, including lots of timothy hay and supplementation with vitamin C, which is very important for fighting infection. After initial treatments, having regular checkups and tooth trimming (where necessary) should allow your guinea pig to recover from and avoid future dental disease.
How to help a sick guinea pig with gastric upset?
All of these are best done in a veterinary clinic. Stress is also a major factor in how quickly your sick guinea pig recovers from gastric upset. Therefore, it’s best to keep him or her in a warm, dark and quiet room to reduce stress. Your vet may also administer an anxiety reducing medication.
Why does my guinea pig have hair loss?
Hair loss in guinea pigs can have several causes. Firstly, if your female guinea pig is pregnant , she may suffer hair loss during the late stages of her pregnancy. While this may be typical, do talk with your vet about this, as nutritional supplementation may help.
Why do guinea pigs vomit?
The most common symptom of gastric distress in guinea pigs is diarrhea, as they are unable to vomit.
How to tell if a guinea pig is sick?
Look for signs your guinea pig is sick. Check for changes in the following: 1 Activity level 2 Temperature 3 Weight 4 Hair loss 5 Diarrhea and changes in waste production 6 Skin irritation (rednes, swelling) 7 Tumors and abscesses 8 Eyes, ears, nose, and mouth 9 Sick guinea pig sounds – wheezing, clicking, sneezing, coughing 10 Behavior changes
What is the best diet for guinea pigs?
A well-balanced diet, with plenty of greens, is also critical in ensuring that your guinea pigs remain disease-free. Enough vitamin C and fiber are vital to your guinea pig’s health. Check your guinea pig’s skin for any tumors or abscesses that may develop.
What is the term for when the normal movement of the gut stops?
Ileus, or gut stasis, is when the normal movement or ‘peristalsis’ of the guts stops, it can be life-threatening and requires urgent veterinary attention. There are many different causes such as:
Why do guinea pigs get respiratory infections?
Respiratory infections are fairly common in guinea pigs. Most are caused by bacteria which are commonly found in normal, healthy guinea pigs. These bacteria are ‘opportunistic’ and take advantage if your guinea is sick for any other reason, such as due to scurvy or because overcrowding, pregnancy, or poor environment are causing stress. Young guinea pigs and old guinea pigs are also more at risk. Making sure housing is dry, clean, and not too dusty can reduce the risk of pneumonia in guinea pigs.
What are the kidney stones in guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs are also prone to urinary stones or ‘calculi’ – a serious condition. Most frequently these are found in the bladder but can also form in the kidneys. These stones can become lodged and cause blockages, which can be life-threatening.
Why do guinea pigs have low vitamin C?
Vitamin C deficiency is caused when levels of this important vitamin are not adequate in the diet; this is because – unlike most animals – guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, which is important for growth and repair of tissues within the body.
What causes guinea pigs to scratch?
If your guinea pig has hair loss and is itching or scratching a lot, it may have lice or mites. 1 The thought of having these things in your house—much less on the guinea pig—may make you itch all over. Lice or mites can be easy to avoid and treat. Lice, sarcoptic mange mites (scabies), and Demodex mange mites (Demodex) are conditions that can all cause itching and hair loss. Lice and their eggs are usually seen in the bald patches behind your guinea pig's ears and the mites can be seen microscopically all over the body. Speak with your veterinarian if you suspect any of these parasites to determine the best course of action.
How to care for a female guinea pig?
Spaying your female guinea pig is definitely recommended. 2 If she is living with a male, this will ensure population control and prevent multiple litters of guinea pigs. Besides preventing babies, females often develop uterine and ovarian issues, including various cancers, and having your female spayed can prevent these issues. Sometimes the uterus and ovaries can be removed even after the problem has been discovered but other times cancer has already spread to other parts of the body, rendering it untreatable. A complete ovariohysterectomy can be performed by your exotics vet on your guinea pig to prevent uterine and ovarian diseases, just as it would in a dog or cat. This can be done after the guinea pig is 6 months old. While some guinea pig owners are not able to justify the cost of the procedure, others see the great benefit to having their guinea pigs longer and not having to pay for emergency treatment when they notice their pig is sick.
How to keep guinea pigs from getting pneumonia?
1 They can even get Bordetella bronchiseptica from your dog, cat, or pet rabbit. Take notice of your guinea pig's cage location and be sure to keep them away from drafts, open doors, and open windows. This simple act will help decrease the likelihood of them getting a respiratory infection. Wash your hands after handling other animals, including guinea pigs at pet stores, your dog or cat if they are coughing or sneezing, and even your rabbit. If you or your family are feeling ill, it's best to keep your germs to yourself.
Why does my guinea pig stop eating?
Ileus can be caused secondarily by an underlying illness or stressor which, in turn, causes your guinea pig to stop eating.
How old is a guinea pig to have surgery?
This can be done after the guinea pig is 6 months old. While some guinea pig owners are not able to justify the cost of the procedure, others see the great benefit to having their guinea pigs longer and not having to pay for emergency treatment when they notice their pig is sick.
How to keep guinea pigs healthy?
The best way to keep your guinea pig healthy is to keep a close watch on your pet. Make sure it is eating and defecating, wash your hands before and after handling, freeze your pet's bedding and food before use, and keep it away from drafts. These actions will help you prevent the bulk of the most commonly seen diseases, ...
What are the symptoms of guinea pigs?
It is important to note any change in behavior, appetite, elimination (urination and defecation), or other daily habits. Be aware of physical changes such as hair loss, skin ...