Guinea Pig Diet: Daily Requirement
- Hay (70-75%)
- Pellets (20-25%)
- Water
Which foods can I safely give my guinea pigs daily?
Which Foods Can I Safely Give My Guinea Pigs Daily?
- Cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower leaves are all too gassy to be fed daily. ...
- Strawberries can be given daily, so you could increase those if you like, and everything else you listed is fine to rotate through a couple of times a week.
- Personally I don't like giving orange peel, I just feed the segments. ...
What kind of vegetables can guinea pigs eat daily?
What veggies and fruits can guinea pigs eat?
- Oranges.
- Apples.
- Pears.
- Strawberries.
- Blueberries.
- Kiwi.
- Papayas.
- Peaches.
What fruits and vegetables are good for guinea pigs?
What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
- Apples
- Plums
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Melon (all types!)
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Strawberries (including the leafy green tops)
- Raspberries
- Cucumber
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.
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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%.
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.
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 ...
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.
What do guinea pigs eat?
Guinea Pig Diet – What and How Much to Feed? Guinea Pigs loves to eat in fact they live to eat. The daily cycle of a Guinea pig includes Eat, poop, sleep, and repeat. As they are herbivores, their diet should include high-quality plant-like Hay. They need to have food in their digestive system constantly to avoid health problems like Diarrhea.
Why is hay important for guinea pigs?
Hay prevents obesity, dental disease, diarrhea and boredom in guinea pigs that ’s why it is a vital part of their diet. It also provides fiber which helps guinea pigs to properly digest.
What is the best pellet for cavies?
Avoid pellets that have nuts and seeds in it. Choose those pellets which have been veterinarian-tested and approved. Alfalfa based pellets are best suited for young cavies as they are high in calcium, fat, and sugar. Timothy hay pellets are suitable for all cavies.
Is alfalfa hay good for guinea pigs?
That means it should be green with pliable stalks and free from foreign particles and fragrant. Note: Avoid alfalfa hay because it is mainly fed to young guinea pigs who are under the age of 4 months or nursing cavies. Alfalfa has a high amount of calcium that’s why it’s not good for a healthy adult cavy.
Do guinea pigs need pellets?
Always check if your guinea pig has left some food in the bowl or not. If yes, then you need to give them less of it and remove uneaten food. Pellets should be given in adequate quantity so that it doesn’t get wasted as stale pellets have very little vitamin C. And remember to clean their food bowl and water bottle regularly.
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.
How much food do guinea pigs need?
Guinea pigs need fresh and dry food every day , along with an unlimited supply of hay. As a rule of thumb, each GP needs around one cup of fresh veg each day. Fruit should be looked upon as a treat, not a staple.
How to help guinea pigs become overweight?
If your guinea pigs become overweight, reduce their dry food supply. If you've been giving each one a third of a cup, cut it to one quarter of a cup for a few months. If the problem persists, try reducing it a little bit more, and make sure your GPs are getting plenty of exercise.
How much food should guinea pigs eat a day?
Guinea pigs should get at least 10% of their body weight in vegetables a day which is around one cup per day per guinea pig. If your pigs have never eaten any veggies, you can start off with carrots since they are usually easy to digest.
What are some good foods for guinea pigs?
Raspberries, Strawberries, Cranberries, Blueberries and Blackberries. Berries are tasty and unproblematic treats. They also have high levels of Vitamin C which can be very beneficial for your guinea pig and give them that extra boost of vitamin C they may otherwise not get with only hay and vegetables daily.
What are pellets for guinea pigs?
Together with other quality food, pellets can be a convenient way to assure that your guinea pig is getting the necessary quantity of nutrients and remain healthy. Choose specially designed guinea pig pellets that have vitamin C in it.
What vegetables can guinea pigs eat?
Fennel: A very filling and stomach-friendly vegetable. It has no sugar, low amounts of fat and a good amount of vitamin C. Celery: You can feed both the leaves and the stalk to your guinea pig, but you should be wary that it contains high levels of water, so it should be given in moderation.
Why is hay important for guinea pigs?
Quality hay is the foundation of any guinea pig’s diet because they need its fiber to have healthy digestion. But also to wear down the continuous growth of their teeth.
What are the benefits of guinea pig fibers?
The long-standing fibers, low protein, and low calcium make sure that your guinea pig’s digestive and intestinal systems are healthy. The high- fibers also lower the occurrence of intestinal gas and bloating.
Do guinea pigs have vegetables?
Since they can provide the necessary nutrients and vitamins (like vitamin C) for a well balanced healthy diet. If your guinea pig has never had any vegetables in the past or very little, which is often the case when you purchase a guinea pig from a pet store since they only feed pellets and vitamins.
What to feed guinea pigs at 3 weeks?
Fresh hay and water are essential foods in those early days. Baby guinea pigs require high protein, thus offer them pellets and dry alfalfa grass. Your baby guinea pigs will stop drinking mother’s milk once they are three weeks old. You can consider adding a small serving of fresh veggies at this stage.
How to feed a baby guinea pig?
Begin with bell peppers, cilantro, lettuce, and slowly transition to other veggies. Baby guinea pigs can munch on vegetables when they reach 4 weeks old, and their stomach gets stable enough to digest vegetables in small amounts. Fresh vegetables will also control the size of their teeth as their teeth keep growing.
What are the main foods that guinea pigs eat?
The three main foods of guinea pig’s diet are pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables. If we get to draw a chart of guinea pig’s diet, then hay would be written as the most important part followed by vegetables and pellets. That is because the digestive passage of guinea pigs is designed to absorb fiber found in dry grass.
How old do guinea pigs need to be to drink water?
Until baby guinea pigs turn 3 weeks old, they get hydration from their mothers. As they grow, baby guinea pigs need to drink more water as they eat lots of solid food. So drinking water becomes essential for them to be healthy. However, not all guinea pigs are able to drink from bottle at such an early age.
Why are my baby guinea pigs so energetic?
Baby guinea pigs will feel energetic at times, but they will require constant short naps. Due to the lack of a proper diet , you may find your guinea pigs lazier than normal. Observing a guinea pig’s poop discharge is a way to know about their health conditions and especially their digestive system.
How long does it take for a guinea pig to grow?
The first six months of your guinea pig’s life is crucial for their longterm health. In this primary stage of their growth, a guinea pig undergoes some physical changes continuously. Their diet plan must consider their growth.
Do guinea pigs sleep on hay?
This will help you to ease the transition of your guinea pigs to timothy hay as they grow up. Other than this, be sure that the cage of your guinea pigs is full of hay. They will sleep on hay, and generally, they will be surrounded by this. It also means that they will eliminate a lot of waste in their hay.
How much hay should a guinea pig eat?
A guinea pig’s diet should consist of 80% hay in it. Hay is one of the most vital parts ...
How to store guinea pig hay?
i.e., Rodents, Sunlight, and Moisture. The best practice is to use a resealable bag which is free from moisture and place it in a cool, dry area .
Why is hay important for guinea pigs?
Importance of hay in guinea pig’s diet. Hay is rich in, and fibers and guinea pigs need a lot of it to keep their digestive system on track. Like horses, guinea pigs can’t absorb all the nutrients from their diet at once, and thus, they break down most of their food into cecum and colons.
Can guinea pigs use hay racks?
Many people often get tempted to use some unique style hay racks, which definitely looks great but doesn’t serve the purpose all the time. Some of the hay racks hinder the accessibility of hay to your guinea pigs. Some hay racks like hay balls often carry a risk of getting your guinea pigs head stuck into it.
Do guinea pigs eat poop?
They excrete this in the form of poop and eat it back immediately. Although it may sound a little gross to you all although it is an ingenious and effective system that works flawlessly for them. Guinea pigs need a lot of hay in their diet as a lack of hay can develop health problems with their cecal formation.
Is hay good for guinea pigs?
It provides your guinea pigs with the most vital nutrients, including fiber, which they need in abundance. Providing cheap quality thin vacuum-packed hay to your guinea pigs is not the best idea.
Can you buy hay bags for guinea pigs?
Purchasing a premium quality hay bag for a pair of guinea pigs or two might work fine as the cost doesn’t add up that much. However, it can get pretty expensive if you have a bunch of guinea pigs with you.
