Foods To Help Your Guinea Pig Gain Weight
- Hay. Hay is a staple of a guinea pig’s diet, and you may provide them with unlimited amounts of it. The most common hay...
- Vegetables. It is important to provide your guinea pig with at least one cup of fresh vegetables every day as part of a...
- Pellets. Your guinea pig will benefit from eating a small amount of high-quality...
What can I give my guinea pig to gain weight?
It can also help with weight gain. If you aren't feeding fresh vegetables daily, now would definitely be a good time to start if your guinea pig needs to gain weight. It is recommended that they have 1 cup every day as it provides essential vitamin C. As for what you should choose, it can vary greatly.
Can I give my guinea pig oat hay?
Oat hay is high in fiber and low in calcium. High fiber hays are great for promoting gut health. It can also help with weight gain. If you aren't feeding fresh vegetables daily, now would definitely be a good time to start if your guinea pig needs to gain weight. It is recommended that they have 1 cup every day as it provides essential vitamin C.
What do guinea pigs eat to stay healthy?
This is the staple of their diet that aids digestion and keeps their teeth at the proper length. Timothy hay, orchard grass, meadow hay, and botanical hay are some of the most common varieties used for healthy guinea pigs. There are certain varieties that might be beneficial to sick animals that contain more calories to help with low body weight:
What can I give my guinea pig for an upset stomach?
It can be helpful to add water and create a mush to encourage pigs with a poor appetite to eat. Vitamin C (Important!) Vitamin C is often supplemented even with healthy guinea pigs, so if your pet is recovering from illness or needs to gain weight, extra vitamin C is very important.
What can I feed my guinea pig to put weight on?
Timothy hay, orchard grass, meadow hay, and botanical hay are some of the most common varieties used for healthy guinea pigs.
What do skinny guinea pigs eat?
Diet. Just like all other guinea pigs, skinny pigs need a healthy, balanced diet consisting of hay, pellets, fresh vegetables and fruit. And because all guinea pig breeds can't make their own vitamin C, you need to ensure they're getting enough of this essential vitamin from their pellets, veggies and supplements.
How do I keep my guinea pig from getting skinny?
keep offering them a balanced diet of unlimited hay and appropriate amounts of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and pellets (you can always add more pellets to their diet if you think they need it), too; don't overdo any sugar foods or you'll have an obese guinea pig on your hands.
Why is my guinea pig so skinny?
Weight loss can be a sign of illness or a lack of nutrients and weight gain may mean you are overfeeding pellets or vegetables. If you are unsure of your guinea pigs body condition, then have them checked over by your vet.
Are pea flakes good for guinea pigs?
Wheeky Pea Flakes make a healthy snack and are a great source of protein for small pets. We recommend feeding these as a treat only, due to the high protein count, and limiting to 1-2 tsp per day max per pet. Wheeky Pea Flakes can also be used to help underweight rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters gain weight.
What veggies can guinea pigs eat everyday?
Vegetables like red or green pepper and broccoli have high levels of vitamin C in them and are great daily options. Add carrots, zucchini, tomato or sweet potato once or twice a week.
How do I know if my guinea pig is malnourished?
Signs to look out for that may indicate pain or illness in guinea pigs include:Reduced appetite or difficulty eating.Weight loss.Drooling.Drinking more water than usual.A change in the frequency and/or consistency of faecal pellets (e.g. diarrhoea or the absence of faecal pellets)More items...•
Can I feed my guinea pig oats?
Plain, old-fashioned rolled oats, and not the quick-cooking or instant variety. In fact you might be best off with oatmeal if you want to feed this to your piggies.
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 can I feel my guinea pigs spine?
If you're unable to feel her spine or ribs, your guinea pig is likely overweight. Conversely, if her spine and ribs are quite pronounced she is probably underweight. Either way, the overall health of your cavy is at risk and needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.
When should I worry about my guinea pig losing weight?
A sudden weight loss or gain of 100g (3.5oz) would be considered an emergency in terms of your guinea pig's health and you should take them to the vet as a matter of urgency.
What does a skinny pig need?
Skinny Pigs Are Expensive Guinea pigs are not a small cage, pellet and water type pets like some believe. They require large cages, pellets, vegetables, hay, water, bedding, medical care, toys, and accessories! Make sure you have it in your budget for their weekly needs and some to spare for emergencies.
What fruits and veggies can skinny pigs eat?
Guinea Pig Food ListFood nameTypeHow Often?Beet GreensvegOccasionallyBeetrootvegCouple of times a weekBlueberriesfruitOccasionallyBok Choy (Pak Choi)vegA few times a week61 more rows•Mar 3, 2021
How often do skinny pigs eat?
Other than the hay, it's a good idea to feed your cavy two times a day. Both in the morning and in the evening, to help prevent overeating and, consequently, obesity. Always remove any uneaten pellets about 1 hour after your cavy has eaten and any fruit or vegetables after 24 hours.
Can skinny pigs eat bananas?
You can serve it as a small slice, or smush the banana between your fingers for a sweet treat! Overall, bananas can be a great treat every once in a while for healthy guinea pigs. They are great health benefits like potassium and vitamin C, both are vital for your pig's health.
How to Help A Guinea Pig Gain Weight
You can help your guinea pig gain weight at home by enriching their diet with nutrient-dense foods and vitamins. If you notice significant weight loss, you’ll want to consult with your veterinarian immediately.
FAQs
This could be a sign of an improper diet or a parasite. Consult with your veterinarian for the best treatment options.
Conclusion
A sudden weight loss of guinea pigs may indicate health problems. Since their bodies aren’t configured to handle drastic weight loss in a short period, you’ll want to act quickly to avoid further problems.
What is the best pellet diet for guinea pigs?
A good quality pelleted diet, such as Oxbow Essentials Cavy Cuisine Adult Guinea Pig Food or KMS Haloft's Timothy Choice Pellets should be regularly offered to guinea pigs at approximately 1/8 cup per day. Not all pellets are created equal, so be sure to follow the guidelines when choosing a brand. As vitamin C content is important, pellets can be a good source of this, but vitamin C content can degrade over time. Some brands offer stabilized vitamin C; be sure also to check the expiration date. Guinea pigs that are prone to bladder stones should not eat pellets.
How to help guinea pigs lose weight?
If you’ve taken your pet to the vet and received a diagnosis, or if your guinea pig’s weight loss is not so dramatic and there are no other signs of illness, you can prepare a diet that can help them put on weight. However, keep in mind that guinea pigs have very fragile gastrointestinal (GI) tracts that are kept in check with the foods they constantly consume. When you introduce different foods into their diet, do so very gradually. If they receive too much of anything new that isn't hay or healthy pellets, the flora balance in their system can quickly become upset.
Why is my guinea pig's appetite so low?
There are many conditions that can cause a poor appetite, such as a urinary tract infection, upper respiratory infection, and bloat . These are all serious conditions that require an immediate vet visit. Whatever the reason, weight loss in guinea pigs should be addressed promptly.
What is the best hay for pigs?
Alfalfa is rich with more protein, calories, and nutrients, so it’s great to feed underweight pigs temporarily. Readigrass: This can be added in moderation to the staple hay as it is high in protein and fiber. It is less common than other hays and a bit harder to find. Oat hay is high in fiber and low in calcium.
How much does a guinea pig weigh?
In general, a healthy guinea pig's weight is cited as: 900–1200 grams for males. 700–900 grams for females. However, healthy weight varies depending on the individual. This is why it is so important to monitor and weigh your pets frequently when they are healthy.
Is it better to feed a guinea pig or a critter?
Critical Care or Critter Be Better. If your guinea pig is not already on critical care, a food that is used for sick animals that are not getting enough to eat, this can be added in small amounts (read the instructions, and be sure to weigh your pet in order to do this!) in addition to its regular diet.
Is hay good for guinea pigs?
There are certain varieties that might be beneficial to sick animals that contain more calories to help with low body weight: Alfalfa: This hay is normally used for malnourished, pregnant, nursing, or young guinea pigs. It should not be used for adult pigs due to its high calcium content.
How to help a guinea pig gain weight?
To help your guinea pig gain weight you need to change the diet, but be careful changing the diet drastically. If your vet has prescribed a change in your previous diet plan, you need to do it gradually. A sudden change in diet can develop many other problems. You should let your piggie change its habit slowly in weeks.
What to feed a malnourished guinea pig?
For malnourished pets, you should use alfalfa-based pellets instead of hay-based pellets. It would help to add some water and make a mush to encourage your pet to eat. Vitamin C: Guinea pigs are not able to synthesize their vitamin V in the body. Therefore, they need supplements of vitamin C in their daily diet.
How do I take care of a guinea pig?
Here are some tips to take better care of your guinea pig. Take care of their food and water; provide them healthy food and clean water. Regular groom your piggie; avoid baths and massage him with pet wipes or wet cloth. Observe the environment and maintain the optimum temperature where they live.
What vegetables should I give my guinea pig?
Vegetables are full of vitamins, and your piggie needs vitamin C for living a healthy life. You should focus on giving leafy vegetables to your guinea pig and avoid giving cruciferous vegetables because they can gas. In addition, you should also avoid giving iceberg lettuce and potatoes. Certain veggies having lots of sugar are not healthy ...
What foods can piggies eat?
Furthermore, the following foods help your piggie gain weight. Hay: There are certain varieties of hay that are beneficial for your piggie in sickness because they contain more calories to help maintain weight and fight the disease. These are alfalfa, readigrass, and oat hay. Vegetables: If you are not giving your piggie vegetables ...
Why do guinea pigs shed?
Guinea pigs grow hairs during the winter and shed in the summer. The obvious reason for growing and shedding is temperature maintenance. However, when they shed hair in summer, some guinea pig owners think they are losing weight. In reality, change in season has nothing to do with weight gain or weight loss.
Can guinea pigs make their own vitamin C?
You can provide a proper balance of pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables. Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, and they need it from outside in their daily diet. You should provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day to aid digestion.
