21 Low Calcium Foods for Guinea Pigs
- Sweet Bell Peppers. Also known as capsicums, sweet bell peppers are an excellent vegetable for guinea pigs. They are...
- Lettuce. Most types of lettuce are relatively low in calcium. Green and red leaf lettuce are the lowest, with romaine...
- Fresh Grass. Fresh grass is great to harvest and feed to your guinea pig, as long as...
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 should I Feed my 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
How often to feed guinea pigs?
One portion Mineral and Vitamin C rich vegetable
- Broccoli – Stems best to feed opposed to florets. Can cause bloating.
- Cabbage – Can cause bloating.
- Cauliflower – Can cause bloating.
- Corn on the cob
- Radishes
- Spring Green – the mildest of the group and able to be eaten almost daily.
What kind of vegetables can guinea pigs eat?
The following veggies can be fed to your pet guinea pig:
- Romaine lettuce (never iceberg lettuce)
- Carrots and carrot tops
- Peas
- Broccoli spears
- Spinach
- Artichokes
- Kale
- Tomatoes (not the stems or leaves)
- Green and red bell peppers
- Other dark green veggies
How do you reduce calcium in guinea pigs?
3:414:53How To Reduce Calcium In A Guinea Pigs Diet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo there's a couple options. You can either reduce the amount of pellets. Given and give them someMoreSo there's a couple options. You can either reduce the amount of pellets. Given and give them some bell pepper for the vitamin c or serve them low calcium pellets.
What foods are low in calcium for guinea pigs?
21 Low Calcium Foods for Guinea Pigs21 Best Low Calcium Veggies for Guinea Pigs. Without further ado, here is a list of the best low calcium veggies you can feed your guinea pig.Sweet Bell Peppers. ... Lettuce. ... Fresh Grass. ... Cucumber. ... Tomatoes. ... Carrots. ... Radicchio.More items...
What foods are too high in calcium for guinea pigs?
High in CalciumSpinach.Parsley.Arugula.Dandelion Greens.Turnip Greens.Kale.Dill.
What happens if guinea pigs have too much calcium?
High levels of calcium in the diet can predispose guinea pigs to bladder stones, which often require surgery to remove. The second most important part of a guinea pig diet is FRESH VEGETABLES. Vegetables are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, and also provide extra water for the gut.
What veggies are low in calcium for guinea pigs?
Zucchini, celery, beets, asparagus, and bell peppers are just a few great low calcium options for guinea pigs. Just because your guinea pig needs to be on a low calcium diet, doesn't mean that they can't enjoy a wide variety of foods. After all, a well-balanced diet is key to a happy and healthy guinea pig.
What veggies are low in calcium?
Low calcium vegetables — with less than 100 milligrams of calcium per cup — include:Bok choy: 40 milligrams.Chicory: 40 milligrams.Collard greens: 50 milligrams.Corn: With 10 milligrams of calcium in a cup, corn is one of the best vegetables for a low calcium diet.Dandelion greens: 80 milligrams.Kale: 55 milligrams.More items...•
Is celery low in calcium?
High in dietary fibre, green leafy vegetables are one of the high calcium foods. With a number of options like spinach, kale, celery and broccoli, these veggies are also rich in potassium and magnesium.
Is Romaine too high in calcium for guinea pigs?
Romaine and green leaf lettuces can be fed 5 to 7 times per week. Both Romaine and green leaf lettuce have relatively low calcium content and relatively high Vitamin C content, making them the best lettuces for guinea pigs.
Do guinea pigs need calcium?
Like just about every animal, calcium is an essential mineral for guinea pigs. Calcium deficiency is a relatively common disorder in guineas, especially in pregnant or nursing females.
How much calcium should guinea pigs have?
8 to 10 g Ca/kg(1956, 1960) found that adequate dietary concentrations of calcium (8 to 10 g Ca/kg), phosphorus (4 to 7 g P/kg), magnesium (1 to 3 g Mg/kg), and potassium (5 to 14g K/kg) varied as the concentrations of the other three elements varied.
Risks Of Guinea Pigs Having Too Much Calcium
Too much calcium can cause your piggie serious (and possibly fatal) health problems.
Tips For How To Reduce Calcium In Guinea Pigs
No one would want his guinea pig to die from excessive calcium. To reduce calcium in guinea pigs, you’ve gotta take a hard look at their diet and what they’re eating.
Watch Out For Calcium In Hay
Reducing the amount of calcium in your guinea pig’s diet is very important because excess calcium intake will lead to stone formation and sludge issues. This is especially true if you give your guinea pigs ‘the wrong hay’ !
Watch Out For Calcium In Vegetables
Most vegetables are good for guinea pigs. But some have more calcium than others. So, some can be fed to guinea pigs more frequently and others not so often.
Watch Out For Calcium In Fruits
Per 100 grams of quantity, most fruits contain less than 50mgs of calcium. So, it’s unusual for piggies to end up with calcium-related health issues from fruits. It’s pretty tough to do.
Watch Out For Calcium In Pellets
Foods like cereal pellets or pellet based mixes too much calcium. And, if you mix in high calcium vegetables with your pellets, it’s even worse because your piggies are getting double the amount of unnecessary calcium.
Watch Out For Calcium In Water
The calcium in water varies between 1 mg and 200 mg per liter. You should always give your guinea pigs low calcium concentration water to drink.
What exactly is Calcium?
Calcium is a mineral which is essential for most animals, including humans and guinea pigs. It’s needed for several vital bodily functions such as regulating muscle contractions and heartbeat, and ensuring normal blood clotting.
What are the main sources of calcium for guinea pigs?
If you’re wondering where to find calcium, here’s the answer - calcium is in several different types of foods. You may be aware that, for us humans, dairy produce like milk and cheese are excellent sources of calcium. But how about guinea pigs who obviously CANNOT be fed dairy snacks such as cheddar or brie?
How much Calcium do guinea pigs absorb?
The average human being absorbs about 30% of the calcium they ingest. But guinea pigs absorb more - about 50% - of the calcium they ingest.
What are normal levels for calcium and phosphorus in guinea pigs?
As stated before, phosphorus is important for the absorption of calcium, so really we should be looking at both of them instead of just calcium levels. A healthy guinea pig’s calcium level should be between 2-3 mmol/L of blood and their phosphorus level should be in the range of 0.68 - 2.3 mmol/L per litre of blood.
How can guinea pigs be treated for bladder and kidney stones?
Treatment for bladder stones can be risky, which is why it’s important to be aware of what you’re feeding your piggy in order to avoid this painful health issues in the first place. Tara explains: “Treatment of stones will depend on your exotic pet vet. Many are managed with a low calcium diet and pain management.
Should I be worried about feeding high-calcium food to my guinea pigs?
If your guinea pigs are healthy, there is nothing to worry about. Just know which food are rich in calcium and only feed them two to three times a week ( For a comprehensive list of high and low-calcium vegetables, please check the very useful lists provided by the Guinea Pig Forum as well as Guinea Lynx ).
My guinea pigs have had an issue with calcium, what should I feed them now?
If your guineas are displaying signs of having too much calcium in their diets, limit the high calcium foods to just once or twice a week.
What to feed piggies?
You are perfectly fine to feed peppers, coriander, cucumber and lettuce daily. The wetter the diet the more the bladder is flushed through. I avoid fruit altogether with my two piggies. If you can be then grass every day then that would be great for them.
Is it good to weigh hay?
It’s hard to judge how much hay they’re eating by eye. Hence weighing weekly. Weight loss can be a sign of something not being right. Heft is also a good indicator of body condition. You’ll just have to brave it and weigh them weekly. If you have a tunnel or snuggle sack then use that to pick them up. Have a look at the thread below.
Can you remove calcium from a low calcium diet?
You also have to remember that even on low calcium diet, you cannot and must not completely remove calcium. You will likely always see some white calcium pees as that is how they excrete the excess but it’s only if it the white areas are gritty that you really need to be concerned. Click to expand...
Can piggies eat leafy greens?
Yes leafy greens should be part of the diet. But you also have to be careful about not feeding high calcium foods too much. I occasionally give the piggies a dandelion leaf each. I gave them one yesterday, and before that it was probably at the start of the month. If you want to give them a treat then herbs are a good one. Parsley is one of them but is also high in calcium. They can also have mint for example. And lettuce can be fed daily. My piggies get a leaf each of little gem, half a leaf of romaine (if it’s a big one) or I sometimes buy them a salad mix.#N#Yes to pellets being a tablespoon each. I'm#N#Not sure where the selective science ones are available, maybe try amazon?#N#You can’t completely cut out calcium. They get rid of any excess one through their pee. As long as it’s not grainy deposits then it is okay. But it’s good you’re keeping an eye on them.#N#PS you could also get them some forage for treats. There is a thread somewhere if you have a search. And
What is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in guinea pigs?
The ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorus in a guinea pig’s diet is around 1.33. While legumes (like alfalfa and clover) have a ratio of greater than 4:1, grass hays are closer to 1.5:1. Guinea pig pellets should be Timothy hay based for this reason, too.
What do guinea pigs need?
Guinea pigs under six months old need more calcium than adults; they’re growing most rapidly during this stage and need to build strong bones . Extra calcium in the form of alfalfa and veggies like spinach, parsley, and kale is a good thing for baby guinea pigs. You may want to feed separately from adult cagemates, however.
What foods have less calcium than phosphorus?
This means if you’re feeding foods with less calcium than phosphorus (like carrots, cucumber, sweet potato, and romaine lettuce) you need to also feed foods with the inverse ratio to balance things out (like cilantro, chard, kale, green/red leaf lettuce, celery, and okra).
How long does it take for a guinea pig to recover from a syringe
You can continue to give the guinea pig half the dose until they are fully recovered, which usually takes no more than a few days. These pigs may need a little more calcium in their diets than the average adult.
How to find Ca:P ratio?
To find the Ca:P ratio of a certain food, divide the calcium amount by the phosphorus level. For example, 40 grams of pumpkin has 8 mg of calcium and 17 mg of phosphorus, so has a Ca:P ratio around 0.5:1 (8 divided by 17).
What are the symptoms of calcium deficiency?
Symptoms of calcium deficiency include: Loss of appetite. Muscle spasms. Le thargy. Over time, not enough calcium can lead to brittle bones and teeth. A sudden reduction in calcium can cause the body to freak out a little and draw that calcium out of the bones, too.
What nutrients help the body absorb calcium?
Vitamin D (sunlight!), magnesium, and potassium help the body absorb calcium. Phosphorus and calcium are the dynamic duo. Phosphorus needs calcium. If there isn’t enough calcium for the phosphorus to attach to, sometimes calcium can leach from the bones – yep, that again.