what to feed your guinea pig list

Guinea pigs can eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs with some of their most popular foods being lettuce, kale, parsley, coriander, cucumber, carrot, sweet bell peppers, tomato and apple. Our comprehensive guinea pig food list of over 60 fruit and veg tells you how often it is safe to feed these foods to your guinea pigs.

Full Answer

What is the best food for guinea pigs?

First on the Guinea Pig Food List: Hay! Another great cut is orchard hay because it creates variety and can add interest to your guinea pig food list. This is a terrific “lure” hay to get your furry friend interested in eating more fiber. There are many other types of hay that are delicious, nutritious, and help make up a balanced guinea pig diet.

How much hay should I Feed my guinea pig?

About 1/8 cup of pellets once a day—supplemented by hay and fresh vegetables as described below—will be enough. Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth. Guinea Pig Hay on Amazon.com

What do guinea pigs need to survive?

The first thing that every guinea pig parent should know is that guinea pigs need lots and lots of hay. Hay isn’t just for horses or bunnies. Guinea pig hay is the most important part of your cavy’s diet; it provides the fiber they need to keep their digestive systems moving.

How much food pellets to feed guinea pigs?

Food pellets are like an essential staple food for guinea pigs. Cavies can hardly do without them. The pellet manufacturing companies suggest various quantities. It depends on brands. The typical recommended amount for a guinea pig is one-eighth of a cup every day.

What foods can guinea pigs eat list?

Other foods that are good to fed guinea pigs a few times a week include broccoli, cabbage, endive, carrot tops, Brussels sprouts, kale, silver beet, mint, and fruits such as apples (but with no seeds), mango, and papaya.

What is the best feed for guinea pigs?

timothy hayHay and grass should make up 85 – 90% of your guinea pigs' diet, and unlike pellets, you can't overfeed it. Make sure your guinea pigs have constant access to good quality, fresh feeding hay – timothy hay is a great option, and if possible, fresh grass from the garden*.

What is safe for guinea pigs to eat daily?

Feeding Your Guinea Pig Offer 1/8 cup of pellets per day for a 2 pound guinea pig. Hay should be available at all times. At least 1/2 -1 cup of fresh leafy greens or other vitamin C rich vegetables should be offered daily.

What should you not feed a guinea pig?

15 Things Guinea Pigs Shouldn't EatMeat of any kind. ... Dairy, including yogurt, cheese, kefir, sour cream, cream cheese, and cottage cheese. ... Iceberg lettuce and the lighter lettuces give guinea pigs diarrhea. ... Cabbage, cauliflower, or other gassy veggies can lead to bloat. ... Avocado.More items...

Can guinea pigs eat banana?

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. Bananas can also be harmful to your guinea pig if they are not properly portioned due to their high levels of sugar and fiber.

How often do guinea 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.

Do guinea pigs need baths?

How often should I bathe my guinea pig? Unlike humans, guinea pigs will only ever need a bath approximately 2 to 4 times a year. For hairless varieties, bathing is very rarely encouraged due to their particularly sensitive skin, and their difficulty in regulating their temperature.

What do guinea pigs need in their cage?

Enclosures should be lined with newspaper and then at least 5cm of soft, nontoxic, nonabrasive, inedible, dust-free and absorbent bedding to provide cushioning and prevent foot problems. Suitable options for bedding include soft grass hay, fleece fabric, and shredded paper.

What can guinea pigs drink?

Fresh Water: Guinea pigs drink a lot of water and need the bottles cleaned and fresh water added daily. It is recommended that you have more than 1 water bottle in the cage. Do not put anything but water in the bottles. Do not put vitamin C drops in the water.

What fruit can a guinea pig eat?

The best fruits to feed your guinea pig include most berries, such as blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries. Berries taste delicious to your guinea pig, but they are relatively low in sugar and carbohydrates in comparison to other fruits.

Can guinea pigs eat cheese?

Dairy products - dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt etc are derived from animals and should not be fed to your Guinea Pig.

What veggies can guinea pigs eat everyday?

Summary. Of all the vegetables we have listed, the best ones are asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, dandelions, romaine lettuce, spinach, and zucchini. You can begin adding these foods to your guinea pig's daily diet to help them get the nutrients they need to live long, healthy lives.

What vegetables can I feed my guinea pig everyday?

Summary. Of all the vegetables we have listed, the best ones are asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, dandelions, romaine lettuce, spinach, and zucchini. You can begin adding these foods to your guinea pig's daily diet to help them get the nutrients they need to live long, healthy lives.

Can you overfeed guinea pigs?

Overfeeding can be damaging to your guinea pig's digestion tract, and cause obesity. To prevent yourself from overfeeding your guinea pig, all you need to do is serve your guinea pigs the right portioned meals and cut down on unnecessary sugary treats.

What do guinea pigs need in their cage?

Enclosures should be lined with newspaper and then at least 5cm of soft, nontoxic, nonabrasive, inedible, dust-free and absorbent bedding to provide cushioning and prevent foot problems. Suitable options for bedding include soft grass hay, fleece fabric, and shredded paper.

Do guinea pigs need pellets?

Commercial Guinea Pig Pellet Food In reality, guinea pig pellets are not a necessary or required part of their regular diet. In fact, guinea pigs that overeat pellets can develop obesity as well as dental disease, so the amounts should be restricted.

What do guinea pigs eat?

Diet plan. Hay, vegetables, fruits, branches, herbs and other plant. There is very much you can feed your Guinea Pigs. Cavies listen to their natural instinct and really like to eat what grows on ground – raw. Most of all feed hay!

How to care for guinea pigs in the evening?

Fresh hay has to be provided all time. Water has to be filled up from time to time. Only use clear and fresh water. There is no reason to provide special “rodent-water” from the pet shop if you take care about the food for your Guinea Pigs.

How to feed cavies?

Fresh Grass is a great seasonal food for their diet from spring to fall but you have to pay attention if you start to feed grass each year. Start with short amount of it and increase every day a bit. This guarantees that cavies will be softly get into the way of it. At winter season you should replace grass with fresh vegetables to keep them healthy with a diet rich in vitamins. Fruits should be always handled like candy and should not be provided that much. Herbs can be provided fresh or dried permanent in any quantity.

How long does it take for a guinea pig to lose its teeth?

After 24 hours. Guinea Pigs lose their deciduous teeth at womb and will be born with a complete set of teeth.

What is the best food for cavies?

Cucumber. Very popular food for cavies. Endive. rich in vitamins and minerals / appetizing. Fennel. rich in vitamins and minerals. Can take on color on urine. Helpful by digestive complaints. field salad.

What foods can you feed a da?

Feed carefully because of it oxialic acid. May take color on urine and feces. Can be provided with the green. Broccoli. High amount of vitamin C. Contains oxialic acid. Provide it increasing. Carrot. Rich in calories. Do not feed every da.

Can cavies cause constipation?

Rich in sugar. Do not feed if one of your cavies has Diabetes. Can cause constipation.

What can I feed my guinea pig?

Zucchini. Sweet Potato. Peas. Cucumber. Broccoli. Artichoke. Bell Peppers. In addition to the above vegetables, you can also occasionally treat your guinea pig to some fruit. Just be sure to watch how often you add fruit to their diet; lots of fruits are super high in sugar, and this is unhealthy in large doses.

What kind of hay do 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. Another great cut is orchard hay because it creates variety ...

How to keep guinea pigs from getting bored?

Mix up your piggy’s hay game so they don't get bored. As we mentioned earlier, in the wild, guinea pigs have access to countless different types of hays and grass. By adding in new things to their diet, you can avoid hay fatigue and keep them guessing.

Why do guinea pigs play with their food?

Even though our mothers always taught us not to play with our food (and we probably did it anyway), guinea pigs can actually be encouraged to play with their food to stimulate their brain. All-natural toys and chews are a great way to entertain your little friend and give them a little exercise.

What are healthy snacks made of?

Our Healthy Snackers are made with clean, human-grade pumpkin, pears, blueberries, bananas, carrots, apples, and oats, all mixed up with our own farm fresh hay.

Is it safe to give guinea pigs treats?

Other Safe Guinea Pig Treats. Guinea pigs are so sweet and loveable, it’s no wonder we want to give them some special treats every now and then. But, be careful which treats you’re adding to your guinea pig food list. Many commercial treats are super high in sugar and can have potentially dangerous chemicals and fillers.

Do guinea pigs need hay?

The first thing that every guinea pig parent should know is that guinea pigs need lots and lots of hay. Hay isn’t just for horses or bunnies. Guinea pig hay is the most important part of your cavy’s diet; it provides the fiber they need to keep their digestive systems moving.

What to feed guinea pigs for snacks?

For a special snack, try mixing some rolled oats into your guinea pig’s pellets or stuff a small cardboard tube with fresh hay.

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.

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 is the best food dish to use?

Opt for a ceramic food dish rather than a plastic one. Ceramic dishes are sturdy, chew-resistant and difficult to overturn. They're also durable and shouldn't need to be replaced unless they become cracked or chipped.

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.

How to Feed a Baby Guinea pig?

Guinea pigs, like other mammals, are used to drink the mother’s milk after they’re born. They continue this for a few days before their life takes the gradual turn to make them solids. If you ever happen to have such young enough a cavy rejected by a mom or lost its way, you must hand feed it.

Why do guinea pigs need hay?

Cavies love hay. But more than that, they need hay for keeping their funny teeth at the bay. Apart from dental aid, hay is needed for maintaining its optimum digestion tract. Make sure your guinea pig has access to an unlimited amount of hay.

Do fruits help pets?

Fruits play an important role in meeting your pet’s nutritional demands. However, you should keep the ratio at a minimum while providing these delicious food items since they contain a heavy amount of sugar even though they’re high in vitamin C.

What is the most important food for guinea pigs?

Hay is the most important part of a guinea pig’s diet. Check out our full colour printable pdf download of fruit and vegetables that will help you on a daily basis to find the best fresh food for your guinea pigs. Category: Feeding. Previous Post.

What other foods do guinea pigs eat?

Apart from fresh vegetables, guinea pigs also need unlimited amounts of grass hay at all times and a small daily portion of special guinea pig pellets. It’s important that guinea pigs are NEVER given a diet of JUST fruit and vegetables but a good balanced diet.

What vegetables can guinea pigs eat daily?

Guinea pigs can eat foods such as Romaine lettuce, sweet bell peppers, kale, cucumber and coriander every day and some other green leafy vegetables too.

How much veg should guinea pigs eat daily?

About cup of vegetables is a good amount of fresh food for a daily portion for one guinea pig. This is not always easy to judge when you have lots of leaves so a little more is fine.

What are the best greens for guinea pigs?

Green leafy vegetables are extremely important in a guinea pig’s diet. Some of the best greens and the ones they tend to like best are Romaine lettuce, green and red leaf lettuce, spring greens, kale, various herbs including mint, parsley, coriander (cilantro) and basil.

Can guinea pigs eat frozen fruit and veg?

Frozen fruits or vegetables are not suitable for guinea pigs and neither is tinned or canned food. If you can’t get fresh veggies for whatever reason, see if you can forage for safe plants or weeds. You may be surprised how many of these are growing around where you live.

How to keep guinea pigs healthy?

Mixing several vegetables in their daily fresh food portion helps your guinea pigs get a good range of vitamins rather than a lot of a select few nutrients. This will contribute to them staying strong and healthy for longer.

What Should I Feed My Guinea Pig Daily?

Guinea pigs are herbivores and their food consists mainly of hay, pellets, fresh vegetables, and a lesser quantity of fruits.

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 is Oxbow guinea pig pellet?

Oxbow’s Adult Guinea Pig pellets are specially designed from high fiber timothy grass that contains a lower level of protein, calories, and calcium than young guinea pig food.

Why do guinea pigs need pellets?

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.

What do guinea pigs need?

Apart from an unlimited supply of timothy hay, grown-up guinea pigs need raw and fresh vegetables and fruits, rich in fiber and vitamin C.

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.

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 is the best food for a guinea pig?

A healthy guinea pig diet is made up of 80% hay, 5% pellets, and 15% fresh veggies. Vegetables are important because they provide vitamins and nutrients, especially Vitamin C, that are important for a healthy pet. They also provide your guinea pig with some much need variety.

How to feed a guinea pig that has never had them?

Changing a guinea pig’s diet too fast can upset their stomachs. Start by feeding a very small amount of veggies each day for about a week. Increase the amount the next week, working your way up to feeding a cup of veggies over a 3-4 week period.

What are some good foods for piggies?

You can check out the full veggie list down below, but for now, some of my favorite high Vitamin C veggies are bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and kale.

How often should I eat veggies?

I’ve broken down safe veggies into a list that can be fed daily, a few times a week, or just occasionally. You can feed 2-3 options from the daily list every day. Rotate through the options on the weekly list every few days. The occasional veggies are either very high in calcium or have the potential to cause bloat, so I would only offer these every month or two to provide some variety.

Does Vitamin C hurt guinea pigs?

Having too much Vitamin C in their diet won’t hurt your guinea pig. Their bodies process the vitamins they need, and the rest is flushed out in their urine. You don’t have to worry about giving too much Vitamin C, you just want to make sure you’re providing your guinea pig with options to get enough!

Do guinea pigs produce vitamin C?

Guinea pigs are not able to produce their own Vitamin C. If they don’t get enough Vitamin C in their diet it can lead to scurvy and other health problems. Because of this, it’s important to provide good sources of vitamin C to your piggie.

Can guinea pigs eat raw vegetables?

Make sure the vegetables that you are feeding are nice and fresh and have been washed before giving them to your guinea pig. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t eat it- neither should your guinea pig! Vegetables should always be fed raw. I like to remove the seeds from peppers and other vegetables before feeding to my guinea pigs to avoid any choking risks as well.