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Updated by Sheryl on Jul 22, 2021
Guinea pigs are herbivores; thus, their food should mainly consist of high-quality guinea pig hay, pelleted guinea pig chow, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Introduce new items to your guinea pig’s diet gradually since sudden dietary changes may cause problems (such as diarrhea).
Feed your guinea pig twice a day, on a regular schedule, in the morning and evening. Guinea pigs will overeat if given the chance, therefore remove any pelleted food left uneaten after one hour and destroy any fresh fruits or vegetables left uneaten after 24 hours to avoid obesity.
Guinea pigs are, at their most basic level, herbivores. That means they only eat fruits and vegetables and don’t eat dairy, eggs, meat, or insects. Fresh hay and fresh green vegetables should make up the majority of your guinea pig’s diet.
Hay is an integral part of your pet’s diet. Guinea pigs require this sort of fiber for efficient digestion; thus, it must be available at all times. Chewing on hay also helps your guinea pig’s teeth, which are continuously developing, wear down. Make sure the hay you buy is high-quality, fresh, clean, fragrant, dry, and mold-free.
Guinea pigs can eat up to one cup of vegetables per day. New vegetables should be given to your pet one at a time. Eating fresh, organically grown greens is the best alternative. Your pet guinea pig can eat the following vegetables:
Due to their higher sugar content, fruits should be fed less often than vegetables. Your guinea pig will love daily meals of small, bite-sized pieces of fruit, which will also provide much-needed Vitamin C. Guinea pigs may consume the following fruits:
A commercial guinea pig diet is designed to provide balanced nutrition with the proper quantity of Vitamin C and other essential nutrients. Choose a pelleted food that has been vetted by a veterinarian and follow the feeding directions on the label as a guide.
A reward option is a little animal salt lick, which is a good source of critical minerals and a healthy way to satisfy your guinea pig’s salt need.
CHEW TIPS: Because your guinea pig’s teeth are always developing, you should provide a variety of fun chews, including sticks, toys, balls, blocks, and small animal food. They are not only fun for your guinea pig to chew on, but they also help to relieve boredom.
Although guinea pigs seldom overeat, it’s critical to feed the right mix of pellets, hay, and fresh veggies. Guinea pigs, like humans, cannot produce vitamin C on their own; thus, they must consume vitamin C-rich diets on a regular basis.
Commercial food
Look for vitamin C-fortified pellets that don’t include any seeds or dried fruit. Because vitamin C degrades fast, providing your guinea pig with vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruit on a daily basis is essential. It will suffice to feed around 1/8 cup of pellets once a day, supplemented with hay and fresh vegetables as specified below.
Timothy hay
Every day, provide an unlimited amount of fresh timothy hay. Guinea pigs require constant access to hay in order to promote digestion and minimize tooth development.
Feed your guinea pig twice a day, in the morning and evening, on a regular schedule. If given the opportunity, guinea pigs will overeat, therefore remove any pelleted food that is left uneaten after one hour and discard any fresh fruits or vegetables that are left uneaten after 24 hours to prevent obesity.
Guinea pigs, like the majority of herbivores, are grazers. They eat hay and vegetables all day. That means it’s critical to have fresh hay on hand at all times. Every day, empty your guinea pig’s food and water bowls, clean them, and re-fill them with new food and water.
In a nutshell, yes, they can eat celery and on occasion. There are, however, certain health problems to be aware of. Just make sure you do not feed them too much celery and bread, as they are not their natural diets.
Apples are safe for guinea pigs to eat. The peel and meat of apples are acceptable for guinea pigs, but the seeds should be avoided since they are a choking danger and contain amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide. Vitamin C can also be found in apples.
The amount of water they drink can be determined by their physical weight. The amount of water pigs take on a daily basis is usually equal to 20% of their body weight. Both extremes can be okay since it varies from one Guinea pig to the next. Their water intake can also be influenced by a variety of variables, including climate conditions, indoor heating/cooling, diet, for example.
Your guinea pigs will suffer if you feed them too much carrot. Carrots contain a significant quantity of natural sugar. These sugars can cause obesity, diabetes, and a variety of other disorders.
You can’t feed your guinea pig right from your table just because you love her as much as you love your family. While certain human food is okay for your guinea pig to consume, guinea pigs require significantly more attention than just feeding them table scraps. Therefore, take your time to determine the best foods for your guinea pig, so they do not fall sick.
