Knowing what can guinea pigs eat and what guinea pigs can’t eat is really important since you don’t want to poison your pet with something you think it loves. The guinea pig is now a famous pet in the United States because of her affectionate nature and easy care. Guinea pig predominantly feeds on grass which is also their natural diet. The pig’s molars are well developed to grind grass or other plants matter and they consistently grow during their entire life. While many grass-eating mammals are large and have therefore long digestive tract; guinea pigs have much longer colons than many other rodents. Guinea pigs supplement their diet from grass hay including timothy hay along with the food pellets. They are also known to consume alfalfa but feeding excessive alfalfa can lead to obesity and bladder stones because of additional calcium.
Guinea pigs should acquire vitamin C from food as they’re unable to synthesize their own. If these species are unable to ingest sufficient vitamin C, they might suffer from really fatal scurvy. Guinea pig needs 10 mg of vitamin C per day which can be acquired from fresh vegetables and raw fruits including carrot, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, apple, and celery. The healthy diet is composed of phosphorus, hydrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium; supplemented by sufficient amounts of vitamins A, D, and E. Guinea pigs are choosy about consuming fresh vegetables and fruits. Besides, they do not respond positively to sudden changes in their diet. Guinea pigs must be fed regularly with grass or other plants matter to munch on all the time.
What Can Guinea Pigs Eat
You should be aware as to which diet is good for your guinea pig and what it likes to be fed with. If you don’t think you should know then you’re sadly mistaken – since guinea pigs can’t consume just anything. They have a specialized diet which you should know as you don’t want to poison your pig with a normal item that you deem fit for your pet.
Schedule
Guinea pigs do not like uncertainty or abrupt changes in their diet. They will not accept food that comes with surprises and they can suffer from stress if something changes. It follows that you must clean their cage on daily basis while feeding them at the same time. You should not experiment too many things as they can become upset. However, you can feed them treats.
To Each His Own
You should not confuse one guinea pig with his counterparts as each individual has its distinctive diet. Some species prefer one item while others focus on another. Test things with your guinea pigs and gradually familiarize it with their diet. Bear in mind, feeding too many vegetables or fruits can lead to diarrhea, so make sure to ration them properly while lavish them with fare they love.
Read More: Is it ok for guinea pigs to eat avocado?
What Can’t Guinea Pigs Eat in Plants
Guinea pigs should NOT eat these plants as they are all poisonous.
- Foxglove
- Lily of the valley
- Privet
- Wild celery
- Monkshood
- Ragwort
- Charlock
- Deadly nightshade
- Speedwell
- Hellebore
- Bryony
- Bracken
- Rhubarb
- Mayweed
- Buttercup
- Hemlock
- Toadflax
- Oak tree leaves
What Guinea Pigs Can’t Eat
There are specific things that your guinea pig won’t eat and why would he as he does not like them.
- Meat
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Raw Beans
- Rhubarb
- Dairy Products
- Tomato Leaves
- Anything containing sugar
- Tomato leaves
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Collards
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Cauliflower
- Bok choy
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Grapes
There are certain pet owners who feed their guinea pigs with ‘treat sticks’ as it is commercially available. You can also feed them nuts or seeds along with the honey but these often have sunflower seeds in their shell, which are a great choking hazard.
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What Can Guinea Pigs Eat | and Love
- Apple
- Loose leaf lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Kale
- Tomatoes
- Kiwi
- Parsley
- Florida Oranges
- Mustard Greens
- Timothy hay
- Dandelion greens
- Berry Crunchies
- Small cubes of celery
- Carrots and baby carrots
- Green, red, and yellow peppers
- Turnip greens
Your basic diet must be composed of timothy hay along with the food pellets that are commercially available; supplemented by fresh vegetables. Guinea pigs should be fed with pellet comprising at least 20% crude protein and 16% fiber, and also ensure that it contains vitamin C. Many guinea pigs won’t overeat (normally consumes 1/8 cup each day) but the pellets should be reduced when your pet becomes obese.
What To Absolutely Avoid | What Can Guinea Pigs Eat
- You should NOT feed your guinea pig with potato peels. Some experts believe that they are fine in a limited quantity while others consider it poisonous. All in all, you must avoid feeding potato peels.
- Some pet owners feed their pigs with seeds and nuts which can lead to several stomach problems and is certainly hazardous for their health.
- There are dried fruits containing sugar which is not good for digestion. Try to feed your pet fresh fruit if they want something different or sweat.
- One should not feed mineral wheels as it can lead to bladder stones; consequently causing severe pain to pigs while urinating. While not definitive, you should still avoid them.
- Try to give limited doses of vitamin C which is safer instead of feeding multivitamins since excess vitamin A and D can lead to extreme health problems.
- Long celery stalks should also be avoided due to the fact that long strands are well-nigh impossible for the pig to digest completely.
- There are many commercial pet treats that should really be avoided while feeding your guinea pig. This is because the empty calories involved in sugars and fat can devoid your pet from the necessary foods which is a healthy one.
The Water Bottle | What Can Guinea Pigs Eat
The primary source of water for guinea pigs is their water bottle water. Therefore, you must put fresh water in it on daily basis. Not only do guinea pigs enjoy drinking water from bottle, they’re often involved in playing games with their water bottle.
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