Feeding Your Guinea Pig
If you are considering a guinea pig as a pet, you need to consider feeding him before you actually bring him home. Feeding a guinea pig is much more complex than feeding cats or dogs. Overall, guinea pigs require water, pellets, hay, and fruits and vegetables. Let’s take a look at each nutritional need.
Water – Your guinea pig should have fresh water, delivered via water bottle, everyday. Be sure to purchase a water bottle that is specifically designed for guinea pigs, as he is likely to chew other types beyond recognition. Check his water at least twice a day, remembering that water bottles are not very big. Keep the water bottle full.
Pellets – You can find pellets designed specifically for guinea pigs in pet stores and through online resources. Of course manufacturers will make lots of claims, especially concerning vitamin C, but you shouldn’t pay any attention to those claims, as will be discussed later.
Instead, just purchase a brand that you think your guinea pig will enjoy, or follow the recommendation of your veterinarian. Also ask your veterinarian how much your guinea pig should be fed each day, and how often.
Hay – Hay is used for more than bedding in a guinea pigs world. He will also enjoy nibbling on it, and should have a constant supply of fresh grass hays. The best hays are Timothy Hay or Orchard Grass, and Alfalfa is also a good choice for young guinea pigs.
You should definitely purchase a small hay hopper from your local pet store, and keep a fresh supply of hay on hand.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables – Fresh fruits and vegetables are an essential part of your guinea pigs diet. Guinea pigs absolutely must have the proper amount of vitamin C daily. Otherwise, they will develop scurvy, and could easily die.
There are supplements for vitamin C, which can be added to his food or water, but he should get a great deal of his vitamin C from the fresh fruits and vegetables that he loves. Most guinea pigs like all sorts of fruits and vegetables, but should not be given broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, cabbage, bok choy, potatoes, or iceberg lettuce.
Ideal fruits and vegetables include kale, spinach, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, parsley, carrots, green peppers, red peppers, apples, oranges, apricots, bananas, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, and tomatoes.
Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that are pesticide free, and wash them well before cutting them up into small bite sizes for your guinea pig.
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Originally posted 2008-08-04 12:20:54. We hope you have enjoyed this Post From the Past!
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Tags: cat health, dog health, feeding guinea pig, guinea pig, Guinea Pigs, pet health
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