Bonding
Excercise
Housing
Nutrition
Illnesses
A proper diet is imperative in ensuring the health of the guinea pig. The mainstays of the guinea pig diet are hay, fresh Vitamin C rich veggies and a quality guinea pig pellet. We highly recommend Oxbow Cavy Cuisine Timothy Pellets for adult guinea pigs and Oxbow Cavy Performance for guinea pigs under a year old and pregnant or nursing guinea pigs.Of course, fresh water must be available at all times.
Unlimited high quality grass hay such as timothy, orchard or mixed grasses should be available at all times. Hay should make up the bulk of the guinea pig's diet. Hay is very important in maintaining a healthy digestive system as well as properly worn teeth and well developed jaw muscles. Alfalfa is not recommended because of its high calcium content, a suspected cause of bladder stones.
Guinea pigs, like humans, cannot produce their own Vitamin C and must obtain it from their diet. A terrible disease called scurvy will result if enough Vitamin C is not acquired. It is best to obtain as much Vitamin C as possible through a daily intake of a variety of vegetables. Items such as red bell peppers, parsley, green leaf lettuce and romaine are good choices. Other "treats" can include dandelion greens, tomato, limited amounts of carrot, spinach and kale. Fruit can also be given in very small quantities. A cup of fresh vegetables a day is recommended per pig.
A supplement may be given if there is concern the guinea pig is not getting enough Vitamin C through their diet. Guinea pigs require around 25 mg of Vitamin C daily, slightly more in times of illness. Supplements can be given in tablet or liquid form. Look for supplements containing only Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), no added sugar or other vitamins or minerals.
Pellets should be made specifically for guinea pigs; do not give rabbit pellets as these animals have different nutritional requirements and there are sometimes dangerous additives in bulk rabbit food. Do not feed "mixes" containing seeds or bits of fruit. Seed husks are a choking hazard and the mixes are often very high in fat and sugar. Some even contain animal byproducts! A timothy based pellet (rather than the more readily available alfalfa based pellet) is highly desirable.
Visit guinealynx.info/nutrition.html for more specific information on the nutritional requirements of guinea pigs.
Bonding
Excercise
Housing
Nutrition
Illnesses