Guinea pigs are strict herbivores, meaning that they only eat plant materials and do not eat any meat products. Many guinea pig owners are unsure as to exactly what to feed a guinea pig in order to ensure maximal health and nutrition. This list details exactly what you will need to offer your guinea pig to provide the complete nutrition necessary.
Pellets
Start off with a high quality guinea pig pelleted diet. Oxbow Animal Health organic guinea pig food is a great example, but there are many other good products to choose from. Keep in mind that all pelleted diets are not created equal. Try to avoid the colorful pellets, as these often contain chemicals that may be harmful to your pet. Stay away from specialty pellets that include peanuts, seeds, cereals, or rolled oats. These diets are unnecessarily high in calories and fats, which can lead to obesity and illness.
Grass hay
Guinea pigs need to have access to good quality grass hay at all times. Hay is not only an excellent source of dietary fiber, which keeps the gastrointestinal tract functioning smoothly, but it also helps to keep the teeth ground down. There are many varieties of hay products available, but Oxbow Animal Health offers consistently high quality options. Timothy hay is a good first choice type of hay for guinea pigs of all ages, but alfalfa hay can be given to young guinea pigs, and pregnant or nursing dams. Due to the high calcium content, alfalfa and clover hays can contribute to the formation of bladder stones in older guinea pigs.
Fresh foods
Guinea pigs do not have the enzyme needed to synthesize vitamin C, so they need to receive sufficient quantities of this vitamin in their diets. Since vitamin C is generally unstable in pelleted diets, fresh vegetables and some fruits that are high in vitamin C need to be offered. Red and green bell peppers, kiwi fruit, and oranges are all excellent sources of vitamin C. Leafy greens such as kale, parsley, beet greens, chicory, and spinach also contain high levels of vitamin C, but should only be offered in small quantities since they contain oxalates. In higher levels, oxalates can lead to the formation of bladder stones. Vegetables should compose the majority of the fresh foods given, with fruits only making up about 10% of the diet. Be sure to remove any uneaten fresh foods from the cage within a few hours.
Fresh water
Your guinea pig should have access to fresh, clean water at all times. Regular water bowls tend to get dirty very quickly, but bowls that hang on the side of the cage or sipper water bottles make more hygienic options. Be sure to change the water every day. Some companies make a vitamin C additive for water, however these will destabilize within 24 hours and are not nearly as beneficial as fresh food sources.
Other important things
Take note that guinea pigs establish their food preferences early in life. As adults, they will often refuse to eat if the types of food, appearance, or presentation are changed. For this reason, it is important to expose young guinea pigs to a variety of pelleted diets and vegetables so that they become accustomed to different foods. Any changes to your adult guinea pig’s diet should be made very gradually.
Another fun fact is that guinea pigs are coprophagic, meaning that they may ingest their own fecal matter. The contribution of this less than appealing habit to guinea pigs’ nutritional needs is not fully understood. It may be a source of B vitamins and a means of optimizing protein utilization, but regardless, don’t be surprised to see your guinea pig engaging in this behavior.
It is important to provide your guinea pig with good nutrition throughout its life. With inadequacies in diet or husbandry, illnesses that can be difficult to manage can occur.