Nutrition

Information is from Guinea Lynx, The Guinea Pig Forum and Guinea Pig Cages

Make sure that pellets, grass hay and water are always available. Here is the safe food list. Also a a cup of veggies per pig is a MUST daily.

Pellets

Plain dye free high quality guinea pig pellets formulated with vitamin C. Each guinea pig will eat approximately 1/8 cup of pellets a day. Store in a dry cool dark place to preserve the vitamin C. Always check the expiration date.

Most guinea pig pellets are alfalfa based. Alfalfa pellets are recommended for young, growing and pregnant guinea pigs. After your guinea pig is about a six months old, a timothy based pellet, which provides less calcium, is good choice .

Ingredients to AVOID in guinea pig pellets:

• Corn products including corn bran, corn germ, corn gluten, ground corn, etc. Corn is not a food for guinea pigs. High in fat and certain sugars/starch depending on the product. Some corn can be contaminated with deadly aflatoxin which can cause liver failure and death.

• Animal products. Can contain animal fat, meat, tallow, animal digest, steroid, bone meal, and eggs

• Beet pulp

• Seeds, Nuts, or Oils. Too high in fat and protein.

• Rice Bran or Rice Flour

• Vegetable Fiber. Can include sawdust

Mixes or treats with nuts, seeds, dried fruit and dyed pieces.

• No mineral wheels.

• No dairy and meat products

• No multivitamins! Plain vitamin C is fine, but multivitamins are not. Excessive amounts of vitamins like A and D can cause serious problems for your pet.

• Never give rabbit pellets. They do not contain Vitamin C and can be toxic to guinea pigs.

• Seeds in husks can be a choking hazard.

• Never use Tang
  

Hay

When selecting look for these signs of good hay.

• Leafy
  

• Natural green color

• A fresh and clean smell. No moldy/musty or burnt smell

• Very soft
  

• Free of trash, weeds, dirt and other foreign materials

Grass Hay
Hay is a staple of the guinea pig diet.

Because the back teeth are continually growing, guinea pigs need to be constantly grazing and grinding to keep the teeth at a good length. Hay is only a small source of protein and nutrients. Eating the long hay strands keeps their digestive system moving and helps prevent their teeth from over growing.

If your a person that suffers from allergies Bluegrass and Orchard have been know to help with allergies. Bluegrass is also less duster then all of the other hays.

Types of grass :

• Meadow

• Timothy

• Orchard Grass

• Bluegrass

• Oat

• Brome

• Rye

Alfalfa

Alfalfa hay can be given to young guinea pigs, pregnant, nursing or malnourished adults. It is high calcium content. Alfalfa should be reserved as a treat for the average adult guinea pigs. Alfalfa is NOT a replacement for grass hay. Can be used to supplement the diet of some pigs. Excess calcium could contribute to the formation of bladder stones in older guinea pigs. Some guinea pigs prone to stones or suffering from specific medical illnesses should not be fed calcium rich hays.

Storing Hay

Using a plastic storage bin with the top open, you can drill holes on the sides. You can also use pillow case or cotton laundry hamper. Also cardboard boxes work well also.

Vitamin C

Guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own vitamin C and require 10 to 30 mg/kg daily to prevent scurvy. While many guinea pigs receive adequate vitamin C from fresh vegetables and pellets. Young, ill, nursing and pregnant animals require extra vitamin C.

Vegetables

A cup a day of fresh vegetables are an important additional source of vitamin C and other nutrients. Vegetables must be introduced slowly, to avoid digestive upsets. You can supply a variety of them to your pet when introduced. The key is to maintain your pigs' health. Vegetables can be provided two or more times a day, removing uneaten vegetables to prevent spoiling.

Water

Fresh, cold water, changed daily. Vitamin drops or medications should not be added in the water.

Reasons for not putting Vitamin drops in the water

• Water is vital to good health but because vitamin C changes the flavor, they may drink less.

• Ascorbic acid degrades rapidly once added to water.

• Foraged foods can add interest to the typical guinea pig diet and provide vitamin C, minerals and nutrients.

  Some guinea pigs drink a lot and some very little, so it is impossible to know how much vitamin C your pet is getting.
  
  

Forages

A diet that includes grass and other fresh forages can improve the health of your guinea pigs.

Foraged foods can add interest to the typical guinea pig diet and provide vitamin C, minerals and nutrients.

Owners should be careful when offering weeds and grasses from their yard, garden, or a nearby field.

Make sure you know what you are offering your pet. Consult the list here for some familiar plants often offered guinea pigs. The list of safe foods not complete and includes some foods that should be offered sparingly or only when young.

• Avoid areas that have been treated with herbicides and pesticides.

• Avoid areas heavily frequented by dogs or livestock whose feces may contaminate the plants.

• Avoid plants that have molds, fungus, or mildews.

• Avoid plants growing along side of heavily trafficked roads.

Quantity

Introduce items slowly, gradually increasing the amount offered their pet. During the winter it may be more difficult to forage for plants.

Nutrition