FOOD is a Guinea Pigs favorite subject. Knowing what to feed your pet can make a big difference in their health and energy level.
Guinea Pigs are grazing animals, so they need food available at all times. The foods that are best to leave with them all day are: timothy hay, Guinea Pig pellets and water. The pellets MUST be Guinea Pig pellets as they contain vitamin C which is important for health of your piggy. When possible, feed your pig fresh greens one or two times a day at breakfast and dinner; however, too much fresh food or spoiled food can cause your animal to have soft, smelly feces. The amount you feed your pig will vary with the animals age and activity level. Make sure to clean out old greens after feeding because old and dirty food will make your pig sick. Unlike some animals Guinea Pigs will not over-eat and die, but animals that are not allowed to exercise will become overweight. Overweight pigs are more susceptible to disease and have a much shorter life span than normal weight pigs.
Guinea Pigs are very smart and alert animals, so they will soon discover that their favorite food is in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic. Whenever they hear the refrigerator open or plastic crinkle the pigs will begin to "squeak and squeal". Do not feed them fresh greens, except clean fresh grass, more than twice a day or they will not eat enough pellets and timothy hay to stay sturdy and healthy. Fresh grass is the most "natural" and nutritious food for Guinea Pigs, however, make sure that grass fed to your animal has not been sprayed with insecticide or fertilizer or grew near a busy road.
Water and a "salt lick" should always be available to your pet even though they may not seem to use them. Water can be given either in a bottle or a non-tip bowl. Pigs like to tip over bowls of water which can wet the cage and the Guinea Pig causing the them to get sick. Salt licks allow pigs to get minerals that may be missing from their diet.
Guinea Pigs are different from rabbits and rodents in that their bodies can not produce Vitamin C, so it is important to have Vitamin C in their daily diet or they will develop a disease called scurvy. Pellets made especially for Guinea Pigs will contain Vitamin C as do a number of guinea pigs favorite foods.
Guinea Pigs also must be given a variety of foods when they are young or they will only eat the few foods that they learned to eat when they were young.
REQUIRED FOODS:
Must always be available
TIMOTHY HAY
GUINEA PIG PELLETS
SALT-LICK
WATER
FAVORITE FOODS:
Bread
Romaine lettuce
Red Leaf lettuce
Green Leaf lettuce
Butter lettuce
Cucumbers
Green Peppers
Corn on Cob with husk
Celery
Apples
Grass
Carrots & Tops
Parsley (my pigs personal favorite)
Oranges
I have heard that some Guinea Pigs like cherries, banannas, oranges to even more exotic items like starfruit. Since we all live in different parts of the world our food availability is different so Piggies choices may be different. Before you feed anything to your Guinea Pig you should first ask, "would I eat it myself"? If you would and it is not on the above "known and safe" list just give piggie a little bit and wait an hour and see what happens. You may want to call a Vet or talk to a knowledable petshop owner if they can help. It is better to play it safe! The wrong food in a Guinea Pig can give them gas and they will, very painfully, blowup like a balloon until they die.
Guinea Pigs, like humans, will eat foods that are not good for them. Do not feed your pig: chocolate, cookies, beer, or wine. Household plants are usually not good for your pet. Also, pigs love to chew plastic, (bags, tape, 6-pack rings, remote control knobs, electrical cords, sandals, etc.), these items will make your animal sick! However, some items you might throw in the trash are favorites: pizza crust, stale bread (not moldy!), fresh apple cores, dry oatmeal, dry barley and corn husks.
Some foods in the cabbage family and anise will give your piggy gas. Do not feed them these foods.
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