Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Have a balanced diet
• Method 2 of 2: Feed your guinea pig
• Tips

As the owner of a pet, you are of course obliged to do everything you can to keep the animal healthy and happy. One of the ways you can do this is to provide a balanced and healthy diet. Guinea pigs, like other pets, need specific nutrients to stay healthy. If you take enough time to provide your guinea pig with a healthy diet, you will most likely give the little one a happy and healthy life.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Have a balanced diet

1. Feed your guinea pig hay. Guinea pigs love hay! They need hay for good digestion and healthy teeth. Guinea pigs should have unrestricted access to hay, which basically means refilling a properly sized bowl or bowl three to five times a day.
   • Timothy hay is generally the best hay for guinea pigs. They can eat and play in the hay, plus it's healthy for guinea pigs of all ages.
   • Alfalfa hay contains a lot of calcium, which makes it less suitable for older guinea pigs. You could give this type of hay as a treat every now and then. Even if your guinea pigs seem to love alfalfa hay, you should only feed them occasionally. Think of it as a dessert or treat for the guinea pigs they only get from time to time.
     • Alfalfa hay should be used for pregnant or nursing females and young guinea pigs less than four months old.
   • Other types are meadow hay, field broom grass, fowl drake and goiter. You could use these species from time to time to provide the guinea pigs with a varied selection.
   • Go for the hay that is green and soft, as yellowish and hard hay is actually straw.
   • You can buy hay from pet stores, but such hay has often been in the packaging for too long, which is not very healthy for guinea pigs. Often hay is also sold by farmers in your area and occasionally it is also offered by veterinarians. They can often provide you with cheaper and better hay.
2. Give your guinea pig a cup of fresh vegetables every day. It is very important to provide the guinea pig with a wide variety so that the diet is balanced. Vegetables that are very good for guinea pigs include: celery, carrots, loose tomatoes, cucumber, corn, kale, a little raw broccoli, small amounts of spinach and peas.
   • Other vegetables, such as beetroot, parsley or small amounts of pepper and fodder crops such as clover or dandelion leaves (should be washed first), may be given occasionally.
   • Do not feed your guinea pig spoiled or wilted vegetables. Remember not to feed the guinea pig vegetables that no longer look fresh and that you wouldn't eat yourself.
3. Feed your guinea pig pellets. Be aware that pellets are very energy-dense and that an excess of pellets can lead to obesity and dental problems. Feed your guinea pig about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of pellets per day in addition to the other food.
   • Go for pellets with added vitamin C. This is an important nutrient that guinea pigs need in their diet.
   • Do not feed your guinea pig cereal-based food, as this could lead to selective eating behavior.
   • Only use pellets specially developed for guinea pigs. Pellets for rabbits and other rodents are not suitable for guinea pigs as they contain different amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients.

Method 2 of 2: Feed your guinea pig

1. Make sure your guinea pig is getting enough vitamin C. Guinea pigs are one of the few mammals (like humans) that cannot make their own vitamin C, so they should get it from their diet. A guinea pig should receive 10 to 30 mg of vitamin C per day. Vegetables rich in vitamin C that are good for your guinea pig include: dark leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower.
   • Guinea pigs are very susceptible to scurvy (hypovitaminosis C), which is a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C.
   • You need to provide your guinea pig with its daily requirement of vitamin C.
   • Adding vitamin C to the guinea pig's drinking water is not recommended. This could cause the guinea pig to stop drinking if it does not like the taste. In addition, it is difficult to control exactly how much vitamin C the guinea pigs are getting, since they can drink little or a lot.
2. Do not give the guinea pigs any food that is bad for them. This includes large amounts of fruits with a high sugar content (these should only be obtained in moderation) and starchy vegetables, such as potatoes.
   • The following vegetables should not be fed to your guinea pigs: iceberg lettuce, arugula, red lettuce leaves, cauliflower, beets, potatoes and radishes.
   • Feed fruits in small amounts. Fruit not only has a high sugar content, but it may also have a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which could lead to bladder problems and diarrhea. This applies, for example, to fruit such as raisins.
   • Never feed your guinea pig citrus fruits.
   • Guinea pigs are herbivores (plant eaters). This means that they should not be given meat or dairy products.
3. Avoid commercial guinea pig snacks. Buying such products is a waste of money and they are not good for your pet. Your guinea pig will much prefer a piece of apple or some oatmeal to commercial snacks that are loaded with sugar. A natural treat is a lot healthier for guinea pigs.
4. Instead of supplementing the food with vitamins or a salt lick, give the guinea pigs a balanced diet. These supplements to your pet's diet are unnecessary if you take the time to provide your pet with the right nutrition. If you do decide to supplement your guinea pig, consider using only high-fiber varieties that have been approved by a veterinarian.
5. Take into account the amounts of food you give your guinea pig. Guinea pigs instinctively eat and will eat anything presented to them during the day. Be aware of the amounts you are feeding the guinea pigs and stick to a balanced diet. Try to explain this carefully to small children who have their own guinea pigs to avoid overfeeding the guinea pigs.
6. Serve the food on ceramic dishes. Guinea pigs tend to chew everything, even their food bowls. Preferably use a heavy ceramic bowl or bowl that is not easy to throw over and cannot be destroyed.
7. Keep the food fresh. Food that is not touched by the guinea pigs should be removed within one day. Guinea pigs can be very picky eaters, so the longer the food is left, the less attractive it becomes. If the guinea pigs haven't touched the food all day, they probably won't eat it and it will only create dirt in their cage.
8. Adjust the food amounts if the guinea pig becomes too fat or too thin. The amount of food a guinea pig needs depends on the animal's age, lifestyle and general health. This means that the amount of food you give your guinea pig may need to be changed over time to keep it healthy.
9. Make sure the guinea pig has access to fresh water at all times. Hang a water bottle in your guinea pig's cage so that the animal always has access to clean drinking water. Make sure there is always water in the bottle and don't wait until it is completely empty. If guinea pigs don't have access to water, they can get very sick.
   • The best water bottles are the drinking bottles with a metal ball in the spout that are specially designed for guinea pigs or rabbits.
   • If the guinea pigs' cage is in the open air, make sure that the water does not freeze during the winter months.
   • Clean the spout of the water bottle regularly with a cotton swab to keep it free of blockages and food debris. Clean the inside of the bottle by adding uncooked rice and a small amount of water to the bottle. Then shake the bottle vigorously from side to side. The rice will remove the greenish build-up of algae.
10. Let your guinea pig graze every now and then. If you have a lawn and are sure it has not been applied with pesticides or used by other pets to urinate or relieve themselves, you could let your guinea pig graze on it. Make or buy a fully enclosed run that you can place on the lawn and let your guinea pig roam in it during the warm weather. Only put them in the run when there is no wind and the temperature fluctuates between 15 and 24 degrees.
    • Only allow the guinea pigs to walk outside under supervision. Although some guinea pigs live in an open run, never leave them alone when they are in an open run. This could leave them exposed to predators or they could escape.
    • Make sure they have access to a dark place where they can hide from the sun or if something scares them.
    • Move the run from day to day. Guinea pigs will keep your lawn nice and short and even provide them with manure.

Tips

• Guinea pigs have their own preferences when it comes to food. If they consistently don't touch certain foods, they probably don't like it. Don't get discouraged though, because sometimes it takes a few bites before they realize it's tasty. This is especially true if your guinea pigs are younger or if you bought them from a pet store. Pet stores usually only feed the bugs one type of food. They may not have developed their taste buds yet.