Feeding Your Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are easy pets to keep. One reason they are so popular is because they are not only good natured, but easy to maintain. However, like any other pet, guinea pigs need a nutritious diet. If you want your guinea pig to be healthy for a long time, a diet rich in raw fibers and Vitamin C is necessary. The following are a few guidelines for feeding your guinea pig, which will increase your pet's chances of living a long healthy life.

Pellets
These are foods designed especially for guinea pigs. While your cavy should not be fed only pellets, they form a good base that should be supplemented with hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. Look for pellets that are grass-based instead of alfalfa-based, and for storage, keep pellets refrigerated or preferably frozen. This will ensure that the Vitamin C content in the pellets will not degrade as quickly. Be sure the food you buy is made especially for guinea pigs. Rabbit pellets look similar, but a rabbit's dietary requirements are different than a guinea pig's.

Hay
It is also important to feed your guinea pig plenty of fresh grass or hay. Be sure to feed your guinea pig grass-based hays, such as Timothy hay, which are best. Avoid alfalfa or its cousins, as these hays are toxic to small animals.

Fresh Vegetables And Fruit
You should feed your guinea pig a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit. With vegetables, leafy green ones are the best choice. Some suggested vegetables include kale, parsley, turnip greens, and dandelion greens, which provide Vitamin C. Carrots and other vegetables along with just about any fruit are also good. Variety is key to making sure your guinea pig not only doesn't get bored but also has a nutritious diet.

Vitamin C
It is necessary that your guinea pig receives sufficient quantities of Vitamin C in its diet. While other animals we keep as pets manufacture their own Vitamin C, guinea pigs, like human beings, can not. Guinea pigs should take in 16 mg of Vitamin C per kilogram of body weight. During times of high stress or infection, or if your guinea pig is pregnant, 30 mg/kg is necessary. A diet that includes a good selection of vegetables and fruit should be sufficient for a healthy guinea pig, but supplements are available that can be added to your guinea pig's water if you are concerned that your pet is not getting enough Vitamin C.

Water
Guinea pigs need constant access to a fresh supply of water. Be sure to wash the water bottle regularly and avoid giving your pig water from the tap since it contains chemicals and calcium compounds that are harmful to the sensitive biology of a guinea pig.

Some Foods to Limit or Avoid
Just like people, there are foods that are not good for guinea pigs and should be fed only in small quantities or preferably not at all. In fact, some can be deadly and should be avoided completely. One food guinea pigs have trouble digesting is celery when fed in long stalks, so if you feed your cavy celery, be sure to cut it into smaller pieces before doing so. Iceberg lettuce, popular because it's low in calories and cheap to obtain, is high in nitrates and has low nutritional value, so use other types of lettuce instead. Another food that should be used sparingly is spinach, which is high in Vitamin C, but contains oxalates which can be dangerous in large amounts, and can contribute to bladder or kidney stone formation. Another food that can lead to the formation of kidney and bladder stones is alfalfa, which is very popular in pet stores but should not be fed to your guinea pig. Some foods that should be avoided complete because they are toxic for rodents include raw beans, rhubarb and potato peels with green on them.

Having a guinea pig as a pet can be a rewarding experience. Proper care and feeding will help ensure that your guinea pig's life will be long and healthy, and these simple guidelines help you provide the nutrients your pet will need.