How to properly feed a guinea pig

 How to properly feed guinea pigs? This is the first question that every potential rodent owner is looking for an answer to. After all, proper nutrition is the key to the health and long life of the pet..

When feeding a guinea pig, you can not do without vegetables

 The guinea pig has a rather weak intestinal motility, and in order for digestion to be normal, they need everything that their wild relatives eat: fiber in large quantities, grains, leaves, fruits and vegetables, roots and branches. Regular access to food is important, because the animal can die of starvation in a couple of days, so if you are leaving somewhere, make sure that there is enough food, or ask someone you know to take care of the animal. The guinea pig is fed 2 to 3 times a day, and in the morning give juicy food, and in the evening – dry. Add 5-25 mg (per 250 ml) of ascorbic acid to water to replenish vitamin C deficiency.

What to feed a guinea pig?

1. Grain mixture – should be approximately 30% of the diet. Grain mixtures for guinea pigs are sold at pet stores. It is based on: millet, oats, sunflower seeds, barley, peas, corn and other cereals, as well as herbal and feed pellets with vitamins.
2. Green food is the most natural part of a guinea pig’s diet. However, do not forget that there are poisonous plants that can lead to illness or death of the animal. Allowed green food: dandelion, beet and carrot tops, young sedge, clover, alfalfa, lettuce, plantain, chamomile, dill, spinach, yarrow, tansy, sprouted cereals.
3. Hay is an essential part of a guinea pig’s diet and should make up at least 20% of the daily menu. Hay plays a big role in normal digestion and promotes tooth grinding. When buying hay, pay attention to the smell (it should be pleasant and fresh). Hay should not be wet.
4. Fruits and vegetables should be given at the rate of 30% of the guinea pig’s body weight. It is better to give vegetables, and treat fruits in the form of treats. Guinea pig can be given carrots, cucumbers, apples, zucchini, bell peppers, pumpkin, corn. It is better if it is possible to offer your pet 3 – 5 options for vegetable dishes every day. In limited quantities, you can give peaches, pears, cherries or plums – they contain a lot of sugar.
5. Other food. If the guinea pig moves a lot and actively, you can add foods containing fats to the diet (sunflower, sesame or flax seeds, nuts). Many animals love wheat bran. Offer your pet fresh branches of fruit trees and shrubs – they not only help grind down teeth, but also contain useful substances.

What should not be fed to a guinea pig?

To properly feed a guinea pig, a number of foods will have to be excluded from the diet: 

• Candies and other sweets.
• Dairy.
• Pasta.
• Bakery products.
• Leftover food from your table.
• Rice and other cereals.
• Potatoes.