What do guinea pigs eat?
This is one of the first questions that comes to mind when you think: “Maybe get a guinea pig?”
We are happy to tell you everything about the diet of these cute pets!
RULE №1: A guinea pig, even if you consider it a member of the family, should not be fed from your table. Most of our usual food is completely unsuitable for guinea pigs, these cute rodents have special preferences. By the way, very simple and not at all overhead for the pocket. Therefore, no bread, milk, meat and cookies!
What do guinea pigs eat, you ask.
RULE №2: guinea pigs are absolute vegetarians!
The gastrointestinal tract of these animals is designed to digest exclusively plant foods. Hay and grass are the basis of the diet of guinea pigs. In addition, with great pleasure they eat vegetables and fruits.
In addition to hay, grass, fruits and vegetables, experts recommend including high-quality purchased food (granules) in the diet. This recommendation is especially relevant in winter, when there is no grass, and fruits and vegetables are often crammed with chemicals. In summer, many breeders can easily and simply do without pellets, but in winter, herbal pellets are an excellent alternative to fresh grass.
The diagram below shows the four basic components of a healthy “pig” diet. As you can see, everything is very simple and inexpensive!
This is one of the first questions that comes to mind when you think: “Maybe get a guinea pig?”
We are happy to tell you everything about the diet of these cute pets!
RULE №1: A guinea pig, even if you consider it a member of the family, should not be fed from your table. Most of our usual food is completely unsuitable for guinea pigs, these cute rodents have special preferences. By the way, very simple and not at all overhead for the pocket. Therefore, no bread, milk, meat and cookies!
What do guinea pigs eat, you ask.
RULE №2: guinea pigs are absolute vegetarians!
The gastrointestinal tract of these animals is designed to digest exclusively plant foods. Hay and grass are the basis of the diet of guinea pigs. In addition, with great pleasure they eat vegetables and fruits.
In addition to hay, grass, fruits and vegetables, experts recommend including high-quality purchased food (granules) in the diet. This recommendation is especially relevant in winter, when there is no grass, and fruits and vegetables are often crammed with chemicals. In summer, many breeders can easily and simply do without pellets, but in winter, herbal pellets are an excellent alternative to fresh grass.
The diagram below shows the four basic components of a healthy “pig” diet. As you can see, everything is very simple and inexpensive!
When it comes to guinea pig nutrition, there are two important things to keep in mind:
1. Guinea pigs are one of three species of mammals on planet Earth (along with humans and lemurs) that cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own. The only way to get it is from the outside, with food. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the presence of vegetables rich in vitamin C in the diet of pigs. In addition, the food that you buy in the store is also fortified with this vitamin. Another thing is that it quickly disintegrates. Read more about this vital vitamin in our article Vitamin C for Guinea Pigs.
2. In guinea pigs, teeth grow throughout life, permanently and irreversibly. For this reason, guinea pigs need to constantly chew on something – hay, twigs, hard pellets. It is better to prevent dental problems than to treat them afterwards. Believe me, dental problems in pigs are not an easy task. “Guinea pig teeth”
When it comes to guinea pig nutrition, there are two important things to keep in mind:
1. Guinea pigs are one of three species of mammals on planet Earth (along with humans and lemurs) that cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own. The only way to get it is from the outside, with food. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the presence of vegetables rich in vitamin C in the diet of pigs. In addition, the food that you buy in the store is also fortified with this vitamin. Another thing is that it quickly disintegrates. Read more about this vital vitamin in our article Vitamin C for Guinea Pigs.
2. In guinea pigs, teeth grow throughout life, permanently and irreversibly. For this reason, guinea pigs need to constantly chew on something – hay, twigs, hard pellets. It is better to prevent dental problems than to treat them afterwards. Believe me, dental problems in pigs are not an easy task. “Guinea pig teeth”
And one more delicate moment.
Guinea pigs, like other rodents, such as rabbits and hares, for example, can eat their own feces.
This is absolutely normal, don’t worry. In simple terms, the digestive tract of pigs is designed in such a way that not all nutrients from the incoming food have time to be absorbed, as they say, in one pass. For better assimilation, a second time is sometimes necessary. 🙂
And one more delicate moment.
Guinea pigs, like other rodents, such as rabbits and hares, for example, can eat their own feces.
This is absolutely normal, don’t worry. In simple terms, the digestive tract of pigs is designed in such a way that not all nutrients from the incoming food have time to be absorbed, as they say, in one pass. For better assimilation, a second time is sometimes necessary. 🙂
About how many times a day to feed a guinea pig, about the rules of feeding, about the drinking regime, read the article “When, how and what to feed guinea pigs”
About how many times a day to feed a guinea pig, about the rules of feeding, about the drinking regime, read the article “When, how and what to feed guinea pigs”
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