Guinea Pigs Diet – Healthy Diet For Cavies

Also known as cavies, guinea pigs are herbivores. They only eat plant matter. Grassy hay is at the top of the list of their favorite things to eat. Timothy hay is a great choice, although alfalfa is another favorite among the guinea pigs. Alfalfa is actually a legume and not a grass, but it has more protein and carbohydrates than grass, so it’s typically fed to young guinea pigs and nursing mothers than regular guinea pigs who don’t need the additional nutrients.

If you want to give your guinea pig a great food, give him these grasses in the form of pellets. It’s both convenient and simple to give your animal. These pellets are free from dye and other harmful ingredients. You can find pellets that are timothy grass or orchard grass, but not completely alfalfa. Depending on the size and metabolism of your guinea pig, you can usually feed them around 3-4 ounces of grass pellets each day and they will be satisfied.

If you have pellets that have a lot of animal fats, it’s not great for your pet. Nuts have excess fat that are too rich for all guinea pigs except young guinea pigs. Corn is not usually a part of the cavy diet, nor is rice. Neither of these items would be a good addition to your guinea pig’s diet.

Sometimes, a guinea pig will forage for their food. You can find plenty of plants and flowers that will be great additions to their diet. On the other hand, there are a number of plants and flowers that are harmful to your guinea pig’s diet. Make sure that you are familiar with what plants are good and which are not to give your guinea pig the right ones. Buttercup, hemlock, foxglove, tulips and onions are among the most poisonous plants for your animal. Keep your guinea pig away from these.

Cavies do not manufacture their own vitamin C, so they require it from their diet to stay healthy. They will need roughly 10-30 mg of body weight daily. If they do not get enough vitamin C, they will not have a strong immunity system. Although some people will suggest it, try not to add the vitamin C to their water dosage since guinea pigs drink irregularly. Also, the vitamin C will change how the water tastes and make the guinea pig consume less of it. Finally, ascorbic acid will degenerate quicker in water and lose its potency after just minutes in the water.

Vegetables are a great addition to any cavy diet. You can find romaine lettuce or small pieces of carrots that are great supplements to their diet. Corn husk and spinach are also popular additions to the guinea pig’s diet. Finally, cabbage, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables are great additions to make your pet strong and healthy.

Cantaloupe and other certain fruits are permissible, but you should only give a few chunks a day. Apples, strawberries, blueberries and other fruits are tasty and safe for your guinea pig.

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