Feeding Guinea Pigs – How to Feed Your Cavies Healthily

Guinea pigs love to eat grass. They prefer grasses and these materials make up most of the needs that the rodent scientifically named cavia porcellus will need. There are a number of more supplemental nutrients that the pigs can use to balance their diets.

In the wild, guinea pigs will forage for these additional nutrients, but in their cage, it requires knowing what is good and bad for the animal. There are a number of wild cavies that are great for cavies. Dandelions, for one, are a favorite, but they are better for their animals when they are young. Plantains are safe and white clover is another great choice. Clover can be rich in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium that guinea pigs can use. Yarrow and chickweed can also be great.

Buttercups are toxic and poisonous for guinea pigs. Make sure you know which plants are which before you feed them to your guinea pig.

Raw grasses are better for your guinea pig when they are younger. Green, leafy parts are healthier than the stems as well. Make sure that you do not feed mildew or moldy materials to your animal. Fresh food is better for the guinea pigs, just like with most animals. Guinea pigs do not like to look for their own food and they do not have a very strong digestive system that can handle a lot of different foods safely.

Vegetables are a great way to supplement their diet with more than just raw grass. Make sure you do not have cruciferous vegetables since they can give the animals problems and cause gas in the digestive tract. Turnip greens, kale and parsley are great choices for your guinea pig. Pesticides are awful for cavies and they cannot tolerate pesticides like other animals and humans. You will need to make sure that the vegetables you have are very low in pesticide counts.

There are a number of fruits that give your guinea pigs plenty of nutritious and taste great. You can find apricots, bananas and even oranges that are great for your guinea pigs. You will need to stay away from potatoes that have too much starch and oxalic acid for your guinea pig. If your guinea pig likes grapes, you can give them in smaller amounts. You should not give more than just one or two every day. Some breeds of cavies like tomatoes in small doses as well.

No matter what vegetables and fruits you want to give your guinea pig, you will need to feed the new material slowly into the diet so as to watch its reaction. Each guinea pig is a unique animal so they will handle the new stuff in a different manner.

Guinea pigs’ teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, so the grasses and vegetables you introduce in their diet will help them have both good nutrition and good dental health. The teeth of the guinea pig will ground gently against these vegetables and help to keep them at the right length for the health and safety of your animal.

         

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