Guinea pigs nutrition
If the guinea pig could talk, she would tell us she is vegan. This proves that she does not eat not only meat, but also any products from animals, dairy products and even milk. So you can’t serve milk or cheese. They eat only plant-based foods.
Guinea pigs have an unusually long digestive system, and food inside the intestines moves very slowly towards the last part of the excretory system. That’s why the guinea pig eats something all the time. The new food it is currently eating pushes out any leftover food that has already been digested. So we shouldn’t let the animals go hungry.
The basis for the nutrition of the guinea pig is fresh hay, while in the summer, if we have the opportunity to collect – grass removed from a place away from cars. This food should always be near the guinea pig. It helps to rub the teeth that are still growing with it. Not all hay is of the same quality. Good hay should be very green in color and not contain dust or ashes. Unfortunately, there are producers who add ash to the hay, which makes the animals sneeze. Their very delicate nostrils are clogged. The best hay is green, usually guinea pigs are good at avoiding yellow blades of dry grass.
Properly matched dry food with a small portion of grains is the foundation of nutrition. Cereals contain too much protein, but their husks get stuck between the animals’ teeth. You can buy pig food with added vitamin C, which pets do not store in their bodies, but their bodies need it just as much as humans.
What products shouldn’t pigs eat?
- cheese or yogurt,
- mushrooms
- grapes,
- potatoes,
- onion,
- sweets,
- fruit juices,
- rhubarb,
- conifer needles,
- coffee,
- beans and peas,
- carbonated drinks,
- jam and spoiled vegetables and fruits, which already show mold.
- Hard-to-digest vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage are also not recommended, as pigs usually have a hard time digesting them.
The pig’s diet can be enriched with fresh vegetables rich in vitamins. Depending on the preferences of a particular pig, they may like different vegetables. In general, we serve pigs:
- carrot,
- cucumbers,
- Red pepper,
- parsley,
- celery,
- chicory,
- Apple,
- corn,
- strawberries,
- kiwi,
- orange,
- grapefruit,
- watermelon.
You must remember to serve new fruit or vegetables in small amounts, as the animals may not tolerate them. When we serve one new vegetable per day, we can clearly establish which food the ailments come from. Let’s monitor guinea pigs as they feed them with new delicacies.
