Guinea pigs nutrition

If a guinea pig could talk, it would tell us it is vegan. This means that they do not only not eat meat, but also any animal products, dairy products or even milk. So they cannot be given milk or cheese. They only eat plant foods.
Guinea pigs have an extremely long digestive system, and food moves very slowly inside the intestines towards the last part of the excretory system. That is why the guinea pig is constantly eating something. The new food that it is currently eating pushes out the remains of previously digested food. Therefore, we should not allow the animals to be hungry.

The basis of a guinea pig's diet is fresh hay, and in the summer, if we have the opportunity to collect it, grass torn from a place located far from cars. This food should always be near the guinea pig. It helps to grind down the teeth, which are constantly growing. Not all hay is of the same quality. Good hay should be bright green and must not contain dust or ash. Unfortunately, there are manufacturers who add ash to hay, which causes the animals to sneeze. Their very delicate nostrils become clogged. The best hay is green in color, guinea pigs usually skillfully avoid yellow blades of dry grass.

Properly matched dry food with a small portion of grains is the foundation of nutrition. Grains contain too much protein, while their husks get stuck between the animals' teeth. You can buy food for guinea pigs with added vitamin C, which animals do not store in their bodies, but their bodies need it just like humans.

What foods should guinea pigs not eat?

• cheese or yogurt,
• mushrooms
• grapes,
• potatoes,
• onion,
• sweets,
• fruit juices,
• rhubarb,
• needles of coniferous trees,
• coffee,
• beans and peas,
• carbonated drinks,
• jam and spoiled vegetables and fruit that are already showing mold.
• Hard-to-digest vegetables such as lettuce or cabbage are also not recommended, because guinea pigs usually have major problems digesting them.

The pig diet can be enriched with fresh vegetables rich in vitamins. Depending on the preferences of the individual guinea pig, it may like different vegetables. Generally, we serve guinea pigs:

• carrot,
• cucumbers,
• red pepper,
• parsley,
• celery,
• chicory,
• apple,
• corn,
• strawberries,
• kiwi,
• orange,
• grapefruit,
• watermelon.

It is important to remember to serve new fruits or vegetables in small quantities, because the animals may not tolerate them. If we serve one new vegetable a day, we can clearly determine which food is causing the ailments. Let's monitor the guinea pigs while giving them new treats.