Feeding guinea pigs is very simple as long as you remember two things; one guinea pigs can't manufacture their own vitamin C and secondly they must forage for their food to help keep their constantly growing teeth under control. The diet should consist of fresh fruit and vegetables, dry complete food and most importantly lots of hay. Wild plants and herbs can be fed with care.
Fruit And Vegetables
Fresh fruit and vegetables contain vitamin C so are an important part of your guinea pigs diet. Some examples of fruit that can be fed are apples, pears, tomatoes, oranges, grapes and melons. A word of warning when feeding apples, some guinea pigs are sensitive to the acid and can cause sores to develope in the corners of the mouth. This can be avoided by cutting the apple into small cubes. Dried fruits can also be fed and may be more practical, sun dried are the best as they contain no additives or preservatives. Bunny Bazaar stocks a range of human grade dried fruits produced by Suma Wholefoods they include sun dried apple, sun dried pineapple, sun dried apricots, sun dried chewy banana, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, sun dried mango and dried coconut. Also Burgess Excel do "Apple Snacks" which is dried apple mixed with herbs and Vitakraft do a "Dandelion and Apple" mix.
Vegetables including cauliflower leaves, kale, chicory, cabbage, spring greens, carrots, beetroot, parsnip and swede are all good to feed to your guinea pig. Some to avoid are spinach due to its high level of oxalic acid, lettuce which contains laudanum and potatoes which if there is any green is toxic. Vitakraft do a "Vegetable Mix" which contains carrot, courgette and beetroot also "Carrot Cookies" and "Beetroot Cookies", Burns do "Dried Carrot Treat" and Rosewood do "100% Carrot Pellets".
Dry Complete Food
There are lots of different dry complete guinea pig foods on the market. The most popular are the pellet foods where all of the ingredients are mixed together and then formed into a pellet so the guinea pig can't pick and choose the favourite bits! Depending on the age of your pet will make a difference to which food you choose. Oxbow "Cavy Performance" has been developed especially for young guinea pigs up to the age of six months. It is alfalfa based, high in fibre and fortified with nutrients and vitamin C for essential growth of young guinea pigs. When the guinea pig reaches six months the diet can be changed to "Cavy Cuisine" which has been specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of adult guinea pigs. The low level of protein does not tax the kidneys, and the decreased caloric content helps to keep your piggy from becoming too porky! Its high level of quality fiber makes sure the digestive system works at its best. The main ingredient is Timothy hay and that is what makes this food vets first choice. Also available from Bunny Bazaar is Burgess "Science Selective" for adult guinea pigs.
