Are you having a hard time choosing what to feed your guinea pigs daily?
Here’s a quick answer –
Although Guinea pigs are known for their love of Timothy hay and grass, they also like eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits.
Their diet needs to have enough veggies and fruits to retain several vitamins.
In this article, I will discuss the different types of food your pet can eat regularly.
Let’s discuss more!
Table of Contents
Timothy Hay
A constant supply of fresh, clean, and high-quality hay is essential for them.
Why? For the simple reason that it gives them the fiber that they require to have a healthy digestive system.
In addition, it prevents their teeth, which are constantly growing, from becoming excessively long.
Among guinea pig owners, timothy hay is a popular choice. It’s also a guinea pig favorite because of its delicious flavor and pleasant aroma.
Timothy hay is an excellent source of fiber, fat, and protein for our pigs, and it’s widely available, too.
Note:
Check for dust and mold in timothy hay before purchasing. Timothy hay that is fresh, green, dust-free, and has a tinge of sweetness is the best for guinea pigs.
Vegetables
We’ve compiled a list of pet-safe vegetables to maintain a good diet for your guinea pig.
To help you feed your guinea pig healthy meals, take a look at the contents of numerous veggies that you may buy and serve to your pet.
Carrots
Your guinea pig will enjoy chewing carrots. It is one of their favorite foods. Carrots are very nutritious veggies and a rich source of calcium.
However, carrots are high in sugar and should only be given in tiny amounts (less than 14 cups) on a weekly basis.
The green carrot tops, which are rich in nutrients, can also be fed to your guinea pig.
However, because they contain a lot of calcium, you should only do it once a week to avoid the formation of kidney stones.
Celery
Celery is another healthy food that can be included in your pet’s diet in a small amount.
It is a rich source of vitamin C. Also, this crunchy veggie keeps their teeth healthy.
However, you should only give them a quarter of a stalk and the leaves at once as a treat.
Now, let’s know about the summertime food for your guinea pig, cucumber.
Cucumber
Because they are low in calories, cucumbers can be safely served to your pet.
It’s also 97 percent water, so it’s a terrific way to keep your pet hydrated during the hot months of the year.
Since it’s a good source of water, it can help with constipation as well.
However, the high water content of cucumber may lead your guinea pig to diarrhea, vomiting, or bloating.
Except in the summertime, the majority of veterinarians advise choosing other veggies.
Romaine Lettuce
Your guinea pig will love the flavor and texture of romaine lettuce, a hearty leafy green. It’s packed with nutrients your pet will benefit from it a lot.
Also, the fiber it contains will keep its digestive system in check.
It’s fine to feed it to your guinea pig as long as you thoroughly wash it to eliminate any pesticides. For convenience, slice it into 1-inch squares.
Another favorite crunchy vegetable of your guinea pig is cabbage.
RECOMMENDED READING: CAN GUINEA PIGS EAT LETTUCE
Cabbage
Red and green cabbage is great for guinea pigs.
Most veterinarians recommend red and green cabbage as healthy food options for guinea pigs.
Note:
Always serve raw cabbage to your pet!
Broccoli
As long as you don’t overfeed it, you can start giving your guinea pig broccoli.
It includes a great amount of fiber and antioxidants. Your pet can benefit greatly from the nutrients found in this plant.
Most veterinarians suggest giving a spoon of broccoli to your guinea pig. You can serve this veggie daily even if you are not providing other veggies.
Collard Greens
The vitamins A, C, and K in collard greens are just a few of the many nutrients found in these leafy greens.
Alpha-lipoic acid, an enzyme found in collard greens, has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels in guinea pigs.
The high calcium and water content means that it should only be fed once a week to avoid diarrhea and other health issues.
READ OUR FULL GUIDE: CAN GUINEA PIGS COLLARD GREENS
Fruits
Including fruit in your guinea pig’s diet is a must for its health and well-being. They’re high in sugar, so it’s advisable to limit our intake of them.
As a result, you should only give them fruits as treats with no more than three to four servings each week.
Now let’s take a look at the fruits guinea pigs can eat.
Kiwi
Even a modest amount of kiwi can provide a significant amount of vitamin C to your guinea pig.
Because of its high sugar content, it should be fed twice a week in little doses like any other fruit.
Additionally, it is high in potassium to help avoid bladder stones, as well as fiber to aid digestion. Remove the skin before chopping and serving it to your pet.
Blueberry
Antioxidants and vitamins are in great amounts in blueberries, making them a healthy food option for guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs with sensitive mouths should avoid blueberries since they can develop mouth sores from them.
It is best to start out with a smaller serving size and work your way up from there.
CHECK OUT: THE 5 GREAT BENEFITS OF BLUEBERRIES
Watermelon
Watermelon can be fed to guinea pigs, but you should not give watermelon only as its diet.
Before serving them watermelon, be sure to remove all of the seeds from the flesh or peel. You should cut the watermelon into 2 inches.
It’s possible that your guinea pig won’t eat watermelon because it doesn’t enjoy the taste. Were you thinking about trying bananas or apples instead?
Banana
You can feed your guinea pigs bananas since they are rich in nutrients like fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, and vitamin C.
Your guinea pig’s fur is maintained by Vitamin B-6, which keeps it nice and smooth. If they don’t, they could get rashes on their skin.
Bananas have a high sugar content (more than 10%), so be sure to serve them in small amounts only when necessary.
Apple
The fiber in the peel of an apple is very good for the complex digestive system of guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs need calcium, and apple leaves provide a good source. Put a complete branch (washed) from your apple tree in its cage to see how it works.
They can keep their teeth clean by chewing on the wood and eating the leaves.
READ OUR FULL GUIDE: CAN GUINEA PIGS EAT APPLE?
Cantaloupe
Vitamin C content makes cantaloupe a good food for inclusion in your pet’s diet.
Keep it cool and serve it in small portions to maintain the diet. One guinea pig can eat a few cubes of cantaloupe.
Cantaloupe seeds may provide a choking threat for guinea pigs, which are small and have small throats. So, make sure to remove the seeds before serving.
You can also consider the fruits below to add variety to your pet’s diet.
- Plums
- Apricots
- Melon (all types!)
- Cranberries
- Strawberries (including the leafy green tops)
- Raspberries
- Oranges
- Pears
- Cherries
- Papaya
How Many Meals A Day Should A Guinea Pig eat?
You should give two main meals to your cavy, one in the morning and the other in the evening. In addition, they can be served hay or treated with a small piece of fruit, or herbs.
It’s critical to feed a balanced diet of pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables a day. To ensure a healthy and happy animal a constant supply of fresh timothy hay should be provided.
Once a day, around 1/8 cup of pellets, supplemented with hay and fresh vegetables, will be enough.
Feeding the above-mentioned greens each day is the greatest way to keep things interesting. Vitamin C-rich vegetables such as red or green peppers and broccoli can be consumed on a daily basis alternatively.
It’s fine to give the guinea pigs fruit as a special treat once a day.
Small slices of orange, apple, or blueberry, a few blueberries, or thin slices of banana are all that are needed for an appropriate serving.
Creating Your Meal Plan
These are the most vital foods for your guinea pig to create the perfect meal.
- Timothy Hay
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Basil
- Turnip Green
- Celery
- Bell pepper
- Blueberry
- Kiwi
- Apple
- Banana
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Strawberry
Now, let’s look at the food schedule for the day.
| Food | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Timothy Hay | Provide as much as the guinea pig needs as per its eating habit. |
| (Vegetables) Cabbage Lettuce Celery Carrot Basil Bell pepper Cauliflower Broccoli Spinach Turnip Green | 1 cup per day of any of these veggies |
| (Fruits) Blueberry Kiwi Apple Banana Cantaloupe Watermelon Strawberry | Occasionally as treats |
Final Thoughts
To sum up, your guinea pigs can have a good amount of timothy hay daily, a cup of green veggies, and a small piece of fruit as a treat.
You can choose a variety of vegetables and fruits from the options we have mentioned.
Make sure you wash the vegetables in warm water to remove any wax or pesticides that may be on them. And then cut the food into little pieces so that your pet is able to chew.
If you follow the instructions given above your guinea pig will have all the essential nutrients it needs to have a long and healthy life.
In case you found this article informative, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family!
To know more about what your pets can eat, consider reading Can Guinea Pigs Eat Human Food? (21 Healthy Food To Eat).
