What can guinea pigs eat?

If you are the guardian of a little one like this, have you ever wondered: what can guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs are herbivores, which means they only eat plants and plant-based foods. The diet should be based on high-quality hay, palletized feed and limited amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Set up a routine for your guinea pig, offer food twice a day, morning and night. If given the opportunity, they will eat more than they should, so make sure not to overfeed them with grainy foods as this can cause diarrhea and a decreased appetite.

An imbalance in nutrition can lead to chronic diarrhea, obesity and even dental disease.

When introducing new foods into your guinea pig’s diet, do so gradually – abrupt or significant changes to their diet can cause them to stop eating and potentially develop life-threatening gastrointestinal problems.

What vegetables can guinea pigs eat?

• Bell peppers
• Carrot
• Cauliflower leaves and stems
• Celery leaves
• Green beans
• Savoy cabbage
• Cress
• Endive
• Arugula

Some other leaves that your guinea pig can eat:

• Coriander
• Mint
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme
• Basil

What fruits can guinea pigs eat?

Fruits are not generally part of their diet when they are in the wild, but you can give them small amounts as an occasional treat.

Fruits are rich in sugar, which can cause obesity, so they need to be offered in regulated portions and infrequently.

Fruits that are safe for guinea pigs include:

• Apple (seedless)
• Banana
• Cherry
• Kiwi
• Melon
• Pear
• Plum
• Pumpkin
• Strawberry

Rabbit food is not for guinea pigs!

The feed developed for rabbits does not contain the necessary level of vitamin C for the piglets’ organism. In general, these animals need to receive supplementation of this vitamin, along with your dietary routine, avoiding serious illnesses such as scurvy. Consult your veterinarian to find out the correct supplementation for your dog.

What can’t guinea pigs eat?

You also need to know which foods are not recommended for these animals, as some can be toxic or cause health problems in your guinea pig’s body.

Make sure you don’t feed them the following foods:

• Cereals;
• Grains;
• Nuts;
• Seeds;
• dried beans,
• Corn and peas;
• Lettuce;
• Carvalho;
• Avocado;
• Onion;
• Potato;
• Mushrooms;
• Human foods such as: bread, cookies, sweets, sugar, breakfast cereals, dairy products, chocolate, pasta, crackers or preserved foods.

And of course, make sure your guinea pig has clean, fresh drinking water throughout the day.

Consult your veterinarian immediately if you notice any changes in your guinea pig’s eating, watering and bathroom habits.

Do you have any questions? Put it in the comments so we can get back to you!