Guinea Pig Diet

Guinea pigs, also referred to as cavy, belong to the rodent species of the family caviidae and genus cavia. They are a part of many indigenous South American groups' folk culture. They are also a good source of food and medicine. In some places, they are also used in religious ceremonies.

Information about Guinea Pig Diet

There are different types of guinea pigs. The diet mentioned below can be consumed by all kinds of guinea pigs. The most basic and fundamental part of guinea pig food is timothy hay. It is inexpensive and is easily available at any pet store. You can have a hay feeder so that the guinea pigs can chew on it whenever they want. Another option is to put a sufficient amount of hay several times a day in the guinea pig's cage so that they can consume it whenever they want. They should be fed with a large amount of hay. Guinea pigs should be fed with fresh hay daily. As soon as newborn guinea pigs are able to start eating, they should be fed with fresh hay. It should be fed with mixed grass hay as it is low in calories and calcium and has high contents of fiber. Adult pigs should be fed with ¼ cup of pellet everyday. Pigs whose age is more than 6 months should be fed with a large amount of pellets.

Another food that the guinea pig should be fed with is pellets. These are available at any pet store. It is suggested to feed the guinea pig with big pellets. Avoid buying pellet bags which contain a mixture of small and big pellets or seeds. For maintaining a healthy diet, the guinea pigs should be fed with fruits and vegetables as they are a natural source of many vitamins and proteins, especially vitamin C. Vitamin C plays an important part in guinea pig diet. Lack of vitamin C can decrease the resistance of guinea pigs and also cause diseases, like, scurvy. But take care that you do not over feed them, else it might cause digestion problems in guinea pigs. A variety in the diet is a must, at the same time the guinea pig should be fed with all kinds of nutrients. Add a vegetable to the diet every time. If this addition causes diarrhea or soft stools, then eliminate them from the diet. Guinea pigs should be fed with 1 or 2 tablespoons of fruits per 2 lbs of the body weight of the pig. They should be fed with fruits only once or twice a week. Avoid feeding them with sugary fruits like banana and grapes. The guinea pigs should be also well hydrated.

Guinea pigs have a tendency to chew and gnaw on things. This is because the teeth of guinea pigs never stop growing. To restrict the growth of their ever growing teeth, trim them and to keep them in proper size and buy some chew toys. Snak shak is said to be the best chew toy available in the market. You can also buy small huts and houses. These are edible and hence can be easily chewed by the guinea pigs. Different kinds of wood chews are also available in the market. You can opt for them as well.

The above mentioned guinea pig diet can be supplemented with other guinea pig food as well. Along with a healthy diet, proper care should be taken of their hygiene also. Proper care and diet will definitely increase the life span of guinea pigs.

Well, these were some of the interesting facts about guinea pigs. Hope you find them informative and useful for your guinea pig pet care.