Guinea Pig Diet

Your guinea pig diet is a very important aspect of your overall care program, and it is something that you should try to understand carefully. As much as there are some things your guinea pig needs in his or her diet, there are some that should NOT be provided. It is as, if not more important, to understand what these are.

You should always avoid cereals, nuts, chocolate, sweets, biscuits, peas, beans, bread, and sugar. Also be careful that when you are providing your pet with “pellets” from the store or pet food supplier, that they are NOT rabbit or rodent pellets. The importance of providing an adequate and balanced diet is that if the opposite is true, your furry little friend could develop a Vitamin C deficiency, with symptoms showing only after 2-3 weeks of contracting the illness. Your pet will become lethargic, lose his appetite and become weak. He will eat less and there will be a loss in his weight, all of which could result in death within 3-4 weeks.

Guinea pig diet must include Vitamin C as the Cavy cannot manufacture his own. They will require between 10 and 30mg per day to prevent scurvy. There are many supplemental ways to introduce more Vitamin C to your pet’s diet but of course the best method is always by making sure they eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and fresh fruit. A quarter of a 100mg Vitamin C chewable tablet could also be introduced into their food, if you think they might need a boost.

Fresh cold water is a must to include in your guinea pig diet, and it should always be clean. Preferably provide this in a drip bottle, and change it daily. It is important to NOT add supplements, or vitamins to the drinking water. Keep it pure and cold.

High quality, plain pellets, formulated with Vitamin C can be supplied as a snack for them to munch on when the urge takes them during the day. The correct amount would be somewhere in the region of a quarter cup per day. Keep them in a cool dark place, and always check the use-by date.

High quality grass or hay on an unlimited supply will ensure that their digestive system works normally. Feeding your guinea pig can largely be an automated process, with the supply of food being on hand when your pet becomes puckish, combined with their usual daily meals as provided by you.

Your guinea pig diet should always contain Vegetables and fresh fruit. About one cup a day of either a mixture of these items, or individually is enough to satisfy your guinea pig. Provide a variety so that there is always good balance in their diet, providing great health.

As an additional “treat” that is actually good for them in small doses, unsweetened, watered down cranberry juice. It is not only a great source of Vitamin C; it can help prevent urinary tract infections. Just make sure to change this once or twice a day, to avoid it going off.