Hay, pellets and vegetables: a guinea pig diet that protects teeth and gut
TUREFF• •0
Almost every common guinea pig health problem, from overgrown teeth to a sluggish gut, can be traced at least partly to diet. The right diet is not complicated, but the balance matters more than the individual foods. Think of it as a large base of hay, a measured amount of pellets, a daily handful of vegetables, and very little else.
Why hay comes first
Guinea pig teeth grow continuously throughout life. They are kept the right length by grinding through tough, fibrous food for hours each day. Hay does that job. It also provides the long fibre their digestive system depends on to keep moving.
- Offer unlimited good quality hay, available at all times. Most of what a guinea pig eats each day should be hay.
- Grass hays such as timothy or meadow hay suit adults.
- Alfalfa (lucerne) is richer in calcium and protein. It may be suggested for young, pregnant or underweight guinea pigs, but it is generally not ideal as the main hay for healthy adults.
- Good hay smells sweet, looks greenish rather than brown or grey, and is not dusty or mouldy.
- Put hay in several places, including near where they like to sit, and refresh it daily so it stays appealing.
If your guinea pigs are leaving hay untouched, try a different type or batch before assuming they simply do not like it.
Pellets: a small measured portion
Pellets fill nutritional gaps and add vitamin C, but they are concentrated, so they should be a small part of the diet.
- Choose plain pellets made for guinea pigs, where every piece is the same.
- Avoid muesli-style mixes. Guinea pigs pick out the tasty, sugary or seedy bits and leave the rest, which leads to an unbalanced diet. Mixes with seeds, nuts, oats or dried fruit are too high in fat and starch.
- The PDSA suggests around a tablespoon of pellets per guinea pig per day. Follow your vet's advice if your guinea pig needs to gain or lose weight.
- Store pellets well and serve fresh each day, because their vitamin C degrades over time.
Vegetables every day
Fresh vegetables add vitamin C, variety and moisture. A guide many owners use is roughly a cupful of mixed vegetables per guinea pig per day.
- Good regular choices: sweet peppers, romaine and other dark leaf lettuces, cucumber in moderation, coriander, celery cut into short pieces, and the green tops of carrots.
- In smaller amounts or less often: kale, spinach, parsley and other greens high in calcium or oxalates, and carrots themselves, which are sugary.
- Fruit: a small piece occasionally as a treat, not daily.
Introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts, and wash everything well.
Foods to avoid
- Iceberg lettuce, which offers little but water and can upset digestion
- Potatoes and potato peelings, onions, garlic, leeks and chives
- Avocado
- Chocolate, sweets, biscuits, bread, cereals and anything processed
- Dairy products and meat
- Seeds, nuts and grains
- Garden plants unless you are certain they are safe and unsprayed
If in doubt, leave it out and ask your vet.
Grazing and grass
Fresh grass is a natural food for guinea pigs, and grazing on an untreated lawn in a secure run is good for them. Introduce it gradually if they are not used to it. Never feed lawnmower clippings, which ferment quickly and can cause serious digestive upsets.
Water
Fresh water must always be available, in a bottle, a heavy bowl, or both. Check bottles daily, as the spouts can block, and clean them regularly.
Signs the diet is not right
- Eating less hay, or dropping food from the mouth
- Drooling or a wet chin
- Smaller, fewer or misshapen droppings
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Overgrown front teeth
These can point to dental or digestive problems that need a vet experienced with guinea pigs, and a guinea pig that stops eating should be seen the same day.
What does a typical day's menu look like for your guinea pigs? Share your tips or questions in the comments.