Understanding the diet for a guinea pig can be a little overwhelming at times. While guinea pigs can actually eat a large range of “human foods,” there are still some things that you should never feed your guinea pig. Additionally, there are some foods like fruit that you can feed your guinea pig, but only on a weekly basis.
All this information can be confusing, especially if you are looking for a food that you can feed your guinea pig on a daily basis. First off, it is important to understand the nutritional needs of a guinea pig.
What kind of diet do Guinea Pig’s need
Guinea pigs actually have similar dietary needs to humans. The most important nutrients in their diet are protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and Vitamin C.
Why do guinea pigs need unlimited hay everyday?
You have probably been told that you need to provide your guinea pig with unlimited hay on a daily basis. You are probably wondering why, as giving a pet unlimited of anything is not very common. The reason guinea pigs need unlimited hay is because hay helps grind down their teeth.
This is because the texture of the hay causes a guinea pig’s teeth to get worn down when they chew it. If guinea pigs did not have access to hay, their teeth would grow to an uncomfortable length which would make it hard for them to eat anything.
Also, hay is essential to their diet because it helps process food in their stomach and improve digestion. It is also important to feed your guinea pig pellets, as they contain high levels of fiber which also help their digestive system.
Food guinea pigs can eat every day?
While hay and pellets cover most of a guinea pig’s dietary needs, they are still low in one essential vitamin: Vitamin C. Therefore, you must supplement your guinea pig’s hay and pellets with some other food on a daily basis that is high in vitamin C, but not too high in sugar. Below is a list of food guinea pigs can eat every day:
Asparagus, Cucumber, Bell Pepper, Lettuce, Zucchini, Artichoke, Dill, and Sweet Potato Leaves.
While there are many fruits that are high in Vitamin C, they should only be fed to your guinea pig on a daily basis because they are very high in sugar.
Related: What to do if your cat eats a guinea pig
Why do guinea pigs need vitamin C everyday?
Just like humans, vitamin C is essential to a guinea pig’s diet. Vitamin C does a wide range of functions, including maintaining the strength of ligaments and oral health. It also helps heal wounds faster. Vitamin C also helps your guinea pig maintain a healthy fur coat. The most important function of vitamin C is that it fights off infections.
How do you know if your guinea pig isn’t getting enough Vitamin C
There are many signs that are common in guinea pigs that aren’t getting enough vitamin C. These include dirty and rough fur, frail body, skin infections, and lethargy.
