Best guinea pig food for babies

The 7 Best Guinea Pig Foods of 2022

Our favorite guinea pig food is Oxbow Essentials

Adrienne Kruzer

Adrienne Kruzer is a veterinary technician with more than 15 years of experience providing healthcare to domestic and exotic animals. She is trained as a Fear Free Certified Professional to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process

Updated on 11/22/22

Reviewed by

Nelva J. Bryant

Reviewed by Nelva J. Bryant

Dr. Nelva Bryant, DVM, is a highly accomplished veterinarian with three decades of professional experience in animal welfare, public health, and zoonotic diseases. She has worked with airlines and the Centers for Disease Control to improve pet travel through veterinary oversight. Dr. Bryant is a Veterinary Review Board Member for The Spruce Pets.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Veterinary Review Board

Fact checked by

Andrew Whalen

Fact checked by Andrew Whalen

Andrew is a commerce editor for Treehugger and The Spruce Pet. His writing has appeared on Popular Science, Inverse, Newsweek, and Vice.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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Guinea pigs, are also commonly referred to as cavies, are great pets for both children and adults because they don’t take up a large amount of space and are fairly quiet. As long as you provide them with what they need to thrive, they are also pretty easy pets to care for. Like most pets, what you feed your guinea pig is a very important part of providing them with what they need, so choosing the right food for your cavy should not be a decision you take lightly.

“There is a lot of thought that goes into buying guinea pig food,” says Cheri Schubert, a guinea pig breeder and previously Registered Veterinary Technician. Guinea pigs are herbivores, have teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, and like humans, are unable to make their own vitamin C in their bodies.

Because of these things, the proper diet for a guinea pig must not contain any meat, help keep their teeth at an appropriate length, and contain vitamin C. If a diet does not meet all of these criteria, your guinea pig may become sick, weak, and be unable to live a long and happy life.

There are numerous food options to choose from, so our veterinary and guinea pig experts have helped narrow down your choices to the best guinea pig foods.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food at Chewy

Best Hay:

Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay Small Animal Food at Chewy

Best Treats:

Supreme Petfoods woodland loops guinea pig treats at Chewy

Best Budget:

Blue Seal Guinea Pig Pellets at Amazon

Best Organic:

Oxbow Organic Bounty Adult Guinea Pig Food at Chewy

Best for Baby Guinea Pigs:

Oxbow Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food at Chewy

Best for Vitamin C:

Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement at Chewy

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for in Guinea Pig Food
Why Trust The Spruce Pets

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Oxbow is well-known in the small pet world for its quality products and the Essentials Adult Guinea Pig food is a favorite among guinea pig owners. These small pellets have no seeds, are uniform in shape and size so that picky eaters won’t be selective, and are economically priced. They are also available in multiple sizes of bags so that you can be sure you only buy as much as your guinea pig will eat within a few months time. Larger bags of pellets may be less expensive per pound, but if you only have two or three guinea pigs, the vitamin C in the food will expire before your cavies can consume it all.

Key Ingredients: Timothy grass meal, soybean hulls, wheat middlings, soybean meal, cane molasses, sodium bentonite, soybean oil, salt, lignin sulfonate, limestone, yeast culture, vitamin C, vitamin E supplement | Recommended Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Schubert says orchard grass is very soft and sweet and is less likely to stick in the coats of the long-haired pig. It is also less likely to poke an eye. These characteristics make it a favorite hay among guinea pig owners and breeders.

Multiple sized bags or bales are available, so you can be sure to only buy as much as your guinea pigs will eat in a timely manner. “There never can be too much hay in the cage," Schubert says. "It is a staple that can be offered free range.”

Key Ingredients: 100% orchard grass | Recommended Daily Serving Size: Unlimited

Supreme Petfoods

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What We Like

High in fiber, including long fiber better for tooth maintenance
Unique flavors
Recyclable packaging
Contains linseed for omega fatty acids
Also suitable for rabbits and chinchillas

What We Don't Like

Treats should never make up more than 20 percent of your pig’s diet and should provide supplemental nutrition, or at least an additional source of fiber—more fiber is always welcome in a guinea pig diet. Selective Naturals Woodland Loops provide supplemental protein, fiber, and moisture. They have zero added sugar, no artificial colors, and safely supplement your pig with natural ingredients. Plus, they come in a unique dandelion and rosehips flavor.

Supreme Petfoods recommends feeding no more than 2-4 Loops treats per day.

Key Ingredients: Wheat flour, ground timothy grass hay, ground alfalfa hay, ground dried locust beans, ground peas, soy oil, flaxseed, dried dandelion, dried rosehip, natural colors Recommended Daily Serving Size: 2-4 treats per day

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What We Don't Like

The cost of quality guinea pig food will decrease if you buy it in bulk, so a 25-pound bag of Blue Seal Furry Friends guinea pig pellets is a great option if you are on a budget. However, 25 pounds of guinea pig food is more than a two year supply of food for one cavy, and since the vitamin C expires after four months from the date it is milled, much of the food will be wasted if you have less than six cavies. Because of this, this large bag of food is not a good choice if you only have a few cavies. However, Blue Seal food is “tried, tested, and true,” according to Schubert. Blue Seal does offer a 5-pound bag of this food but it may be more difficult to find. Other quality foods including Oxbow also offer 25-pound bags of food, which will be more cost effective per pound as well.

Key Ingredients: Dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat middlings, soybean meal, soybean hulls, wheat flour, cane molasses, vegetable oil, calcium carbonate, salt, monocalcium phosphate, vitamin C, hydrolyzed yeast, vitamin E supplement | Recommended Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day

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What We Don't Like

Oxbow’s Organic Bounty food is a high-quality option if you are looking to feed organic food to your guinea pig. “Oxbow makes a superior food so on a small scale, if you only have a couple of guinea pigs, I recommend feeding this,” says Schubert. A 3-pound bag of food is a great size if you only have one or two guinea pigs, because it will help ensure that you are always feeding fresh food with effective vitamin C. This food has the USDA organic seal which means the ingredients are grown by certified organic farmers, but the price point will be higher than other foods.

Key Ingredients: Organic grass hay, organic canola meal, organic wheat straw, organic sunflower meal, organic barley, organic flax seed, yeast culture, sodium bentonite, limestone, salt, vitamin C, organic dandelion leaf | Recommended Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Schubert suggests that the best food for baby guinea pigs is "a higher protein food that is around 18 to 22 percent protein.” That means that Oxbow’s Essentials Young Guinea Pig food is a great choice for guinea pigs less than six months of age. These pellets contain no seeds and have a minimum of 18 percent protein in each serving. They are also made from alfalfa hay and not timothy or orchard grass to provide the different nutrients growing cavies need. Guinea pig owners also rave about how their growing pigs love this formula.

The 8 Best Guinea Pig Cages of 2022

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What We Like

High quality brand
High in fiber

What We Don't Like

If you are concerned about not giving your guinea pig enough vitamin C, Oxbow’s Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement is a great option to provide to your cavy. These treats are also high in fiber to aid in digestion and help prevent diarrhea. Plus, guinea pig love them and owners say their pigs come running for their vitamin C. The supplement is also suitable for other small pets like rabbits and chinchillas, but whenever adding a supplement to your pet's diet it's always a good idea to consult with your vet.

Key Ingredients: Timothy grass, barley flour, oat groat flour, cane molasses, vitamin C, flax seed meal, brewers dried yeast, guar gum, fat product, mixed tocopherols (preservative), rosemary extract | Recommended Daily Serving Size: 1 tablet per day

The 9 Best Guinea Pig Toys of 2022

Final Verdict

Oxbow offers high-quality foods at fair prices, especially if you care for a number of guinea pigs and can purchase it in bulk. Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food (view at Amazon) is a great all-around option for guinea pigs over six months of age. It is affordable, widely available, and provides the nutrients like vitamin C that guinea pigs needs from their pellets. These pellets should always be offered alongside a high-quality timothy or orchard grass hay, so Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay (view at Chewy) is a great option to fulfill the rest of your guinea pig’s needs.

Formulated for Guinea Pigs

The most important things to look for when selecting a guinea pig food is to make sure the food is designed for guinea pigs and that the date of milling is as recent as possible. Foods that are milled more than a few months ago will begin losing their vitamin C, and foods that are not designed for guinea pigs may not have as much as a guinea pig needs. Next, avoid foods that are high in fat and calories like seeds and sugary treats as these will contribute to obesity and health issues.

Milling Date

“All guinea pig feed contains a supplement of Vitamin C. It is very important to make sure you understand the milling process date and that it isn’t more than four months old," explains cavie expert Cheri Schubert. "Also, when you open the pelleted feed, store it in a plastic container to continue to preserve the vitamins and minerals and freshness. ” This means that if you are choosing a pellet designed for guinea pigs, it will contain vitamin C, but you need to make sure the food isn’t more than four months old and you store it appropriately.

FAQ

Several human foods can be offered to guinea pigs as treats. Cheri Schubert notes that Cheerios and quick plain rolled oats are popular options, along with vegetables that are high in vitamin C and some fruits. Bell peppers, kale, leafy lettuce, green beans, parsley, cilantro, strawberry tops, and cucumbers are great vegetable options. Be sure to limit starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots, and avoid gas-producing vegetables like cabbage and onions.
“Guinea pigs can be fed rabbit food on a very limited basis,” says Schubert. Rabbit food lacks the nutritional components, primarily adequate vitamin C, that guinea pigs need, so it should never be fed to a guinea pig long term. If you absolutely cannot find guinea pig food or are running low and can only find rabbit pellets, you can temporarily mix your rabbit and guinea pig pellets or feed the rabbit pellets until you can get more guinea pig pellets. Vitamin C deficiency is a serious problem and will negatively affect guinea pigs that don’t get adequate amounts in their diet.
With the exception of feeding rabbit pellets for a very temporary time, Schubert says, “I would not recommend any other pet foods for a guinea pig. Many of the other foods contain things that guinea pigs shouldn’t eat.”

Adrienne Kruzer is a Registered and Licensed Veterinary Technician in three states and has been writing about pet and vet topics for over a decade. She is also Fear Free Certified, has a special interest in exotic and pocket pets, pet nutrition, and loves researching, learning, and problem solving in order to better help pet owners. Her years of working in various animal hospitals with dogs, cats, wildlife, and exotic pets like guinea pigs, alongside her formal college education and elective continuing education classes, have provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge to help guinea pig owners select the right food for their pet.

Cheri Schubert was not only a Registered Veterinary Technician in her life before Human Resource Management, but she also breeds and shows champion guinea pigs. She is a member of the American Cavy Breeders Association, American Rabbit Breeders Association, and the Ohio Cavy Club and runs Crafty Cavies and Seminole Winds Cavies where she has raised show and pet stock for over 12 years. Texel, teddy, silkie, and Swiss guinea pig breeds are her specialties.

The 9 Best Basic Guinea Pig Supplies

What To Feed Baby Guinea Pigs? (Hay, Veggies, Milk & More)

The first six months of your guinea pig’s life is crucial for their longterm health. In this primary stage of their growth, a guinea pig undergoes some physical changes continuously. Their diet plan must consider their growth. But what can we feed baby guinea pigs? Can they eat veggies, pellets, or do they have special dietary requirements?

Fresh hay and water are essential foods in those early days. Baby guinea pigs require high protein, thus offer them pellets and dry alfalfa grass. Your baby guinea pigs will stop drinking mother’s milk once they are three weeks old. You can consider adding a small serving of fresh veggies at this stage.

You must ensure that your baby guinea pigs are getting enough nourishment, so they develop healthy bones and muscles as they grow older.

Be confident that your baby guinea pigs get into good eating habits. It’s tempting to feed some excess food to young guinea pigs, but it can result in obesity and health problems later in life.

They will need more fiber than protein as they grow older, and their growth rate slows down. This guide will explain to you what is the best diet plan for your baby guinea pigs. So, read it till the end to learn all about it.

Contents

What do baby guinea pigs eat?

People who are new to keeping guinea pigs get surprised to know what they eat. Excess sweet veggies like carrots or iceberg lettuce will lead to health problems. Instead of this, your guinea pigs mostly survive on eating dry grass.

By providing hay as a major part of their diet, the idea is to replicate what they would eat in the wild otherwise.

Offering fresh grass to pet guinea pigs as the staple is not possible. Hay (dry grass) is a replacement for grass. Your guinea pigs can munch on it all day.

Including dry grass, guinea pigs find pleasure in eating fresh fruits and vegetables and fancy pellets. These foods must be given to them in small quantities, as too many vegetables can upset their stomach.

Pellets are not compulsory for guinea pigs once they reach adulthood. These are crucial for baby and young guinea pigs, as pellets are rich in some vitamins and minerals that are needed more at an early age than in later age.

They also contain lots of calories. Thus, as guinea pigs get older, the proportion of pellets must be decreased from their diet. Do not worry if your guinea pigs refuse eating pellets.

Drinking water is also vital for guinea pigs. They must be able to drink fresh water quickly, provide them clean water in a bowl, or attach a bottle to their cage.

Guinea pig diet basics

The three main foods of guinea pig’s diet are pellets, hay, and fresh vegetables. If we get to draw a chart of guinea pig’s diet, then hay would be written as the most important part followed by vegetables and pellets.

That is because the digestive passage of guinea pigs is designed to absorb fiber found in dry grass. There are kinds of hay available, each carrying a different quality:

Grass hay ( meadow hay or timothy hay): This is excellent hay feed to guinea pigs by their owners. This hay is fresh grass, which is dried out after cutting. That means that non-domesticated guinea pigs eat this grass.
Oat grass: This grass is made by oat grass, which is cropped before it grows. Once the oat cultivates, this hay then does not carry any nutrients for guinea pigs. However, it can be used to make their bed.
Alfalfa grass: This is quite different than usual hay; it is more legume than grass. Alfalfa hay is usually offered to young guinea pigs. It carries more protein and calcium than any other hay, so it helps to gain weight and develop bones and muscles.

Also read: All about types of hay, its important and more

Pellets are said to be an essential part of the diet of guinea pigs. However, many researchers state that pellets are not necessary for adult guinea pigs, as the growth rate is slacked, and their bodies do not need excess minerals.

If your guinea pigs seem overweight, then you should remove pellets from their diet. Adult guinea pigs can survive eating hay and vegetables only. However, pellets are necessary for young and baby guinea pigs to grow.

Treats should be offered to them occasionally only, specifically fruits. Guinea pigs love the sweet taste, so they enjoy berries, raisins, beetroot, and carrots. But, their body is not made to process complex carbohydrates.

Guinea pigs can enjoy a spoon of fresh fruit for every 2lbs of their body weight.

Once more, guinea pigs who are overweight should not be given fresh fruit and treat for some time.

Guinea pigs do not compulsorily need these foods to grow. They will get all the essential vitamins they need from hay and vegetables only.

Baby guinea pig food guide

Your guinea pigs need more food to eat, as they are continually growing. Baby guinea pigs need food to stay warm after their fur sheds for the first time.

The diet of baby guinea pigs regularly adjusts as they grow. At around two weeks, they will eat solid grass.

But, this will be offered to them, including their mother’s milk. At the time of reaching four weeks, baby guinea pigs start eating hay and pellets.

Let baby guinea pigs eat alfalfa hay. The protein and calcium found in this hay will help them grow strong muscles and bones.

But, mix some standard timothy hay in it too. That will make the transformation easier when your guinea pigs become adults.

Keep this in mind that the kind of pellets your guinea pigs are eating are specially made for young guinea pigs. That will supply everything your guinea pigs need to grow.

Keep it appropriate, whatever you are giving to eat to your piggies. Guinea pigs are sensitive to change, especially younger ones. So do not keep changing their food until and unless it is needed.

Baby guinea pig food list

The first thing to do before you bring your guinea pigs home is to make a shopping list. For guinea pigs, healthy food is essential, so it is better to estimate what is best before they arrive.

You are supposed to purchase hay in advance. Alfalfa hay is considered most essential but brings some traditional meadow hay too. Do not let your guinea pigs attach to the taste of alfalfa hay because they are not going to eat only this for life.

You will require some kind of pellets. Buy the perfect pellets for your guinea pigs. You will see lots of varieties according to the age of guinea pigs.

Do not purchase a huge bag of pellets. However, you will be informed that baby guinea pigs eat lots of pellets. Pellets can get fungal growth very quickly, so smaller bags of pellets are correct.

Can baby guinea pigs eat hay

Alfalfa hay is best possible for baby guinea pigs. In the first month of their birth, guinea pigs will gain proteins by this hay. Pellets also carry alfalfa, so your guinea pigs will be in good health.

Even if alfalfa hay is correct for baby guinea pigs, they should not be eating this exclusively.

There should be a ratio of 3:2, which is mixing alfalfa hay with traditional timothy hay. This will help you to ease the transition of your guinea pigs to timothy hay as they grow up.

Other than this, be sure that the cage of your guinea pigs is full of hay. They will sleep on hay, and generally, they will be surrounded by this. It also means that they will eliminate a lot of waste in their hay.

As the brains and bladders of baby guinea pigs are not mature enough. They will take some time to be litter trained.

You need to be careful though as molds can be formed by urine on hay, and it is harmful to guinea pigs. Keep cleaning their cage regularly.

Hay must appear as a source of enjoyment to your baby guinea pigs. Put your guinea pigs quickly in the habit of eating hay. Include this habit while they play or do exercise as well.

Can baby guinea pigs eat vegetables

As baby guinea pigs having a soft digestive passage, many people beleive that they should not eat fresh foods like fruits and vegetables.

However, The fact is that fresh food and vegetables are good for them if served in moderation.

Because of the lack of information, the statement that baby guinea pigs eating fresh food is harmful has appeared.

It is true that offering fresh vegetables, which is not correct for the age of guinea pigs results in danger. Guinea pigs take a while to adapt changes in diet.

However, make sure to avoid watery veggies like cucumber, zucchini, etc when you have just started serving vegetables. Begin with bell peppers, cilantro, lettuce, and slowly transition to other veggies.

Baby guinea pigs can munch on vegetables when they reach 4 weeks old, and their stomach gets stable enough to digest vegetables in small amounts.

Fresh vegetables will also control the size of their teeth as their teeth keep growing. Their teeth will get shaped when they eat solid foods.

Fruits must be offered to guinea pigs only for treats or for training. When your guinea pigs start eating the correct amount of hay, you can offer them fruits as candy.

Can baby guinea pigs eat pellets

Pellets are recommended to be included in your baby guinea pig’s diet schedule. Your guinea pigs will rise joyfully and fit. But the amount and the kind of pellets should be correct.

Be careful as some pet stores suggest that baby guinea pigs can eat lots of pellets; theoretically, it is right. Young guinea pigs can handle the calories they get because of their continually growing body.

However, your guinea pigs are learning negative habits from this at the same time.

Regularly eating pellets may get your guinea pigs accustomed to it, and if you try to stop them eating pellets when they reach adulthood, they will feel upset.

Hence, learning how to rely on hay at an early age is better for your guinea pig’s health.

Keep this in mind to buy the best possible right kind of pellets containing 22% of the fiber, 14% of proteins, and not more than 1% of calcium. Anything high in calcium can be bad for their health.

Avoid attracting pellets that contain a mixture of cereals. However, they will enjoy the taste of nuts and seeds in it.

As baby guinea pigs are immature, they will enjoy eating food that lacks nutrients but are tasty and refuses to notice other foods.

Can baby guinea pigs drink from a water bottle

Baby guinea pigs can consume water from a bottle as her mother will teach them how to do so on an early stage.

Until baby guinea pigs turn 3 weeks old, they get hydration from their mothers. As they grow, baby guinea pigs need to drink more water as they eat lots of solid food. So drinking water becomes essential for them to be healthy.

However, not all guinea pigs are able to drink from bottle at such an early age.

Knowing how baby guinea pigs enjoy drinking water is essential. Many of them enjoy drinking water from a bottle. And many drinks from a bowl.

In whatever way your pets are enjoying drinking water, just encourage them to drink more.

Baby guinea pigs are always playing and impatient, so if you offer them to drink from a bowl, it should not be light in weight, and it must have a little depth.

It happens that they start playing in and from water, which can grow mold on hay, and guinea pigs may also suffer from low body temperature as they get wet and their body loses heat.

Can baby guinea pigs drink cow milk

Guinea pigs are weaned when they are three weeks old. Until then, mother guinea pigs will feed them milk and teach them to transition to solid food.

Mothers should not be kept far from their baby guinea pigs until they start eating solid food. If the owner of a local pet shop gives you smaller than four weeks old guinea pigs, do not get them home.

If the mother guinea pig is not feeding their babies and you need to provide them with milk then avoid cow milk because it contains lots of calcium. You can offer them goat milk or kitten milk, which is acceptable.

However, kitten milk carries fewer calories than guinea pig’s milk. In response to this, mix sugarless cream in it and offer them multiple times in a day.

Also, don’t rely only on milk for their nutritional needs. After turning two weeks old, baby guinea pigs will require some solid food and water. Ignoring these supplies will leave guinea pigs malnourished.

Baby guinea pig healthy diet

Baby guinea pigs will feel energetic at times, but they will require constant short naps. Due to the lack of a proper diet, you may find your guinea pigs lazier than normal.

Observing a guinea pig’s poop discharge is a way to know about their health conditions and especially their digestive system.

Baby guinea pigs remove two kinds of wastes:

Pellet waste that always remains there in their cage.
Cecotropes, that is a nutritious soft poop that guinea pigs will eat.

A healthy poop discharge of guinea pigs will be light brown, and when you pick it up for cleaning, it will break down.

It shows that your guinea pigs are consuming a lot of protein when their poop appears dark in color.

Baby guinea pigs who suffer from loose motions need urgent medical treatments. This illness can be dangerous over time.

Baby guinea pig eating too fast

It is normal for baby guinea pigs to eat too fast or too slow. Sometimes it can lead to hiccups, but these are nothing to be worried about, as in most cases, hiccups disappear within a short span of time.

Baby guinea pigs feel insecure about their food which is the actual reason why they eat fast.

Only after being kept on a tight schedule, they will know when they will get the food which calms them down and fixes this issue.

Eating food fast is also done by guinea pigs who live together in a large cage with lots of other guinea pigs. Guinea pigs will be worried that another will eat their food so they try to munch on it rather quickly.

Baby guinea pig not eating

It becomes essential to know why your guinea pigs are not eating. When any guinea pigs of any age refuse to eat, that becomes a headache. And if the guinea pigs are young and do not eat, then the trouble doubles.

When adult guinea pigs eat less food then you are not much stressed because they do not require high calories. They might prefer eating fewer pellets and more hay. However, if young one refuses to eat, it might be a trouble.

You must keep this in check that your pets can accept change in their diet. It is not right that they hold on to one of their favorites when you change their diet program. If so, then it must be taken care of.

Undoubtedly, baby guinea pigs require more food to eat, but if you’re filling their stomach with too much food of their choice, you are setting a bad example. Turning to adults, they will disagree with eating anything that they do not prefer.

Sometimes baby guinea pigs might not eat normally when they are separated from their mother. You need to make sure that your guinea pigs are not stressed as they are being held far from their siblings and mothers.

Sometimes neutering/spaying of young guinea pigs can also bring changes in behavior. It may happen that they do not feel hungry for some time, but it should be managed quickly. You may need to reach out to your vet if such a situation arises.

Also read: Gastrointestinal stasis in guinea pigs

Alternative food for baby guinea pigs

You must provide some drinks if your guinea pigs are not eating. This statement seems easy to say but hard to apply. Consult a professional vet to be sure about the nourishment need of your guinea pigs.

If you can’t find the milk that is only for guinea pigs, you can provide them with a goat or kitten milk.

Your guinea pigs will need more milk if they refuse to eat hay or pellets.

1-2 weeks old- 10-15 ml
2-3 weeks old- 15-30 ml
3-8 weeks old- 30 ml+

You can feed milk to your guinea pigs with the help of a syringe. But, some baby guinea pigs will refuse to drink milk from it. You can get a bottle for small pets as well.

However, it is just a temporary solution, and you must find out why your pets are not eating and solve the issue.

Feeding baby guinea pigs is similar to providing nourishment to older guinea pigs. Young Guinea pigs need lots of food and prefer more pellets to eat.

Putting your guinea pigs in good habits of eating healthy food is very important. What they learn at a young age will directly impact their diet as they grow older.

Source: Anaphylactic sensitivity of guinea-pigs drinking different preparations of cows’ milk and infant formulae, Social attachment of the infant guinea pig to its parents, A healthy diet for guinea pigs, Guinea pigs diet

What do guinea pigs eat, how much should a guinea pig eat per day

A guinea pig is a frequent inhabitant of apartments, a pet does not require special conditions of detention, is not picky about food, does not take up much space and is so popular with children. In order for the life of a pet to be long and carefree, it is important to take care of it and organize the right diet. Let's figure out what products the menu should consist of, what ingredients should not be given, and how many times a day a pig should eat.

Vegetables and fruits

Rodents willingly eat most vegetables and fruits at home, at the same time, the animal has its own preferences, for example, it can eat apples with pleasure and eat carrots without pleasure. In this case, do not insist, look for an alternative to an unloved ingredient. Although the gilt is not too picky about food, not all fruit and vegetable components can be given as food. Some fruits contain a lot of sugar, it is better to offer your pet to eat them as a treat.

Veterinarians advise feeding the pig:

fruits - apples (trimmed), oranges (not too common), bananas without peel;
vegetables - pumpkin, broccoli (not too often), parsley, peppers, tomatoes.

Do not include iceberg lettuce, white cabbage and cauliflower in the rodent's diet. Products can provoke painful bloating, cause diarrhea and other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Taboo products for guinea pigs

In addition to components of plant origin, there are other products, the consumption of which can adversely affect the well-being of the pet. Among them:

mixtures and prepared foods intended for other animals;
bakery products, pastries;
chocolate, despite the fact that pigs love it very much;
cheese, cottage cheese and other dairy products;
do not give meat;
Herbivorous rodent should not eat spicy and spicy food.

Carefully introduce new foods into the diet of the rodent, the pet should not eat unverified ingredients, exotic fruits, products of dubious quality.

Hay

Feeding a pet should be balanced, meet the nutritional needs of the animal. An obligatory component of the diet that a rodent should eat is dried grass trimming, which replenishes the daily fiber deficiency. Few people know that guinea pigs not only eat fresh food, but also eat their own feces - caecotrophs. In such a cunning way, the animal receives valuable minerals and vitamins, and also supports the intestinal microflora.

In our online store you can buy hay from herbs collected in ecologically clean regions:

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Make sure that the dry grass is clean, renew it several times a day. Otherwise, the food will turn into bedding and become unsuitable for feeding. Pigs can chew dry food without respite, there is no need to worry that excessive appetite will negatively affect the pet's health or lead to obesity. On the contrary, interest in hay will ensure the smooth functioning of the digestive tract, give the rodent the necessary supply of energy.

Special blends

You can organize a balanced diet at home with the help of special granular food, which you can buy at pet stores. This is an easy way to ensure your pet is getting the right amount of nutrients, vitamins and calories. Veterinarians advise making good food an indispensable part of the diet for every day. In winter, when it is almost impossible to buy high-quality fruits, one cannot neglect food that will allow the rodent to eat properly, stay in shape and avoid many diseases.

Considering how much a guinea pig eats, it is quite difficult to satisfy her appetites. At the same time, it is necessary to feed the animal in accordance with the diet, give fresh water to drink, strictly control portion sizes in order to avoid obesity and other health problems. The recommended daily allowance that an adult pig eats is about 40 grams of a granular composition, the rest of the nutrients should come from other products - dry grass and other herbal ingredients.

An important component of the diet is vitamin C

Like people, guinea pigs are not able to generate vitamin C on their own, so they need to replenish vitamin deficiency from the outside. It is important that foods high in ascorbic acid are present in the pet's diet - most vegetables, fruits, herbs, balanced granular foods. Vitamin C deficiency will certainly affect the health of the rodent, there is a sharp drop in the quality of life, the animal eats poorly, becomes vulnerable to disease. You can suspect a lack of ascorbic acid based on the following symptoms:

painful, swollen joints;
change in coat - fur looks dull and unkempt;
the appearance of poorly healing wounds and ulcers on the body;
weakness, low mobility.

Here you can choose treats and ready-made food for guinea pigs, which contain the optimal amount of vitamins and trace elements:

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In addition, pets can show aggression towards their brethren, lose their desire to mate, females stop feeding their offspring and caring for their cubs.

Proper organization of the diet

The recommended feeding frequency for a domestic guinea pig is two to four times a day. One serving should be limited to two tablespoons, no matter what ingredients are on the menu. Mandatory components that a rodent should eat:

fresh plants;
vegetable and fruit component;
kibble;
dry grass for the winter.

Recommendations may vary depending on the breed of the animal. So, Skinny pigs need to be fed more often - at least three times a day, and the volume of one serving should be equal to three tablespoons without a slide. Particular attention should be paid to ascorbic acid, it is not synthesized in the body of a bald pig. If the pet's diet does not include ready-made food, enrich the water that the pig drinks with vitamin C. It is highly undesirable that the hungry period in guinea pigs last more than two hours, the animals have a feeling of fullness, they acutely feel hunger.

Feeding rodents after teeth trimming

The teeth of guinea pigs are long and sharp, due to anatomical features, the front surface of the incisors is erased very slowly, often causing the animal a lot of trouble, and requires trimming:

pain;
difficulty chewing food;
malocclusion;
mechanical damage to the tongue, cheeks due to teeth;
infectious processes developing in the oral cavity.

Due to the fact that the teeth of most rodents grow all their lives, they cannot grind them off on their own due to a too soft diet or poor living conditions, the pig needs professional dental care. With the help of special tools in the conditions of an equipped veterinary office, the doctor trims the overgrown teeth, after which the owner needs to take care of the animal, help to drink and eat for the first time after the operation.

Our catalog contains a large selection of balanced feed for rodents:

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450 gr

450 gr х 2 pcsShow all offers The guinea pig will not be able to eat as usual immediately after the manipulation and will need soft feeding. To make up for your pet's nutritional deficiencies, you can prepare a soft mixture of oatmeal and ground kibble. Combine the two components, stir with warm water, reaching a mushy state. Feed the animal with a syringe, focusing on the appetite of the rodent, take care and take care of the pet. If the recovery period is prolonged, the pig does not want to switch to the usual menu, drink and eat on its own, consult your doctor.

If you are a novice breeder, do not know how to care for a pet, doubt the correctness of an organized diet, ask for advice from experienced professionals or make an appointment with a pet with a veterinarian. Professional recommendations will help to create a balanced menu, the components of which cover the energy needs of the rodent.

What guinea pigs eat: choosing food

Contents of the article

0013
1. 1 dry food - the main diet of guinea pigs
1.2 hay - compulsory food supplement
1.3 Fruits and vegetables - additional diet
1.4 Vitamins - the key to strong immunity
2 NEW NEWS

These cute beks are not needed. in some special care. It's just that the owner of the animal needs to understand for himself that the most important food for the animal is high-quality hay and a variety of feed.

These two components of a balanced diet will help you answer the question of what guinea pigs eat. However, there are other nuances and subtleties in the nutrition of these animals that all owners should know.

Guinea pigs eat almost all the time and the concept of breakfast, lunch and dinner does not exist for them.

The basic postulates of the diet of guinea pigs

The first and, perhaps, the most important rule for feeding these furry animals is that the animal should always have more food in the feeder than it can eat. The over-feeding regimen is based purely on the physiological characteristics of the pet itself.

If you forget to feed your guinea pig for at least 24 hours, the animal may die. Their body is extremely susceptible and does not tolerate the feeling of hunger. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the timely replenishment of the feeder of the animal, and also avoid dosed feeding.

Hay and cereals must be included in the diet of guinea pigs. Firstly, for guinea pigs, it is this food that is considered natural in nature: they eat it both in winter and summer. Secondly, if these products are absent in the diet of the animal, then soon his teeth will begin to grow rapidly.

The presence of solid food in the feeder ensures timely grinding of the constantly growing incisors of the animal. If their growth is not controlled, then later the guinea pig may develop a malocclusion with subsequent dislocation of the jaw. The latter can lead to the fact that the animal will not be able to eat normally.

In order for the incisors to continually wear down, the guinea pig must be fed solid food on a regular basis.

As for water, it must always be freely available to the animal. For these purposes, a special drinker is purchased: its optimal volume is 250 ml. Do not use running or settled water for watering the animal.

The best way out is to filter or boil the liquid. It may seem to some owners that their pet consumes too little moisture, but you can’t stop drinking completely, as this can be the beginning of serious disorders in the animal’s body.

Dry food - the basic diet for guinea pigs

The first thing to take care of is the purchase of dry food. It must be of high quality and contain a variety of ingredients. However, it is extremely difficult to immediately understand what kind of food your pet will like, and most importantly, it will be useful for him. So here you need to follow two rules:

it is necessary to buy only foreign brands of feed: it is better to refrain from domestic ones;
you need to mix several feeds at once in order to exclude the possibility of a shortage of one or another important trace element.

The optimal composition for each food should be something like this:

herbal granules;
compound feed pellets;
miscellaneous seeds;
fortified supplements.

If you make a kind of feed mix, you can not only provide your guinea pig with excellent health, but also noticeably please her. During such a feed, the animal can happily choose the goodies that he especially liked. In the future, the animal will eat everything else.

Hay is a mandatory food supplement

Also, in excess, as in the case of dry food, guinea pigs should have hay in the cage. It can be seen not as a product with high nutritional value, but as a guarantee that your pet will not die from too long incisors.

In fact, hay for animals is nothing but bread for humans. Therefore, you should be very careful to ensure that the animal does not feel a lack of hay.

This product is sold in bags at any pet store. However, you should choose it carefully. If the hay gives off mold, and it turns out to be wet to the touch, then in order to avoid poisoning, you should not take such food. Good hay always has the smell of freshly harvested grass.

Some of these products contain fragrant flowers (eg lavender), but not all guinea pigs like these innovations and subsequently refuse to eat this kind of food.

Fruits and vegetables - supplementary diet

Vegetable products, as well as fruit delicacies, are to the liking of all animals. But you need to remember that for guinea pigs - this is only an auxiliary food.

If you want to pamper your pet, then give him a vegetable or fruit every day, and only one. Any treat should not be given more than 2 times a day. And this is given the fact that each product should not be given as a whole, but in finely chopped pieces.

Guinea pig loves cereals, fruits and vegetables. This food, low in calories and rich in fiber, is necessary for the animal's body.

Here are some proportions that should be observed when introducing a supplementary diet:

cabbage: although this vegetable is considered one of the most favorite vegetables for guinea pigs, the animal should eat no more than a quarter of an average leaf at a time;
carrot: daily dose of one circle;
Bulgarian red pepper: the optimal dose for the animal is one slice, which does not exceed the size of one finger;
apple: one slice;
lettuce should not exceed half the size of your palm.

It is believed that guinea pigs can be given tangerines and even seedless grapes. However, without knowing how this or that product that is not included in the natural diet of the animal can work, you should not experiment with the health of your pet.

Vitamins - the key to strong immunity

All guinea pigs, without exception, should be given vitamins: however, this postulate does not really fit into the popular search query "what adult guinea pigs eat. " For such purposes, you can purchase a special fortified complex called "Vita-Sol". You can buy it at almost any pet store.

Vitamins should be regularly added to the drinker, carefully reading the instructions for the preparation in advance. Every day you should rinse the drinker before adding the next dose, otherwise, over time, a chemical coating will form on its walls.

To provide a guinea pig with calcium, you can use a special tool - "Calcidee". It is perfect even for pregnant animals. The optimal dose of a vitamin supplement can vary from half to one quarter of a tablet. To find out exactly how much calcium is needed for your pet, the instruction will help you.

Salt is considered an essential mineral for furry animals. In order for the pet not to feel its lack, it is necessary to purchase a mineral salt stone. Animals can use it both in a month and in a year: it all depends on the needs of a particular organism.

Vitamin C is also vital for this animal species. Without it, they will not be able to fully resist various colds. In order for your guinea pig to develop and always be healthy, you need to purchase a solution with ascorbic acid.

The procedure for drinking vitamins looks like this: one ampoule is opened and 0.5 ml is drawn from it. content with a conventional syringe. Then the needle is removed from the latter, and the animal can be given a vitamin solution directly from the syringe.

Newborn Nutrition

If your guinea pig's offspring are growing active and vigorous, you won't need any bait. The only thing that can be done is to give the kids vitamins to drink. Thanks to these actions, they will develop strong immunity. Feeding lasts up to 4 months from the moment the babies are born. At the end of this time, the weight of each cub should be 700-800 g.

During the first week, newborns are fed with hemavit, but the mother of the babies must also feed her children. Then, until the second week, ascorbic acid is added to their diet: such nutrition can last up to 4 weeks.