A guinea pig is a small mammal that is often kept as a pet. They are social animals and they can’t be left alone for too long. These furry creatures have different dietary needs, so it’s important to know what they should eat in order to maintain their health.
Guinea pigs, often known as cavies, and they make excellent pets for both children and adults because they don’t take up a lot of space and are very quiet animals to keep.
As with any other animal, you should feed your pet with nutritious food that suits its diet and lifestyle. This article will explore the best types of food for guinea pigs and why these are the best options.
They are also relatively straightforward to care for as long as you supply them with the necessary resources to thrive.
Food for your guinea pig is extremely important in supplying them with the nutrients they require, and choosing the correct food for your cavy should not be taken lightly.
According to Cheri Schubert, owner of Cheri Schubert Guinea Pigs and formerly Registered Veterinary Technician, “There is quite some thinking that goes into purchasing guinea pig food.
” In addition to being herbivores with teeth that continue to grow indefinitely throughout their lifetimes and, like humans, they are unable to produce their own vitamin C in their bodies.
Consequently, no meat should be included in their food, and they should also consume vitamin C to help preserve their teeth at an adequate length (as recommended by the guinea pig society).
It is possible that your guinea pig will become sick, feeble, and unable of living a long and happy life if your food does not match all of these requirements.
Expert Tips to Feeding Your Guinea Pig A Healthy Diet
Healthy diet for a guinea pig, diet plan for a guinea pig A healthy diet for a guinea pig is a crucial part of their well-being. They need to be fed fresh vegetables, fruits, hay and pellets.
The diet plan for a guinea pig should be customized according to the age, weight and health condition of the animal.
Guinea pigs should be given fresh vegetables and fruits in limited quantities because they contain high levels of sugar which can lead to diabetes and obesity.
Hay is essential as it helps in maintaining their teeth and digestive system.
Pellets are also important because they provide protein and fibre which are essential for their growth.
The diet plan for a guinea pig should also include vitamin supplements that are rich in antioxidants, Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins B12, B6, D3 and E among others that are essential for their health.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying Guinea Pig Food
Guinea pigs are a popular pet that can be found in many households. They are small animals and require a smaller amount of food compared to other animals.
Guinea pigs require a healthy diet with an appropriate amount of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. This article will provide you with information on the different types of food available for guinea pigs.
Things to do’s and not to do when buying guinea pig food
Do:
- Keep your guinea pig’s diet balanced by adding vegetables, fruits, and hay to its diet.
- Provide your guinea pig with fresh water every day.
Don’t:
- Do not give your guinea pig any type of chocolate or caffeine products as they can be toxic to them.
Considering that there are so many different food alternatives available, our veterinarians and guinea-pig experts have assisted you in narrowing your selections down to the best guinea-pig feeds.
HERE ARE THE TOP 7 BEST FOOD FOR YOUR GUINEA PIG
#1. Our Best Pick: Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food
Main Ingredients: Timothy grass meal, soybean hulls, sodium bentonite, wheat middlings, soybean meal, limestone, cane molasses, soybean oil, salt, lignin sulfonate, yeast culture, vitamin C, vitamin E supplement
This food is Recommended for Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day
What We do Like
- Multiple bag size options
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
- No seeds
What We Dislike
- 5 pounds is the smallest size bag offered
- Over $2 per pound unless you buy a larger size
Oxbow is a well-known brand among small pet owners for its quality products.
The Essentials Adult Guinea Pig food is a favourite among small pet owners as it has no seeds, which means picky eaters won’t be selective. It’s also available in multiple sizes of bags, so you can make sure your guinea pig eats all of the pellets before their vitamin C expires.
Larger bags may be less expensive per pound, but if you have two or three pets, you’ll need to buy more food than you need for only two or three pets.
#2. Blue Seal Kent Nutrition Furry Friends Guinea Pig Pellets
Main Ingredients: Dehydrated alfalfa meal, cane molasses, vegetable oil, calcium carbonate, wheat middlings, soybean meal, soybean hulls, wheat flour, salt, monocalcium phosphate, vitamin C, hydrolyzed yeast, vitamin E supplement
Recommended Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day
What We do Like
- A large bag decreases the cost per pound
- Added probiotics
- Very palatable
What We Dislike
- Smaller sized bags are harder to find and are more expensive
- Must have at least 6 guinea pigs to make a large bag be cost-effective
The cost of quality guinea pig food may be reduced if it is purchased in bulk.
A 25-pound bag of Blue Seal Furry Friends guinea pig pellets, for example, costs about $13 at a pet store, and less at a feed store, which makes it an affordable option for someone on a budget, but it comes with certain drawbacks.
Vitamin C passes its expiration date after four months from the date the food is milled. In cold weather, this food may take longer to spoil, but improperly stored in warmer climates, much of the vitamin C will be lost before or shortly after the expiration date.
As long as a single cavy has access to 25 pounds of pellets, she will likely never run out. This large bag is inefficient for people with too few, or fewer than six guinea pigs because all that food may go to waste.
#3. Oxbow Natural Pet Food with Vitamin C Supplement
Main Ingredients: Timothy grass, barley flour, brewers dried yeast, guar gum, fat product, oat groat flour, cane molasses, vitamin C, flax-seed meal, mixed tocopherols (preservative), rosemary extract
This Food is Recommended For Daily Serving Size: 1 tablet per day
What We do Like
- High-quality brand
- High in fibre
What We Dislike
- Not all guinea pigs will find them palatable
- Only available in a 60-count bag
If you are concerned about your guinea pig’s vitamin C intake, Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement treats can be a great addition to its diet. These treats are high in fibre and also contain vitamin C, which can boost your pet’s immune system. Guinea pigs love these treats, making them an easy way to encourage your cavy to eat his or her vitamins. The supplement is appropriate for other small pets like rabbits and chinchillas but always consult with your vet before adding any supplements to your furry companion’s diet.
#4. Oxbow Organic Bounty Adult Guinea Pig Pet Food
Main 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
This Food is Recommended For Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day
What We do Like
- Small bag size to keep ingredients fresh
- Organic ingredients
- No seeds
What We Dislike
- Higher cost
- Not all guinea pigs will find it palatable
Oxbow’s Organic Bounty guinea pig food is a high-quality option if you are looking to feed certified organic food to your pet. Oxbow makes a superior food so on a small scale, if you only have a couple of guinea pigs, I recommend feeding this.
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 for optimal health and taste. The price point will be higher than other foods, but this may be worth it for the peace of mind that your pet is getting the highest quality diet possible.
#5. Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay For Small Pet Food
Main Ingredients: 100% orchard grass
This Food is Recommended For Daily Serving Size: Unlimited
What We do Like
- Soft hay
- Guinea pigs love it
- Multiple bag and box sizes are available
What We Dislike
- Larger quantities may be of lower quality
- All-natural products may contain insects from outside
Guinea pig care expert Denise Schubert recommends orchard grass hay for its softness, low dust, and high nutritional value; it is also less likely to poke an eye or stick in a long-haired pig’s coat.
Multiple sized bags and bales are available, so you can buy only as much as your pet will consume in a timely manner. As Schubert says, “There never can be too much hay in the cage! It is a staple that can be offered free-range.”
#6. The Oxbow Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food for Baby Guinea Pigs
Main 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: Unlimited
What We do Like
- Minimum of 18% protein
- Made with high-quality pellets
- No seeds
What We Dislike
- 5 pounds is the smallest bag size available
According to Schubert, the best food for baby guinea pigs is a higher-protein food that is approximately 18 to 22% protein.
The Oxbow Essentials Young Guinea Pig food is an excellent choice for baby guinea pigs less than six months of age because it contains no seeds and has a minimum of 18% protein in each serving.
This pellet formula is made from alfalfa hay and does not contain timothy or orchard grass, which provide the different nutrients growing cavies need. Guinea pig owners rave about how much their baby pigs love this formula.
#7. Best Treats: Kaytee Timothy Biscuit Baked with Apple for Small Animal Treats
Key Ingredients: Wheat flour, sun-cured timothy grass hay, soy oil, dehydrated apples, flaxseed, wheat middlings, ground wheat, oat hulls, dehulled soybean meal, dehydrated alfalfa meal, fried cane molasses, salt, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, vitamin C | Recommended Daily Serving Size: 3-5 treats per day
What We do Like
- Help keep teeth trimmed
- Healthy ingredients
What We Dislike
- Almost 10 calories per biscuit
Guinea pigs should not consume more than 20% of their daily diet in the form of treats. Ideally, all treats offer some health benefits, including those made by Kaytee.
Timothy Biscuits Baked with Apple not only provide a source of vitamins, minerals, hay, and apples for your cavy but also help keep your pet’s teeth trimmed.
Offering treats that have a different flavour and texture from pellets and hay also help to keep your guinea pig mentally stimulated and helps prevent boredom.
Just keep in mind that each of these biscuits contains nearly 10 calories, so if your guinea pig starts gaining too much weight be sure to cut back on the treats.
The Final Conclusion
Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food is a highly-rated product. Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay, a staple for guinea pigs, complements the already nutritious food.
Oxbow is a company that produces nutritious food for pet rodents, including guinea pigs. Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food should be offered to guinea pigs over 6-months of age.
It costs about $4 for a 3-pound bag, so it is affordable enough to buy in bulk. This food is high in vitamin C and a great option for all-around feeding.
Timothy or orchard grass hay should be available at all times, so Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay is a great way to feed your guinea pigs.
5 Important Tips for Buying a Quality Frozen Diet For Your Pet
The key to buying a quality frozen diet for your pet is to know what you’re looking for in the products.
There are a lot of factors that make up the quality of a frozen diet for your pet. It is important that you consider all of these things before making a purchase.
Here are 5 important tips for buying a quality frozen diet for your pet:
- The ingredients should be human-grade
- The protein should be natural, not synthetic
- The food should be grain-free or low in carbohydrates
- There should be no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
- The food should have high levels of Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
What you need to check and consider when buying Guinea Pig Food
Among the most critical considerations when choosing a guinea pig diet is ensuring that the food is intended for guinea pigs and that the food has been milled within the last two weeks as much as feasible.
It is possible that foods that have been milling for more than a few months will lose their vitamin C content, and diets that have not been produced specifically for guinea pigs may not have enough vitamin C to meet the needs of the animals.
Avoid foods that are heavy in fat and calories, such as seeds and sweet desserts, as these will contribute to obesity and other health problems in the future.
Date of Milling
“Vitamin C is included in all guinea pig feed as a preventative measure. It is critical that you understand the milling process date and that it is not more than four months old, before proceeding “Cheri Schubert, a cavie expert, explains what she means.
“Additionally, once the pelleted feed has been opened, it should be stored in a plastic container to keep the vitamins and minerals as well as the freshness.” Thus, if you purchase pellets created specifically to be fed to guinea pigs, you can be assured that they include vitamin C.
However, you must ensure that the food is not more than four months old and that it is stored properly.
FAQ
What kinds of human foods should I feed my guinea pig?
As treats, guinea pigs can be given a variety of items that humans eat.
Cheri Schubert points out that cereals such as Cheerios and fast plain rolled oats are popular choices, as are veggies that are high in vitamin C and some fruits, among other things.
Vegetables such as bell peppers, kale, leafy lettuce, green beans, parsley, cilantro, strawberry tops, and cucumbers are all excellent choices for side dishes.
Make sure to restrict starchy foods such as sweet potatoes and carrots, as well as gas-producing veggies such as cabbage and onions, in your diet.
Is it safe for guinea pigs to eat rabbit food?
In Schubert’s opinion, “guinea pigs can be fed rabbit food, but only in very small quantities.” Because rabbit chow lacks the nutritional components that guinea pigs require, particularly appropriate vitamin C, it should never be fed to a guinea pig over an extended period of time.
if you are unable to locate guinea pig food, or if you are running low on guinea pig food and can only find rabbit pellets, you can temporarily mix your rabbit and guinea pig pellets or feed the rabbit pellets until you can locate more guinea pig pellets, as long as you do not feed the rabbit pellets.
Vitamin C deficiency is a severe issue that will have a bad impact on guinea pigs that do not receive appropriate amounts of the vitamin in their food.
Is it possible for guinea pigs to consume any other form of pet food?
In addition to providing rabbit pellets for a short period of time, Schubert advises against feeding any other pet foods to a guinea pig other than those listed above. Several of the other foods contain substances that guinea pigs should not consume.
Facts Check:
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