You probably saw the guinea pig at least once. Many people even held this creature in their hands. Guinea pigs are very cute and funny rodents that make funny sounds. You can purchase them both at the pet market and at the pet store. In addition, there are special nurseries where these rodents are bred. There are not very many of them now. If we talk about those that are in Russia, then a vivid example is the guinea pig nursery Fili.
Eating Guinea Pigs at Home
If you were fascinated by this pretty little animal and decided to get it at home, then first you need to carefully consider what you will feed it with. We will talk about this in our article. Guinea pig is a herbivore rodent. Everyone knows that plant foods are coarse and nutritious. For this reason, to provide themselves with the necessary substances, animals must eat a lot. If such rodents live in nature, then they eat a huge amount of vegetation (fresh). These animals eat almost always, not knowing that there are such things as dinner, breakfast and lunch. Food in the intestine of the animal in small portions should come almost continuously. This is the only way to ensure the best processing of roughage by your pet's body.
So what does guinea pig eat? We found out that greens. It has a lot of ascorbic acid. Due to a lack of vitamin C, the animal may experience health problems. This is because ascorbic acid maintains the normal state of the walls of blood vessels. Vitamin C is also necessary for complete immune defense.
Germinated oats and green grass are a good source of ascorbic acid. A rodent needs about twenty milligrams of vitamin C a day. During the period of gestation, the pig will need a little more ascorbic acid - about 30 milligrams per day.
This microelement is also found in lettuce, rosehip berries, sweet pepper and, of course, in fresh herbs. Vitamin C of 5 mg can be added to the rodent drinker (you can purchase it at a pet store or veterinary pharmacy). In addition, ascorbic acid is also sold in ampoules (you can even buy in a regular pharmacy). You can also use special fortified food and feed for rodents.
But back to our main topic. What does guinea pig eat? Her diet is quite diverse. The whole feed can be divided into several subspecies: coarse, concentrates and juicy.
Roughage
This concept refers to hay and twigs. They contain a very small amount of moisture, but a lot of fiber. This type of feed is indispensable. It is necessary for the rodent to grind its teeth, as well as to improve peristalsis and maintain a viable state of cellulose-processing microflora in the intestine. As you know, fiber has an absorption effect. It, like a magnet, “attracts” toxic substances to itself and carries them away, thus cleansing the intestines.
In this regard, hay should always be in the cage of your little pet. Another advantage of this product is that it deteriorates very slowly.
What is the best way to feed guinea pigs? Juicy food, that is, herbs and vegetables. This type of food in the diet of the pet should be a lot. Let's talk about it in more detail.
Green feed
So, this food must be consumed by guinea pig. If possible, its nutrition should be diversified. Therefore, guinea pigs can be given red clover, meadow grass, plantain, and yarrow. Please note that greens must be selected carefully, because some plants can be harmful to a rodent.
Vegetables
What does guinea pig eat besides roughage and fresh herbs? Of course, vegetables (parsley, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, etc.). Let's talk in more detail on this subject. As we already found out, guinea pigs eat salad, and all its varieties. This food should be fresh, as the leaves deteriorate in a matter of hours.
Another guinea pig eats parsley with pleasure. It contains a lot of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins. It is valued for its antiseptic properties. Offer your pet and dill. It contains iron, potassium and carotene. Dill reduces gas formation in the intestines. True, this greens should not be given in large quantities, since it contains many essential oils.
Cucumbers are the subject of adoration for guinea pigs. Cucumber juice has a weak anti-inflammatory effect. Another advantage of this vegetable is its low calorie content. It is useful to give it to those rodents that need to lose weight. But you should not feed a young guinea pig only cucumbers, even despite the fact that they love them very much. After all, a growing organism must receive good nutrition.
Record holder for the content of ascorbic acid is sweet pepper. In addition, it contains a large amount of carotene. Peppers need to be fed slices, but, of course, without seeds.
Another useful guinea pig product is carrots. It contains many vitamins, carotene, glucose and trace elements.
Tomatoes should also be on the rodent menu. They contain carotene and vitamin C. Only mature fruits should be given to the pet. Green tomatoes cannot be offered to rodents, as they contain solanine (a toxic substance). When ripe, it is destroyed.
Cabbage is a healthy vegetable, but give it with caution. It contains a lot of sugar, protein and vitamins, as well as organic sulfur. True, cabbage can cause severe gas formation. The rodent should be given only the top leaves of cabbage (preferably white cabbage). Although if you are new to the content of such animals, it is best not to pamper your pet with such a product at all. Best of all, give him a little broccoli, it’s not so dangerous.
Gourds
What does guinea pig eat, in addition to all of the above? Melons (pumpkins, melons, watermelons, etc.), which contain many vitamins, carotene. They should be given to the rodent with peeled slices. Especially useful to these animals are squash and pumpkin. They serve as diet food. Pumpkin seeds are a prophylactic against worms. In addition, they contain many vitamins, trace elements. In addition, they are an excellent source of zinc. This element is necessary for the prevention of skin diseases, maintaining the skin in good condition.
What else will a guinea pig enjoy?
Rodent nutrition should be balanced. Therefore, their diet should include fruits and berries. For example, mountain ash is useful. It contains a lot of ascorbic acid, carotene and vitamin P. The last element increases the strength of blood vessels.
Pears and apples contain pectins, carotene and lots of sugar. In addition, guinea pigs are happy to eat various berries, oranges and bananas.
Concentrates
This is a high-calorie feed. They contain a lot of protein and carbohydrates. This group of feed includes grain, legumes and seeds. Also in this category are prepared feeds. Herbal meal products are especially eaten well. Adult animals should be given approximately twenty grams per day. Lactating and pregnant females, as well as young individuals, need more (about forty grams each).
Feeding Technology and Precautions
How to feed guinea pigs? It is best to give concentrates in the morning and at night. And put juicy food in a cage when you are at home so that the remnants of this food after a meal can be removed. Always in the cage of the rodent should be hay, as well as mineral-salt stone.
Note that guinea pigs do not tolerate starvation. A rodent that refuses food for some reason may develop dehydration and exhaustion. If you notice that your pet has lost appetite, do not hesitate and immediately consult a doctor.
Guinea pigs have a habit of constantly chewing something. She can do a disservice to them. Indeed, the abundant consumption of concentrated feed and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to the development of obesity. Such a pathology, unfortunately, very often appears in domestic rodents. Notice that your pet has recovered? Take immediate weight loss measures. After all, obese animals lose their ability to reproduce, and their immunity also decreases.
Advice to rodent owners
In order to draw up the correct diet for guinea pig, the recommendations of veterinarians should be considered first. After all, each rodent is special, and it is possible that your pet will need more green vegetables, or, conversely, some products will need to be removed, since the pet has gained excess weight.
Little conclusion
Today we tried to figure out what guinea pigs eat. Healthy food for a rodent is plant food, especially various greens. Carefully select food for this animal, only then it will delight you for a long time. Remember that proper nutrition of the guinea pig is the key to its health.