In the world there are many animals, herbivores and predators, large and small, etc. Many have at home pets taken from the world of fauna. One of the most common types of such animals is guinea pig. However, it requires good care, especially in terms of nutrition. What does guinea pig eat? What vitamins does she need? We will consider all this below.
Guinea pigs are herbivores. Since plant food is coarse and nutritious, the animal has to eat a lot to provide itself with the necessary substances. Therefore, the pet must constantly chew. Everything that the skinny guinea pig eats should be delivered to the intestines constantly in small portions. This will provide better processing of incoming food.
The animal may have digestive problems, so you need to pay great attention to this issue. Everything that guinea pig eats can be divided into three groups: juicy and roughage and concentrates.
Coarse food includes hay and various twigs. They contain fiber, necessary for the life of guinea pigs, to maintain cellulose-processing microflora in the intestines of animals. Those particles that are not digested are removed from the body along with toxic substances adhering to them. In addition, coarse food is needed for grinding an animal's teeth.
Juicy feed is the main food that guinea pig eats. These include almost all vegetables, herbs (all kinds of herbs, salads, dill, parsley), fruits and berries. In the diet of the pet there should be a lot of them. Moreover, what guinea pig eats must be diverse so that the animal receives the whole complex of necessary vitamins and minerals. From vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, etc. are very useful. They must be finely chopped and given to a guinea pig. It is impossible to feed an animal constantly only one type of vegetable. Of melons, pumpkin, as well as its seeds, are especially useful. They contain a large amount of vitamins.
Concentrates are various high-calorie foods in which a large amount of protein and carbohydrates is present. These include grains, legumes, seeds, stale white bread and crackers. There are also ready-made feeds for guinea pigs sold in pet stores. They contain the necessary complex of vitamins, replacing natural concentrates. An adult needs about 10-20 grams of such feed per day. Pregnant, lactating or young guinea pigs need more concentrates, up to 40 grams per day.
Having a guinea pig at home, you must monitor its weight and condition. Excessive intake of concentrates and foods rich in protein and carbohydrates can lead to obesity. This reduces the immunity of the animal and affects its fertility. Therefore, as soon as signs of increased weight appear, it is necessary to put the pet on a diet. At the same time, the amount of food should not be reduced, it is necessary to revise the diet: reduce the consumption of concentrates and increase the rate of roughage and juicy vegetables with low calorie content. Therefore, you need to ensure that the guinea pig does not eat and what it eats. It is also worth giving her a little freedom, buying a large cage or letting her go for a walk around the house.