Can guinea pigs eat just hay? This is a common question for many guinea pig owners, but the answer may surprise you. Your guinea pigs can and should eat hay as their primary diet. Not only does hay provide excellent nutrition, it can also prevent many health problems in your pet pig. Hay helps to keep your guinea pig’s teeth at the proper length because of chewing. Without chewing hay, their teeth will grow too long, and will be difficult to remove and require expensive dental work.
Although guinea pigs are generally able to eat just hay pellets, they do have special needs. You should consult a veterinarian for advice on what kind of food your guinea pig needs. For instance, raw beetroot is safe to give your guinea pig occasionally. It contains no oxalates and is rich in calcium. Sprouts, on the other hand, contain oxalate acid and may cause gas in your pet. Spinach is also high in calcium and can cause stones in your pet if it’s mixed with calcium. Squash is fine to give your guinea pig in moderation, but you should keep in mind that its green stalk contains a poisonous substance.
If you’re worried that hay is not enough for your pet guinea pig, try combining different types of hay. Bermuda hay is a high quality variety of hay that contains moderate levels of protein and is a great source of fiber. Bermuda hay contains higher calcium levels than Timothy hay. However, you should be careful not to feed your guinea pig alfalfa hay, as it can cause bladder stone problems in older piggies.
As their teeth are constantly growing, be sure to provide your guinea pig with a wide variety of chew toys. These toys can be toys, sticks, balls, blocks, or even vegetable pieces. Small animal salt licks are also great for guinea pigs. This salty treat will provide your pet with the minerals it needs. And guinea pigs love salt, so you can’t go wrong with this treat!
For a varied diet, offer your guinea pig a mix of fresh leafy greens daily. A dark leafed lettuce is a good choice, as is rocket. You can also add fresh herbs such as marjoram, dill, or marigold. Your guinea pig will appreciate the added vitamin C. A fruit like mango will be appreciated, as will bananas or a melon or two.
Fresh fruits are a great treat for your guinea pig, but be sure to limit their intake. Fruits are high in sugar and can lead to obesity in your pet. As long as they are small and only a few pieces are given per day, fruit is a great way to add vitamin C to your pet’s diet. Citrus fruits, kiwi, pears, bananas, and blueberries are good options, but be cautious when adding fruits to your pet’s diet.
However, there are many health benefits to giving your guinea pig a varied diet. Not only does it provide your pet with essential nutrients, but it also makes their life more enjoyable. If your guinea pig is losing weight and exhibiting other symptoms of illness, you should consider introducing more hay to your pet’s diet. While you may not want your guinea pig to go on a diet of only hay, you’ll be saving your pet a great deal of time and money in the long run.
What can I give my guinea pig if I don’t have pellets?
– Romaine Lettuce. Much more nutritionally dense than Iceberg lettuce, the high fiber content in Romaine lettuce (as well as red and green lettuces) can help keep your guinea pig’s digestion working smoothly. … – Broccoli. … – Cauliflower. … – Kale. … – Bell Peppers. … – Oranges. … – Carrots. … – Squash.
How long can a guinea pig go without food pellets?
Healthy guinea pigs shouldn’t go over 8 hours without food. They won’t starve in this time, but they can develop potentially fatal GI stasis or other health issues. Healthy guinea pigs may go up to 24 hours without water.
Is it OK for guinea pigs to only eat hay?
Hay is absolutely vital to the digestive health of your guinea pig. It prevents obesity, dental disease, diarrhea and boredom. Your guinea pig should have unlimited access to high quality grass hay. Your guinea pig should eat a pile of hay as big as his body every day.
Can guinea pigs live without pellets?
No, they cannot survive for two weeks. Even with two big bottles they will run out of water in about three days and they will die. You must have someone check on them and give them fresh water and food every day without fail.
Can guinea pigs eat too much hay?
The short answer is that you really can’t put too much hay in a rabbit or guinea pig’s habitat. The more hay they have available, the greater their opportunity to constantly forage and graze, which is extremely important not just for their physical health, but for their mental stimulation as well.
Can guinea pigs live off of pellets?
Replace pellets on a daily basis. Guinea pigs often kick bedding material or droppings into their food bowls and stale pellets will have little, if any, vitamin C. If there are many pellets left in the food bowl every day, you’re probably giving your pig too much.
Can guinea pigs go without pellets?
As long as you provide a healthy diet with various veggies they will be fine without pellets. They may need a bit more veggies than before.
What can guinea pigs eat instead of pellets?
– Romaine Lettuce. Much more nutritionally dense than Iceberg lettuce, the high fiber content in Romaine lettuce (as well as red and green lettuces) can help keep your guinea pig’s digestion working smoothly. … – Broccoli. … – Cauliflower. … – Kale. … – Bell Peppers. … – Oranges. … – Carrots. … – Squash.
How much hay should guinea pigs get?
About 1/8 cup of pellets once a day—supplemented by hay and fresh vegetables as described below—will be enough. Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth.
Can guinea pigs survive just eating hay?
Guinea pigs can eat as much grass hay as they wish, but portion control is needed for pellets, and even healthy treats likes veggies, fruits, and Hey!
Can guinea pigs survive without pellets?
No, they cannot survive for two weeks. Even with two big bottles they will run out of water in about three days and they will die. You must have someone check on them and give them fresh water and food every day without fail.
Can guinea pigs eat pellets everyday?
Replace pellets on a daily basis. Guinea pigs often kick bedding material or droppings into their food bowls and stale pellets will have little, if any, vitamin C. If there are many pellets left in the food bowl every day, you’re probably giving your pig too much.
What real food can guinea pigs eat?
– Romaine lettuce (never iceberg lettuce) – Carrots and carrot tops. – Peas. – Broccoli spears. – Spinach. – Artichokes. – Kale. – Tomatoes (not the stems or leaves)
What should guinea pigs eat daily?
About 1/8 cup of pellets once a day—supplemented by hay and fresh vegetables as described below—will be enough. Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth.
Can guinea pigs live off pellets?
Your pig will be perfectly happy with high quality pellets and hay and treats of fruits and vegetables. For a special snack, try mixing some rolled oats into your guinea pig’s pellets or stuff a small cardboard tube with fresh hay.
