What can a guinea pig eat?

Guinea pigs are strictly herbivores. This means that, like rabbits, they only eat greens. They eat neither meat nor meat products - so they are true vegans. In the wild, guinea pigs eat all kinds of grass and plants. It is therefore important that your guinea pig has constant access to fresh hay. Like rabbits, guinea pigs' teeth grow over the course of their lives. Therefore, good dental care for guinea pigs is also very important. However, dental problems are less common in guinea pigs than in rabbits.

Guinea pig food
Hay is also very important for a good intestinal function of your guinea pig. Pellets are often added to this. You can give 10-15 grams of croquettes per day. It is best to split this up into 2x. With guinea pigs, it is very important to give them food that is specifically made for guinea pigs. Vitamin C is added to guinea pig feed. Guinea pigs cannot produce this vitamin themselves, so they need to get extra vitamin C from the diet. It is recommended that supplemental vitamin C be given via the pellets (see Vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs).

Feeding vegetables to guinea pigs
In addition to hay and croquettes, you can also feed many different types of vegetables. Guinea pigs can (and do) eat large amounts of vegetables. Fruit should be avoided as it contains a lot of sugar. If you feed your guinea pig vegetables and pellets, you don't have to pay special attention to the sugar content. The sooner you get your guinea pig used to all types of vegetables, the more fun they will have later on when they are fed. Guinea pigs develop a preference for certain types of food early in life.

Permitted vegetables: carrots, endive, radish or carrot leaves, peppers, chicory, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes and lamb's lettuce. Do not add too many vegetables at once as they contain a lot of moisture. Lots of fluids and a sudden change in diet are two factors that can cause diarrhea in your guinea pig. Give your guinea pig small portions often so that it can get used to a new vegetable.

You can also feed your guinea pig iceberg lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, and fennel. However, these vegetables are a bit harder for your guinea pig to digest. This is because they contain a lot of water and certain types of sugar. It is best to avoid these vegetables.

Which vegetables shouldn't be fed to guinea pigs?
Rhubarb, onions, mushrooms and leeks are poisonous to your guinea pig. The vegetables you feed should never be cooked and should be fresh! Nuts, seeds and dairy are also not good for your guinea pig and should not be fed. Luckily, there are plenty of treats to give, and do you really want to spoil your guinea pig? Then give him parsley.

Vitamins for guinea pigs
Guinea pigs do not produce their own vitamin C, so you must feed it to your pet. Croquettes specially made for guinea pigs contain extra vitamin C. Vitamin C disappears from the diet, so you need to pay attention to the expiry date. After 3 months, only 35% of the original amount of vitamin C is still in the feed.

It is advisable to give your guinea pig tablets containing vitamin C in addition to the pellets. It can be a bit tricky the first time (or the first two times). But many guinea pigs really like the tablets and will simply eat them out of your hand afterwards. Make sure you give a maximum of 1 tablet per day!

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