As a pet owner, your main goal should be to keep your pet healthy and happy. One way to do this is to provide a balanced and healthy diet. Guinea pigs, like other pets, need certain nutrients to survive. If you take the time to ensure that your guinea pig is fed a healthy diet, your guinea pig will certainly have a happy and healthy life.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Providing a Balanced Feed
Step 1. Feed the guinea pig hay
Guinea pigs love hay! Guinea pigs need hay for digestion and healthy teeth. Straw should always be available to the guinea pig. This means that you will need to refill your guinea pig's feed 3 to 5 times each day.
- “Timothy” hay is the best hay for guinea pigs. Your guinea pig will feel happy when you eat it and will play with it. This type of hay is also healthy for guinea pigs of all ages.
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“Alfalfa” hay contains a lot of calcium, so this type of hay is suitable for older guinea pigs, unless given occasionally as a snack. Even though guinea pigs like this hay, don't give it too often. Alfalfa hay should not be the main feed every day. as a dessert or snack.
Alfalfa Straw should be used for female guinea pigs who are pregnant or nursing, and guinea pigs under 4 months of age
- Other types of hay are meadow, bluegrass, brome grass, oat, and orchard hay. These types can be used occasionally to make a variety of guinea pig feeds.
- Look for hay that is still green and soft, because straw that is yellow and hard is dry hay.
- Straw can be purchased at pet stores, but usually the hay there has been sitting there for so long that it is not very healthy for guinea pigs. You can order directly from a local farm, or contact an exotic vet who usually sells cheaper and better hay.
Step 2. Feed your guinea pig about one cup of fresh vegetables daily
The key is to provide a variety of feeds so your guinea pig gets a balanced diet. Vegetables that are good for guinea pigs are celery, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, kale (a type of cabbage), a little raw broccoli, a little spinach and peas.
- Other vegetables, such as beetroot, parsley or a pinch of peppers and leaves such as clover or dandelion leaves (wash them first), should be given occasionally.
- Do not feed your guinea pig with rotten vegetables. Remember, don't give your guinea pig vegetables that look so bad that you don't want to eat them either.
Step 3. Feed your guinea pig with pellets
Be aware that pellets are high in energy, and eating too many pellets can lead to obesity and dental problems. Feed about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of pellets daily to enrich your guinea pig's feed.
- Look for pellets that are supplemented with vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important nutrient that your guinea pig needs in their feed.
- Avoid muesli, or a mixture of cereals, nuts, and dried fruit, as feed because guinea pigs can be picky eaters.
- Choose pellets made especially for guinea pigs. Pellets for rabbits or other rodents are not suitable for guinea pigs because they contain different amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients.
Method 2 of 2: Feeding the Guinea Pig
Step 1. Make sure your guinea pig is getting enough vitamin C
Guinea pigs are one of a number of mammals (including humans) that cannot make their own vitamin C, so they must get it from their diet. Guinea pigs need 10-30 mg of vitamin C daily. Vegetables with high levels of vitamin C that are good for guinea pigs are green leaves, bell peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower.
- Guinea pigs are especially prone to scurvy, which is a disease caused by low levels of vitamin C.
- You can increase the intake of vitamin C for your guinea pig.
- It is not recommended that you add vitamin C to your guinea pig's drinking water. If you do, your guinea pig will stop drinking water if this cute animal doesn't like the taste. In addition, it is very difficult to control how much vitamin C your guinea pig receives because guinea pigs can drink a lot of water.
Step 2. Don't give your guinea pig food that isn't good
This includes fruits with high sugar content in large quantities (they should not be given in large quantities) and starchy vegetables, such as potatoes.
- Vegetables to avoid are frozen lettuce, rocket salad, red leaves, cauliflower, beets, potatoes, and turnips.
- Give fruit in small quantities. Not only do fruits have a high sugar content, they also have a low ratio of calcium and phosphorus. This can cause digestive problems and diarrhea. The fruit in question, for example, is raisins.
- Don't give your guinea pig a serving of acidic fruits.
- Guinea pigs are herbivores. This means that guinea pigs should not be fed meat or dairy products.
Step 3. Avoid commercial treats for guinea pigs
This snack will only be a waste of money and is not good for your pet. Guinea pigs should be given a slice of apple or rolled oats as a snack rather than a commercial treat filled with sugar. Natural snacks are also better for guinea pigs.
Step 4. Provide a balanced diet instead of adding a multivitamin or salt wheel
Such additions are not necessary for your guinea pig feed if you take the time to feed your guinea pig well. If you do have to supplement your guinea pig, consider a vet-approved, high-fiber supplement.
Step 5. Limit the amount of feed given to your guinea pig
Your guinea pig chews instinctively and will eat as long as you feed him throughout the day. Monitor how much feed you give and maintain a balanced diet. Explain this to young children who also keep guinea pigs so they don't overfeed them.
Step 6. Prepare the feed in a ceramic container
Guinea pigs will chew anything they can chew, including feed containers. Choose a heavy ceramic container so your guinea pig won't be able to roll over and crush it easily.
Step 7. Keep the feed fresh
Uneaten feed should be discarded as soon as possible within a day. Guinea pigs can be picky animals, so keeping food in the cage for long periods of time will not appeal to guinea pigs. If your guinea pig avoids the feed given for a whole day, your pet may not want to eat it, and it will just end up as trash in the cage.
Step 8. Adjust the feed quantity if the guinea pig is underweight or overweight
The amount of feed your guinea pig needs will depend on their age, lifestyle and general health. This means that the amount of feed given to your guinea pig will vary over time to keep your guinea pig healthy.
Step 9. Provide clean water at all times
Place a water bottle in the guinea pig's cage, so that your guinea pig can drink clean water at any time. Don't let your water bottle look empty. If guinea pigs can't drink, these cute animals can get sick.
- The best water bottles are ones made especially for guinea pigs or rabbits and have a small metal ball in the nozzle.
- If your guinea pig is kept outdoors, make sure the drinking water doesn't freeze in winter (if you live in an area with four seasons).
- Clean the nozzle of the bottle frequently with a cotton swab to remove dirt and food debris. Clean the drinking water bottle by putting rice and a little water into the bottle, then shake it vigorously. The rice will remove any algae that has accumulated in the bottle.
Step 10. Let your guinea pig eat some grass every now and then
If your yard isn't chemically treated and isn't being used as a toilet for other animals, you can let your guinea pig chew it. Make sure your yard is covered and allow your guinea pig to explore when the weather is warm. Just make sure there are no strong winds blowing and the air temperature is around 15-24 degrees Celsius.
- You should only leave your guinea pig outdoors if supervised. While some guinea pigs live in outdoor enclosures, they should never be left out in the open unattended. This can expose the guinea pig to predators or allow the guinea pig to escape.
- Make sure there is a dark place where your guinea pig can hide from the sun, or when your guinea pig is frightened by something.
- Change the area to be cleaned from day to day. Your guinea pig will keep your yard trimmed and tidy. In addition, guinea pigs also fertilize your yard.
