Guinea pig diet — feeding ratio, safe greens and foods to avoid
Source: RSPCA pet care advice (rspca.org.uk), a copyrighted animal-welfare organisation. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.
Claims
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Good-quality hay should make up the majority of a guinea pig's diet and should be available at all times; fresh grass should be provided as often as possible, ideally every day.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A fresh portion of grass-based guinea-pig pellets should be available daily (following the manufacturer's instructions) to provide essential Vitamin C; Vitamin C is destroyed over time and more quickly with air exposure, so a fresh portion must be given each day and pellets eaten by their best-before date.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Fresh vegetables and herbs are excellent sources of vitamin C and can be fed daily (examples: parsley, celery, peppers, cucumber, gem lettuce, romaine lettuce).
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Broccoli, spinach, kale, small pieces of carrot and a quarter of an apple can be given in small amounts a few times a week as treats, as their high sugar or calcium content can cause health issues.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Guinea pigs are natural grazers and produce two dropping types (hard dry pellets and softer moist pellets they eat directly from their bottom), which are an essential part of their diet.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Fresh clean drinking water must be continuously available and checked twice daily; without water guinea pigs become seriously ill.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Avoid sudden changes in diet; introduce new foods gradually and adjust feeding quantities to prevent underweight or overweight.