Guinea Pigs are among the most popular small exotic pets. Although they are generally easy to care for, Guinea Pigs can still become sick or unhealthy if they don’t eat the right foods. For example, guinea pigs should never eat bread, even if they think it tastes better than revenge!
Keep reading to learn why bread is unsuitable for Guinea Pigs and how to provide a healthy diet for them. We’ll also examine other dangerous or unhealthy foods for Guinea Pigs.
The Trouble with Bread
Unlike the food we’ll mention later, bread isn’t toxic for Guinea Pigs but is certainly unhealthy for them. Bread and other processed foods like pasta and cereal are high in starch and sugar. Guinea pigs should eat limited amounts of sugar, including fruit, to prevent obesity. So if they gobbled a crumb or two of some bread they found on the floor just keep an eye for signs of an upset tummy. Contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns.
High-starch foods can also upset the Guinea Pig’s stomach because they may be hard to digest. Bread isn’t a natural or nutritionally accurate food for Guinea Pigs. So, what should a Guinea Pig be eating instead?
Image Credit: seniatram1, Pixabay
Guinea Pig Diet: The Basics
Guinea pigs are herbivores and should only eat plant-based foods, never animal proteins. They process food so quickly that they must eat almost constantly to maintain energy levels. Another important note about Guinea Pigs is that, like humans, they can’t make Vitamin C.
About 85% of the Guinea Pig’s daily diet should be hay, specifically grass hays like Timothy or orchard. Constant access to hay will keep your Guinea Pig’s teeth worn down and their digestion functioning smoothly.
Guinea pigs should eat about ½-1 cup of chopped, mixed vegetables daily. Try to include two to three different veggies, including some that are high in Vitamin C. To provide more variety and nutrition, rotate the types of vegetables you offer. The following vegetables are possible options:
Carrots/carrot tops
Cilantro
Romaine lettuce
Bell Peppers
Dandelion greens
Guinea pigs should be fed around 1 tablespoon of Vitamin C-fortified guinea pig pellets daily. Avoid diets that contain nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Your vet can help you choose a healthy option.
Finally, Guinea Pigs can be offered fruit occasionally as treats. Look for fruit that is high in Vitamin C. Good options include:
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
Kiwi
You can also ask your veterinarian if your Guinea Pig should also receive a Vitamin C supplement.
Bread is a high-starch, high-sugar food that Guinea Pigs shouldn’t eat. While not toxic, bread offers no nutritional value for Guinea Pigs, and eating it may lead to obesity and tummy trouble.
If you want to feed your Guinea Pig a treat, reach for healthier options like fruit, which are also high in sugar but contain beneficial nutrients such as Vitamin C.
A lifelong lover of all creatures great and small, Elizabeth got her first cat at 5 years old and at 14, she started working for her local veterinarian. After spending more than 20 years working as a veterinary nurse, Elizabeth decided to step away to become a stay-at-home parent to her daughter. Now, she is excited to share her knowledge with our pet parents. Elizabeth lives in Iowa with her family, including her two fur kids, Linnard, a husky mix and Algernon, the worldʻs most patient cat. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching soccer, and spending time outdoors with her family.
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