What to feed your guinea pig food list. Feeding guinea pigs from A to Z What guinea pigs eat food list

Guinea pigs were first domesticated in 5000 BC; animal figurines were found during excavations in Ecuador and Peru; at that time, the people living in these territories worshiped them.

The tradition has survived to this day; these charming creatures continue to be kept in many families.

Nutrition plays an important role in caring for your pet; special attention should be paid to this issue.

DIET

The nutritional characteristics of guinea pigs directly depend on the structure of the digestive system, due to the rather long intestine of the animal (2 m), the digestive process is also quite long. The movement of food is slow, processing time can reach a week, for this reason, food replacement should be done gradually.

Very important balanced diet, food should have a gentle effect on the microflora. This condition is considered the most important point to ensure optimal well-being for your pet.

The frequency of feeding in accordance with the schedule is 2-3 times a day; violation of the schedule can lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction. The pig's feeder should never be empty; this must be constantly monitored.

WHAT CAN YOU FEED?

Guinea pigs are not known for their whimsical diet; mobility also plays an important role, since when they are constantly in a cage, pets begin to eat more than the established norm. An animal that moves a lot eats only when absolutely necessary.

The diet is compiled in the following ratio:

• hay - 60%;
• juicy food - 20%;
• solid food - 20%.

Food should include four percent animal protein, fifteen percent crude fiber, twenty percent crude protein.

Video: feed review

Green feed

Hay is considered the main component of a pet’s diet; the product has a beneficial effect on the digestive system; in combination with grain and other solid foods, hay helps grinding of incisors, which grow throughout life in all representatives of the rodent class.

Hay can be purchased, or you can harvest it yourself; it is prohibited to use plants growing along highways and in environmentally unfavorable areas as feed.

To feed animals you can use dandelion, parsley, corn, black peas, nettle, celery, millet, clover, lettuce, alfalfa, chamomile and many others.

GRAIN FEED

In the feeder pet Grain must be present: barley, millet, sorghum, buckwheat, oats, ros, wheat. It is not necessary to crush grains, but legumes (lentils, soybeans, peas, beans) must be served crushed. After identifying your pet's preferences, you can make mixtures from your favorite grains. Feeding guinea pigs exclusively with grain can cause obesity and decreased productivity, which can also lead to diseases.

COMBINED FEED

Today the assortment of pet stores includes big choice grain mixtures, which contain dried vegetables and fruits, as well as granules of various herbs. Granules are not suitable for all representatives of the rodent class, especially those who prefer hay and natural food.

Brand Waka offers over 500 varieties of food additives, food has been trusted by customers for many years, as it is distinguished by a unique combination of components necessary for normal life and animal health.

There are other foods of domestic and foreign production, you can choose the right one over time, first of all you need to pay attention to the pet’s reaction.

JUICY FOOD

Animal menus should also include foods rich in vitamins and microelements fresh fruits and vegetables. Most of all, the animal loves carrots, cabbages, salads, cucumbers, apples, peppers, pumpkins; among the berries, you can give him blueberries, rose hips, best in dried form.

WATER AND SALT

The cage must have a drinking bowl with 0.25 liters of water; even slight dehydration can provoke the development of serious diseases. To strengthen immune system 5-25 g of ascorbic acid must be added to the water, since natural production vitamin C does not occur in the body of guinea pigs.

IN winter time the amount of the substance in the diet should be increased, since the rate at which ascorbic acid enters the reaction is very high. If vitamin C comes from other sources, it is not necessary to add it to the water.

Salt is an essential nutritional element for guinea pigs and is sold in specialized stores. special stone for pigs, it is fixed on the grill so that the animal can gnaw on it at any time.

FEATURES OF FEEDING FOR A PREGNANT INDIVIDUAL

The food should be saturated with useful elements; at first, the standard portion should be increased by 30%. From the 2nd half of the term, it is recommended to increase the amount of food by 2 times; the pig should be provided constant access to drink. It is recommended to place the drinking bowl in a shaded part of the cage; two days before birth, the animal’s need for fluid increases significantly, so the water must be changed as often as possible.

During this period, the diet should be rich in vitamins; it is recommended to give the pig carrots, sprouted wheat grains, alfalfa, and drink rosehip tincture or tomato juice. Feeding frequency from two times increases to three or four.

FEEDING THE CHILDREN

In some situations, the pig does not have milk, in such cases difficulties arise in feeding the babies. In such cases, feeding is carried out using a syringe; you will also need ten percent fat cream mixed with a tenth of the capsule prebiotic Linex.

Feeding is carried out once an hour during the day and once every two hours at night, 1 ml, and it is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of feeding. After about 7 days, you can add ground granules of special food or dairy-free baby porridge to the cream.

WHAT NOT TO FEED?

Pigs are very gluttonous, but there are foods that are necessary exclude from the diet animals:

• fried, salty, sweet, spicy foods, canned food;
• red cabbage;
• beans, potatoes, onions;
• eggs, cheese;
• bread, milk, meat and meat products, sausage;
• moldy and damp food.

There is also a list of prohibited herbs, including poisonous herbs, lily of the valley, mustard, buttercups, lumbago and others.

Video: favorite treats

Adviсe

When feeding your guinea pig, it is recommended to follow certain rules, compliance with them will allow you to keep the pig in a healthy state for as long as possible, and will prevent the development various diseases. Compliance is important sanitary standards, the cage and food trays must be clean.

All remaining food must be promptly removed no later than two hours, some owners prefer to leave food overnight. In such cases, consultation with a veterinarian is recommended.

Fruits should be included in the diet in limited quantities; some pets may get bored with the same food, so the diet should be as varied as possible.

Animals may develop food preferences; it is very important to study them, especially if there are several pigs in a cage. This feature manifests itself to a greater extent when at a young age, immediately after purchase.

Guinea pigs are highly sensitive pets that require careful care, love and attention from their owner. The digestive tract of rodents of this species is designed in such a way that for normal functioning and preservation of health, animals must receive the same food at home as they would receive in their natural habitat. The owner must clearly know what to feed the guinea pig. Adequate nutrition for an animal is a matter of vital importance. In a starving rodent, after a day, the intestines stop working, and the animal dies.

The pet needs to be fed correctly so that its health remains normal, its teeth are strong, and its coat looks well-groomed. Daily menu pet should include:

• 50% hay;
• 20% dry food;
• 20% juicy food;
• 10% greens.

An important question for owners is how many times a day to give food guinea pig. Feeding is carried out 3 times a day. The feeder cannot be removed from the cage; food must always be available to the animal. There should also always be hay in the cage.

If there is no dry food in the animal’s diet, then it must be replaced with a similar weight of greens and raw vegetables. The menu should be varied; the rodent must be offered at least three different vegetables per day and certainly grass. It is prohibited to give your pet grass collected on the sides of highways and in industrial areas.

The optimal menu is vegetables and fruits before noon, dry food after noon.

Grain feed

A guinea pig needs to eat at least 20% grain per day. Grain food for rodents is sold in any pet store. The finished product usually includes:

• barley;
• oats;
• millet;
• sunflower seeds;
• corn grains.

In addition to grain, prepared feeds may include vegetable granules and vitamin supplements.

Dry food for your pet is easy to prepare yourself, you just need to buy it at the market different types grains and then mix them. But you need to take into account that the main ingredient is oats; guinea pigs eat it more readily than other grains. Solid grain food should always be present in the diet of rodents. Animals need it to grind down their continuously growing teeth. If a rodent eats only raw and soft food, then its incisors become unnaturally elongated and interfere with the ability to absorb food. As a result, the animal dies from starvation.

Green feed

This food for guinea pigs is the most healthy and natural. Your pet should eat fresh greens, rich in fiber and useful substances to support normal work intestinal tract. Below is a list of herbs recommended for guinea pigs:

• cereal sprouts;
• spinach;
• lettuce leaves;
• clover;
• carrot tops;
• beet tops;
• dill, parsley, cilantro;
• plantain;
• yarrow;
• chamomile;
• dandelion leaves.

You need to be very careful when collecting grass for your pet. Among the useful plants there may be poisonous ones. Therefore, you should not put a bunch of grass in a cage without carefully sorting it out first. Fresh greens for your guinea pig should be thoroughly washed.

Hay

The most important food for guinea pigs. Hay not only normalizes the functioning of the intestinal tract, but is also an excellent tool for grinding down the incisors of rodents. Like grain, hay is sold at any pet store. When purchasing, it is important to carefully check that the dried grass is not affected by mold. Rotten and moldy hay can harm your pet's body. If the owner is engaged in the preparation of hay on his own, then he must carefully inspect the collected grass for the presence of prickly, weeds, and poisonous plants.

Juicy plant products

The category of such food products includes vegetables and fruits. The diet should include mainly vegetables; fruit pulp is just a treat for guinea pigs. You should not give your pet too much fruit. Their pulp is saturated with sugars, which in excess are harmful to the body of a small animal. From time to time, the guinea pig is allowed to treat a small amount of cherries, apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, bananas.

The rodent enjoys eating vegetables and berries:

• carrots;
• white and cauliflower;
• zucchini;
• tomatoes;
• bell pepper;
• cucumber;
• corn;
• pumpkin;
• celery;
• seedless grapes;
• green peas.

It is useful to treat the animal once a week with berries rich in ascorbic acid: strawberries, currants, raspberries, wild strawberries. You can also periodically offer the animal leaves and twigs of cherries, blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and mint.

Eggplants and green tomatoes should not be included in the diet; these vegetables contain solanine, a toxic compound also present in green potatoes. It is strictly forbidden to give your pet leeks, onions and green onions. Bulb crops are poisonous to rodents.

Many owners are interested in whether it is possible to treat a guinea pig with melon and watermelon. The animal willingly feasts on such a treat and even eats watermelon rinds with pleasure. But you need to keep in mind that melon and watermelon are very sweet products, so you shouldn’t include them often in your diet.

You can diversify your pet's menu with fresh peas, soybeans, lentils, and green beans. It is useful to give your rodent juicy pea pods, rich in vitamins and nutrients.

Seeds and nuts

Young and active animals are recommended to include high-calorie foods in their diet. Rodents can be given nuts, wheat bran, flaxseed, sesame and sunflower seeds. But if the animal is inactive and prone to obesity, then these products are not allowed on the menu. Occasionally it is allowed to treat your pet with dried fruits. Dried fruits in large quantities are harmful because they are saturated with sugars.

Additional sources of vitamins and minerals

Most of all, a guinea pig needs vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is not synthesized at all in the body of rodents of this species. Therefore, animals must daily absorb a significant amount of food saturated with vitamin C. Phylloquinone and B vitamins can be absorbed in the guinea pig’s body only after repeated consumption, that is, after the animal eats its own feces. Therefore, a rodent that eats droppings cannot be stopped.

Of the minerals, salts and calcium are especially important for guinea pigs. Therefore, it is recommended to buy mineral sticks for your pet at the pet store. It is also permissible to treat a rodent with useful additives fish oil and bone meal.

Water

There must be a drinking bowl with fresh water in your pet's cage. An adult animal needs 250 ml of fluid per day, but a pregnant female needs a little more. It is recommended to buy a drinking bowl for your pet. In such a device, the water will not become dirty or spill.

It is advisable to give the rodent bottled or filtered water rather than boiled water. The owner must carefully ensure that dirt and debris do not get into the drinking bowl. By consuming contaminated water, your guinea pig can contract an infection.

Foods harmful to guinea pigs

The following is a list of foods that can cause serious harm to a rodent's body:

• white and black bread, pasta;
• meat and dairy products;
• potato;
• mushrooms;
• baked goods, sweets;
• cereals, dry legumes;
• fruit and berry seeds;
• radish, radish;
• sorrel, rhubarb;
• juice, tea, jelly and other drinks other than water;
• leaves indoor plants, poisonous to rodents;
• canned food, spices, cheese and other delicacies;
• waste from the human table.

Guinea pigs love to chew on young tree branches. You should not give your pet oak, willow, pine, spruce, rowan, hornbeam, or elm branches. But you can safely put cherry, hazel, plum, apple, and pear branches in the feeder.

Nutrition for pregnant pigs and newborn piglets

Pregnant pets must eat well and of high quality. The diet of furry mothers should be rich in proteins and vitamins. It is useful to give pregnant females carrots, beets, and wheat sprouts. You can periodically add a little milk to the water. Rosehip infusion brings great benefits to the body of a pregnant pig.

If the female who gave birth does not have milk, then the owner will have to feed the cubs on his own using a syringe. Artificial food for small piglets includes low-fat cream and the probiotic Linex. The cream is taken into the syringe and a tenth of the probiotic capsule is added to it. The resulting solution is nutritious and beneficial for digestive system kids. The food in the syringe is warmed to room temperature. Piglets take 1 ml of food every hour. Two-week-old babies can be switched to cereal porridge without milk. The piglets sit on the porridge until they get used to “adult” food.

Only with complete and proper nutrition will your pet be healthy and able to bear offspring. Let's look at the basic rules regarding what to feed your guinea pig.

What should you not feed guinea pigs?

These little animals are incredibly voracious and can eat a lot, don’t even doubt it. But there is a list of foods that you should never give to your pet unless you want the animal to die. Here is a list of what you should not feed guinea pigs:

• canned, salty or fried foods. Avoid spices and sweets;
• Do not give your guinea pig potatoes, beans or onions;
• meat products, milk and bread;
• This animal is a vegetarian, so the food from your table is also unsuitable for it.

How to properly feed a guinea pig?

First, let's decide what you can feed your guinea pig without risking the animal's health. Guinea pigs are rodents, so solid food should be the basis of their diet. Your pet's approximate diet consists of 60% hay, 20% succulent food and 20% solid food.

Let's take a closer look at what and how many times you can feed your guinea pig. Make sure that the animal always has hay and food in its cage. But succulent food can be offered to your pet during a walk; it is allowed to offer it twice a day, but at the same time. Giving your pig succulent food too often can be bad for its teeth. The pet store sells treats in the form of cereal sticks, crackers and biscuits. From succulent feeds you can offer:

• fruits: pears, apples, bananas;
• greens: lettuce, parsley with dill, dandelion and plantain leaves;
• vegetables: beets, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes and cucumbers, sweet peppers and corn.

There are several features of feeding pigs in some cases (pregnancy, feeding of newborns). Let's look at each case separately and learn how to properly feed a guinea pig, as this is directly related to the life of the pet.

What to feed a pregnant guinea pig?

In addition to the constant rest of the expectant mother, it is also necessary proper nutrition. Food should be rich in vitamins and protein. At first, the portion should be increased by a third. By the second half of pregnancy, the amount of food consumed should double. Make sure the female has constant access to fluids.

Shade part of the cage and place a drinking bowl with water and diluted milk there. A couple of days before giving birth, the female is constantly thirsty, so the water should be changed more often. During pregnancy, the female needs food with vitamins. Offer her carrots, alfalfa, sprouted wheat grains and beets. It is better to drink tomato juice or rosehip infusion. If in a normal period you feed your pet twice a day, then a pregnant female should eat three to four times.

What to feed small guinea pigs?

After giving birth, it happens that the female does not have milk and then the question arises of what to feed newborn guinea pigs. In this case, you take on the role of mother. For feeding you will need 10% cream, Linex and a kitchen scale.

Babies should be fed 1 ml of cream every hour. Sometimes feeding every two hours is allowed, but then there is a need for night feeding at least twice. We take cream into a syringe (without a needle) for insulin and add a tenth of the Linex capsule powder. Next, very carefully squeeze out the food drop by drop and make sure that the baby licks it off. Before feeding, the cream is warmed to room temperature.

After a week, you can gradually add dairy-free instant porridge for children. You can put a bowl with rolled oats, carrots and an apple in the cage. Also add dry food and hay.

“Winnie the Pooh was always not averse to a little refreshment, especially at eleven in the morning, because at that time breakfast had long ended, and lunch had not yet begun.” Do you think this is only about bears?

Of all the animals we are considering, guinea pigs are among the most herbivorous. Since plant foods are low in nutrition and roughage, guinea pigs must eat a lot to provide themselves with nutrients. In nature, they consume huge amounts of fresh vegetation. When I kept my first guinea pig, it seemed to me that letting it into the garden would be the most The best way weeding - then not only will there be no weeds, but also the source of all problems - the garden.

Guinea pigs eat almost always and the concept of breakfast, lunch and dinner does not exist for them. Food should enter their intestines continuously and in small portions. This is the only way to ensure better processing of such roughage.

There's a lot of greenery ascorbic acid. Therefore, feeding on grass year-round in the South American mountains, guinea pigs have lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C (ascorbic acid)– so as not to waste the body’s precious resources. And since it is difficult for people to provide animals with the same varied diet as in nature, at home they often have to deal with vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs. Ascorbic acid maintains the walls of small blood vessels, necessary for complete immune protection, has antioxidant properties. Hypovitaminosis C can externally manifest itself in swollen joints, minor hemorrhages on the mucous membranes, loosening and loss of teeth, bloody diarrhea and even paralysis; if left untreated, death can occur. It must also be remembered that Clinical signs scurvy develops quite slowly, over 7-10 days, and with a significant lack of ascorbic acid. But a gap in the immune defense can manifest itself immediately, even if there is a very small deficiency of the vitamin.

Green grass and sprouted oats are good sources of vitamin C.

Therefore, you need to take care of a constant supply of ascorbic acid with food. A guinea pig needs about 20 mg of vitamin C per day, during pregnancy - up to 30 mg. There is a lot of this vitamin in fresh greens, sweet peppers, lettuce, sprouted grains, and rose hips. In addition, guinea pigs can be given about 5 mg of vitamin C drinking water in the drinking bowl. You can use injectable ascorbic acid in ampoules (ask at a regular pharmacy; they don’t make it specifically for animals!). Special fertilizers and fortified foods for guinea pigs are also a good idea. It must be remembered that vitamin C is very unstable and long-term storage vegetables its content is significantly reduced. In extreme conditions: stress, illness, feeding babies, the need for it can increase 5 times. Overdose occurs very rarely and only when using pure ascorbic acid.

Guinea pigs can experience many problems due to improper feeding. Everything that we said earlier about herbivorous animals is also true for them. Guinea pigs have very long intestines because they have to break down cellulose. The total length of their intestines is more than two meters, so digestion takes a very long time. big gap time. The passage of food through the entire intestine can take a whole week. Therefore, a sharp change in diet and feeding poor-quality feed can cause digestive upset in an animal. Violation of the intestinal microflora can lead to the death of the animal.

Plant foods are low in protein. Herbivorous animals fill this gap by partially digesting their helpers: cellulose-processing bacteria, which multiply in huge numbers in their intestines. But bacteria in rodents are contained in the large intestine, and food is digested mainly in the stomach and small intestine! Therefore, you should not be surprised or disgusted if you catch a pig eating its own droppings. It's just a way to get the most out of what nature gives them.

All food for guinea pigs, as for all farm animals =), is divided into coarse, juicy and concentrates.

Roughage– hay and twig food. They contain a lot of fiber and little moisture. Roughage is irreplaceable. They are necessary for grinding teeth, maintaining a viable state of cellulose-processing microflora in the intestines, and improving intestinal motility. Fiber that cannot be digested has an absorption effect: it “sticks” and carries away various toxic substances and pathogenic bacteria, “cleanses” the intestines. Therefore, a good supply of high-quality hay should be in the cage at all times. In addition, this is an excellent way to provide food for an ever-chewing creature during a working day or trip: hay slowly deteriorates. The main thing: do not miss the quantity!

Juicy feed- These are vegetables and greens. Since there should be quite a lot of them in a guinea pig’s diet, we can talk about them in more detail.

Green feed- This is a very large selection of different herbs. Guinea pigs can be fed dandelion, yarrow, large and lanceolate plantain, chickweed, wheatgrass, alfalfa, red and meadow clover, meadow grasses: timothy, bentgrass. Feeding greens requires some caution. You can read about this

Vegetables: all varieties of lettuce, broccoli, chicory, Chinese cabbage, parsley, Jerusalem artichoke.

Salad. All types of lettuce are suitable for guinea pigs. But this food must be very fresh: delicate lettuce leaves have the ability to spoil in a matter of hours.

Parsley – contains many vitamins, calcium salts, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium. Valued for its ability to restore strength and antiseptic properties.

Dill – contains carotene, calcium and iron salts. Good for digestion - reduces the formation of gases in the intestines. But since parsley and dill are spicy greens and contain a lot essential oils It is not advisable to give it too much.

Cucumbers are an object of adoration. Guinea pigs are crazy about them. Cucumber juice has a mild anti-inflammatory effect, so these vegetables are also beneficial for digestion. In addition, they are low in calories. Cucumbers are a good help for those who want to reduce the weight of their pig, but you should not base the diet of young animals only on them - they will not grow well.

Sweet peppers are the record holder for ascorbic acid content and also contain quite a lot of carotene. Feed in slices along with seeds.

Carrots are a very healthy food. Contains glucose, carotene, vitamins E, K, C, group B, salts of microelements. It must be remembered that at the end of winter and in early spring the amount of vitamins in carrots decreases. You can experiment and use carrots for forcing tops, which is also very useful.

Melons - melons, zucchini, pumpkin, watermelons. In terms of vitamin content, melons are not inferior to fruits, and in terms of carotene content they are superior to red carrots. They are given in slices along with the crust. Pumpkin is especially useful for guinea pigs; zucchini serves as a good dietary food (they are sometimes not eaten very willingly). Pumpkin seeds also contain many vitamins and microelements, help prevent helminthiasis (worms in popular culture), but most importantly, they are a good source of zinc. Zinc is necessary to maintain good skin condition and prevent skin diseases and “boys” - for good fertility!

Tomatoes – contain a large number of vitamin C, carotene. Guinea pigs are fed only ripe tomatoes, since green tomatoes contain a toxic substance - solanine. It is destroyed when ripe.

Potatoes contain a large amount of starch, ascorbic acid, B vitamins, and potassium. Sprouted and greened potato tubers, as well as potato tops, also contain a lot of solanine. Guinea pigs need to be fed with caution not only potatoes that have turned green, but even potatoes that have simply been stored for a long time.

Cabbage is actually healthy, as it contains a lot of protein, sugar, vitamins, and most importantly organic sulfur. Sulfur is needed for good skin and coat condition. But at the same time, this vegetable can cause severe gas formation. Particularly dangerous in this regard are white cabbage, red cabbage and cauliflower. You can only give your guinea pigs the top dry leaves. white cabbage, and if you are new to “pig farming”, it is better to abandon it. Broccoli is less dangerous, you can give more of it.

Rowan berries. Red rowan contains a lot of carotene, and chokeberry is especially rich in ascorbic acid and rutin (vitamin P). Rutin increases the strength of blood vessels. This is an ideal combination, since rutin helps retain vitamin C in the body, and ascorbic acid allows rutin to be more active.

Apples and pears contain a lot of sugar, carotene, and pectin. Pectins are useful because they have a strengthening effect in mild diarrhea. In addition, they are so-called prebiotics - nutrients for various beneficial lactic acid bacteria in the intestines.

Guinea pigs sometimes eat bananas, oranges, and various berries. If you are lucky, you can also feed them, but you need to make sure that these succulent feeds are not trampled and spoiled.

Concentrates- These are high-calorie foods that contain a lot of carbohydrates and protein. These include: legumes, grains, seeds, crackers, stale White bread, most ready-made food for guinea pigs (you can ignore the presence of dried fruits, nuts and corn sticks - no one will eat it anyway). Food based on grass meal is very healthy and easy to eat. Adult guinea pigs can be given 10-20 g per day. Higher need in young, pregnant and lactating gilts. They can be given up to 40 g per day. Legumes are given in crushed form and mixed with other foods: they can cause bloating.

Guinea pig food
Feeding for guinea pigs

Thus, the technology for feeding guinea pigs can be reduced to the following. Concentrates are given at night and in the morning, when leaving for work. Juicy food quickly deteriorates and must be removed as needed, so vegetables, fruits and greens must be fed when the animal is “in front of our eyes.” There should always be hay. In addition, there must be a mineral salt stone in the cage.

In pregnant guinea pigs, especially with multiple pregnancies (this can be seen by the large belly), it is quite common dangerous violation metabolism due to a lack of glucose and calcium in the body. Therefore, in the last stages of pregnancy, it is advisable to give them a glucose solution and take them to the veterinary clinic so that the pig is injected with calcium supplements. The glucose solution can be poured into the drinking bowl, but it must be changed frequently, as bacteria can quickly multiply in it. There are no problems if the pig was provided with the most varied and high-quality feeding before pregnancy. Various vitamin and mineral supplements for guinea pigs are a good help during pregnancy and lactation.

It must be remembered that guinea pigs absolutely cannot tolerate starvation. A pig that refuses food for some reason, for example due to stomatitis, quickly develops progressive exhaustion and... dehydration. Apparently, due to the fact that the pig naturally absorbs significant amounts of succulent feed, a significant part of the moisture is absorbed in the intestines. In case of intestinal dysfunction, the body begins to collect moisture from throughout the body. In this case, it is necessary to take measures: administer fluid by injection (5% glucose solution, various isotonic solutions), feed and use artificial feeding. For this purpose, you can use vegetables crushed in a mixer until pureed or vegetable-based baby food. So, for example, while caring for a sick piglet, we used Tip Top baby puree. I really liked “Carrot”, but I spat out “Pumpkin”, you bastard!

The habit of constantly chewing something can sometimes do a disservice to guinea pigs. An abundance of concentrated feed and a sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity. This pathology is quite common in domestic guinea pigs. If your tummy hangs to the ground, you need to immediately take measures to lose weight. Such “bacon piglets” lose their ability to reproduce and have reduced immunity. When developing a diet, you cannot reduce the amount of food and reduce its variety. It is necessary: ​​reduce to a minimum the amount of concentrated feed and carbohydrate vegetables (roots and tubers), increase the amount of roughage (so that you always have something to eat and not “gain grams”) and low-calorie vegetables (cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, greens, tomatoes), keep the pig busy with fitness. For the latter, you can buy a more spacious cage and let him run around the apartment more often (only under supervision). Weight should not drop sharply. Ideal for adult animals: 500-600 g for females and up to 900 g for males.

Caring for a furry rodent includes providing food. Its life expectancy will depend on how properly you feed your pet. Let's look at what guinea pigs eat and what they should not be given. We’ll also talk about how to organize your pet’s nutrition.

Catering

To understand what to feed your guinea pig at home, you need to read physiological characteristics this rodent. His body is structured differently from that of a human. The main difference is that intestinal motility in a rodent is much weaker than in humans. Accordingly, most foods that are palatable to humans simply cannot be given to rodents.

To properly organize feeding your furry friend, think about what he eats in wildlife. The diet of a domesticated rodent should not differ radically from the diet of a rodent that lives in the wild. And in the wild it feeds on various plants, grains, hay, roots, and some fruits and vegetables.

When preparing a diet for your pet, you should take into account individual characteristics animals, each of which has its own preferences. Some rodents love apples, while others prefer carrots, some like succulent food, and others like hay. This does not mean that you need to feed your pet only the foods that he likes. The diet should be well thought out and balanced. But, if possible, give preference to those products that the rodent likes. Also take into account that along with his favorite food, it is advisable to feed your ward food that he does not like, but which should be present in the diet.

You cannot leave food for future use by rodents. If you are going on a two or three day business trip, take your pet to a friend or give it to a foster home. If you give your pet to friends, instruct them on what you can and cannot feed the rodent.

Diet

Before moving directly to the description of permitted and prohibited foods, let’s make a reservation about how many times a day to feed a guinea pig. Rodents need to be fed often, but little by little. It is advisable to fill your pet's feeders 4 times a day. It is advisable to feed your ward at the same time. You should not put in a lot of food, since the small fluffy rodent is prone to stockpiling. Accordingly, the pet will try to hide food that the pet does not eat. Make sure that nothing is left in the feeders after feeding.

If you give fruits or vegetables, then after feeding, remove all the leftovers, and take the time to wash the feeders. If you do not properly care for your pet, and keeping the dishes clean is also part of the care, then your pet will certainly have stomach upsets caused by sour food. Rodent feeders should be washed without using detergents.

If you introduce a new product into your diet, do it carefully. Rodents are very sensitive to changes in food. When giving any product for the first time, observe your pet. If he shows signs of gastrointestinal dysfunction, immediately eliminate the new product from the diet.

Guinea pig diet

The diet of guinea pigs should include:

• grain feed;
• vegetables and fruits;
• green feed;
• hay and branches.

In addition to the above products, rodents need vitamin C, which is not produced in their bodies. Alternatively, add regular ascorbic acid, purchased at a pharmacy, to the water. There should be no more than 20 mg of ascorbic acid per glass of water. You can simply squeeze the juice from one fresh lemon into the water. Let’s immediately make a reservation that a furry pet should always have water in its cage.

Let's look separately at what grains and green foods rodents need. We’ll also talk about what vegetables and fruits should be given to wards, and which ones can provoke serious problems with health.

Grain feed

Grain feed is the basis of the diet. Specialized stores sell ready-made food for guinea pigs. They differ slightly in composition, but have a significant difference in price. The pricing policy depends not so much on the composition of the feed, but on the country of origin. Imports are more expensive than domestically produced goods. The basis of feed mixtures is oats. They may also contain wheat, corn, peas or other cereals.

You can make feed mixture at home. But, in addition to grains and cereal crops, store-bought food contains a variety of microelements that rodents need. It is not possible to make such food at home. Therefore, preference should be given to store-bought formulations. When choosing a feed mixture, do not opt ​​for cheap items. Good feed mixtures cannot be cheap. Low price policy those feeds that have a poor composition.

Cavia Nature, Cavia Complete and Crispy Muesli from Laga Versele have proven themselves well on the market. Also popular are Little One (Little Van or Little One), Padovan, Fiory, Vitakraft, Sultan, Jr Farm. Among the domestic feed mixtures, Dusya, Vaka Lux, Chika Bio and products of the Rodnye Korma company are popular. Is not full list worthy food. Define best food for guinea pigs, due to the fact that all rodents have their own food preferences, it is not possible.

The share of grain feed in the diet of rodents is 30%.

Vegetables

In summer our region is rich in various vegetables. Almost everyone who has a personal plot grows tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplants and sweet red or green bell peppers. Let's figure out whether guinea pigs can eat tomatoes and other vegetables. We’ll talk about celery, cabbage, radishes and radishes separately.

Be sure to include cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, pumpkin, beets and corn in the diet of your furry pets. Because they contain sugars and acids, causing diabetes and allergies, give vegetables in moderation. If Jerusalem artichoke grows in the garden bed, we give it extremely rarely. We exclude young Jerusalem artichoke from the diet because it contains a large amount of starch.

You should not feed rodents only bell peppers or tomatoes. You should give different vegetables every day. As for whether guinea pigs can eat zucchini, and whether guinea pigs can eat pumpkin, both of these vegetables are not contraindicated for rodents. But experts recommend giving them no more than 3 times a week.

Can guinea pigs eat potatoes, which are the most common vegetable in our country? In addition to starch, which contributes to obesity, the vegetable contains solanine, which lowers the immunity of rodents. Accordingly, it is better to exclude potatoes from your pet’s diet.

Celery

Let's talk separately about whether guinea pigs can eat celery. This currently exotic vegetable is included in almost all elite food for rodents. It is rich not only in vitamins, but also in microelements. It contains magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron and phosphorus. Accordingly, it must be included in your pet’s diet. Should be given to pets in moderation sauerkraut(no more than 1 tbsp every few days) and tomatoes.

Cabbage, radish, radish

Well, let’s look at whether guinea pigs can have cabbage, radishes and radishes. Experts do not recommend feeding your guinea pig cabbage. This applies not only to white cabbage, but also to Chinese cabbage. Cauliflower and broccoli are also not recommended. Some rodents have an individual intolerance to one or another variety of cabbage. And even if there is no intolerance to cabbage, this product in its raw form provokes diarrhea and flatulence. As for radishes and radishes, these vegetables can cause irritation of the mucous membranes. But it is not prohibited to give the tops of these plants to your pet.

The share of vegetables is no more than 15% of the rodent’s body weight.

Fruits and berries

Let's figure out whether guinea pigs can have strawberries or grapes, apples or pears, tangerines or mangoes, etc. All fruits and berries contain fruit acids and natural sugars to one degree or another. These substances can provoke in small rodents serious illnesses with health. Therefore, if you include them in the diet, then in small quantities. Since furry pets perceive these foods as a treat, they can be given as a reward for something, or along with healthy foods that pets do not want to eat.

Traditional Russian fruits and berries

The cheapest fruits in our region are apples and pears. Therefore, first of all, let’s talk about whether guinea pigs can eat pears, and whether guinea pigs can eat apples. As for pears, they contain a large amount of sugar. Accordingly, they should be given in moderation and not every day. As for apples, this delicacy is the most harmless for rodents. But, due to the presence of fructose, we still give them in moderation. All sweet fruits and berries can be given only in small quantities. This applies to plums, cherries, cherries, strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, apricots, etc.

Your pet will enjoy eating watermelon, which appears on store shelves in the second half of summer. But, due to the fact that this berry is famous for its diuretic effect, rodents should be fed watermelon extremely rarely, and it is better to exclude it from the diet altogether.

Citrus and exotic fruits

Many people are interested in whether guinea pigs can eat kiwi, or, for example, whether guinea pigs can have oranges. All citrus fruits should be excluded from the diet. If you really want to pamper your pet with pineapple, pomegranate, or give him avocado, melon or peach, then this should be done no more than 1-2 times a month. We give treats to our furry pet in very small quantities. It is undesirable to give persimmons to rodents, as they can cause stomach upset.

Well, let’s separately talk about whether guinea pigs can have a banana, which has not been perceived in our country for a long time as an exotic fruit. Experts do not recommend giving it to rodents due to the presence of starch.

Let's immediately talk about dried fruits (raisins, dates, dried apricots, etc.). Due to the fact that they contain more fructose than fresh fruits, they are not recommended for consumption.

The share of fruits and berries is no more than 10% of the rodent’s body weight. We give all fruits to the pet without seeds. It is also advisable to peel them. Only melons are given along with the crust.

Green feed

Summer, unlike winter, is rich in green food, for which you don’t have to pay. Thanks to the presence of green food in the diet, the risk of gastrointestinal diseases in rodents is minimized. In addition, pets receive vitamins and microelements from plants.

Furry rodents should be fed dandelions, young sedge, clover, alfalfa, plantain leaves, chamomile, yarrow and tansy. You should also give your pets sprouted grains and wood lice. It is worth including greens in your diet, which can be grown without much difficulty. personal plot or windowsill. Animals enjoy eating arugula, basil, parsley, spinach, dill and mint. It is worth noting that dill not only improves the digestion of rodents, but also improves their appetite.

But lettuce leaves should be given carefully. Animals that are not accustomed to succulent food may experience allergic reaction. And some varieties of lettuce even have a diuretic effect and irritate Airways(watercress, for example). You can try giving your pet cilantro. Some animals refuse to eat it because of the specific smell. You should include turnip tops in your diet, but experts do not recommend giving turnips themselves.

We talked above about whether guinea pigs can eat beets or carrots. Here we note that, in addition to root crops, animals can be given the tops of these vegetable crops.

Since many wild plants are poisonous, you should be very careful when collecting green food for your pets. Do not give rodents plants that are unknown to you. Don’t give your pets greens bought at the market yet. If it is treated with insecticides, the animal may get severe poisoning or die. So grow your own greens.

Hay and branches

Due to the structural features digestive tract A guinea pig simply needs hay. It is sold in pet stores. But, if there are plantings or fields nearby, you can prepare it yourself. When making hay, it is important to select non-poisonous plants. You should not make hay from alfalfa either. It is suitable only for pregnant females and young animals. If you buy hay at a pet store, be sure to pay attention to its smell. If the hay has rotted, which is clearly noticeable by smell, then you should refuse to buy it. You shouldn't buy wet hay yet.

In addition to the fact that hay improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, it allows animals to grind down their teeth. In a cage with a rodent, in addition to the feeder and drinking bowl, there must be a hay box. Do not choose miniature hay fields. The furry rodent should be given dried herbs in unlimited quantities. If there is no hay in the cage, the rodent eats sawdust. And, due to the fact that there are particles of excrement on them, this should not be allowed. Although, for the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that rodents eat their own droppings. It contains enzymes that improve the digestion process. But, if you provide your pet with proper nutrition and appropriate care, he will not have problems with digestion.

In addition to hay, pets should be given tree branches in winter. Fluffy pets happily chew on the Christmas tree. An alternative to Christmas trees are willow or aspen branches. Branches of fruit trees and juniper should not be given to pets.

The share of hay in the diet of rodents is 20%. In winter, due to the lack of succulent feed, it increases to 40-45%.

Supplements

We give our furry rodents bran several times a week. If your pet does not have health problems, then it is enough to treat him with bran 2 times a week. If his body is weakened, as can be judged by lethargic behavior and the condition of the coat, we give bran 4 times a week. We also feed the young animals bran 4 times a week. You also need to include salt in the rodent's diet, at the rate of 1.3 g for an adult and 0.5 g for a young individual.

Specialized stores sell treats for rodents, which should be treated with caution. The manufacturer writes that the delicacies offered are not only tasty, but also healthy. But, when preparing them, sugar is usually used. And it is on the list of prohibited products. Therefore, even if this treat contains a large amount of vitamins and microelements, it is not beneficial for your furry friend.

And here vitamin complexes, which are served in the same specialized stores, should be included in the diet. They strengthen the immunity of rodents and improve the condition of their coat. It is advisable to give your pet vitamin complexes in winter. In the summer, he receives all the necessary microelements and vitamins from succulent food and fruits. And in winter, the basis of the diet is hay and grain feed. It is difficult to obtain from them everything necessary for the normal functioning of the body. When purchasing vitamin supplements, pay attention to their composition. What your pet needs most is calcium. Therefore, it must be included in the product.

Other products

In general, these rodents can be called omnivores. But not all products are recommended for use by rodents.

Milk

Many people are interested in whether guinea pigs can have bread, and whether guinea pigs can have milk. Rodents in the wild do not eat these products, since it is not possible to obtain them. Accordingly, they are of no value to their body. Moreover, the rodent body is not able to break down lactose. Therefore, drinking milk can cause serious health problems. Milk can be given in small quantities only to young animals.

Bread

Seeds and nuts

As for whether guinea pigs can eat nuts and a variety of seeds. There are no restrictions on these food products. But their consumption leads to obesity. Therefore, we include nuts and seeds in our diet in small quantities. Among nuts, preference should be given to peanuts and walnuts. Almonds are not prohibited. As for seeds, you should give preference pumpkin seeds. Or you can give a mixture of sunflower and pumpkin seeds. We first remove the husks from all the seeds.

Cereals

Of all the cereals that can be seen on store shelves, the diet of rodents can only include cereals, ground into fine grains. But you shouldn’t pamper your pets with them often. If oats are present in the diet, then this is quite enough. It is strictly forbidden to give boiled porridge to rodents. It will cause digestive problems. After all, in nature they eat only raw foods.

Prohibited Products

Well, let’s make a reservation about what you should not feed your guinea pig. There is a taboo against onions and green onions, which are toxic to rodents. Rhubarb, which contains large amounts of oxalic acid, is not recommended for consumption. For the same reason, sorrel is taboo. You should also not include eggs, which contain animal protein, in your diet. Even one egg can harm a pet’s body. Well, sugar, which causes diabetes, is prohibited.

It is strictly forbidden to give rodents herbs that contain poison: fern, aloe, celandine, snowdrop, foxglove, honeysuckle, etc. We will not list all the plants, due to the fact that there are a lot of them. In order not to harm your pet, it is enough to give only those green foods that you know and which are included in the list of approved products for small rodents.

Conclusion

We figured out how to feed guinea pigs, tried to consider as thoroughly as possible whether guinea pigs can have bell peppers or other vegetables, whether strawberries and other berries are good for guinea pigs, whether fruits and vegetables should be included in their diet. flour products. We also talked about what not to feed guinea pigs.

To correctly compose your pet’s diet, you should create a table for yourself consisting of 3 columns. In the first column we indicate products that must be included in the pet’s diet. The second column displays foods that can be given in moderation. In the third column we indicate which foods are strictly prohibited to give to rodents. We hang this table-reminder near the cage with a furry pet.