Guinea Pig Diet
Guinea pigs are herbivores, which is a big word that means they are veggie eaters. And they eat a lot. We recommend feeding your guinea pigs twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. With this, make sure to give them enough food to graze on throughout the day. If they can eat all of their food in one go, then they don’t have enough food. You will also want to switch up their diet frequently. Like us, guinea pigs will get bored if they eat the same thing every day.
Eat Your Veggies
Guinea pigs should have 2 cups of veggies a day. Here is a simple list of our most loved veggies.
Romaine Lettuce
Green Leaf Lettuce
Red Leaf Lettuce
Bell Peppers
Cilantro
Parsley
Kale
Oranges (Not a veggie, but still super important!)
And don’t forget to change it up! One day give your guinea pig Romaine and Cilantro and the next you can give them Bell Peppers and Kale. It’s fun to come up with different combinations.
Hay, Hay, HAY
Timothy Hay to be exact. And no, this isn’t hay that you can buy from a guy named Tim. Timothy Hay is a special type of hay that you can find at any pet or feed store. It is high in fiber, so it is good for guinea pig tummies and teeth. You can also change it up by offering your guinea pig Oat Hay. This is the food we recommend you have available for your guinea pig to graze on all day.
Pellets
You’ve go the Timothy Hay, now for Timothy Pellets! These pellets are a great way to change up their diet while making sure they get all the nutrients they need.
Yum, Yum, Vitamins
Just like us, guinea pigs need extra help to stay healthy. By giving your guinea pigs Vitamin C, you are helping them fight off sickness. You can give your guinea pigs foods that are high in Vitamin C, like oranges, or add Vitamin C drops to their food or water.
Special Snacking
Guinea pigs love to snack, just like us. But too much of a good thing can be bad. It can be hard to keep track of, so we made a list of all their favorite snacks and how often they can have them.
Small amount once a day:
Tomato
Celery
Chard
Basil
Mint
A couple of times a week (in moderation):
Carrot
Apple
Banana
Watermelon
Cantaloupe (small slices)
Strawberries
Once a week:
Broccoli
Cabbage
Spinach
Food From The Earth
You can be like your guinea pig and forage for snacks for them out in the wilderness. Dandelions, grass, marigold, rosemary, rose hip, lavender and chamomile are all things your guinea pig can eat. Just be sure to wash them thoroughly before feeding them to your piggie pals.
No, No Foods
We know it seems like a guinea pig can eat just about everything but some things that are safe for you and me to eat, are not safe for little guinea pigs.
Iceberg Lettuce
Avocados
Chives
Garlic
Coconut
Grapes
Onions
Raisins
Water
Drink up! Guinea pigs drink A LOT of water, and that is an understatement. Make sure they always have access to water. We recommend a glass water bottle over plastic to help keep it clean.
