Do guinea pigs need pellets all the time?

Commercial Guinea Pig Pellet Food

In reality, guinea pig pellets are not a necessary or required part of their regular diet. In fact, guinea pigs that overeat pellets can develop obesity as well as dental disease, so the amounts should be restricted.

Do guinea pigs need pellets every day?

About 1/8 cup of pellets once a day—supplemented by hay and fresh vegetables as described below—will be enough. Timothy hay: Provide an unlimited quantity of fresh timothy hay every day. Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth.

Can a guinea pig live on just hay?

1) Hay: (70-75%)

Hay is absolutely vital to the digestive health of your guinea pig. It prevents obesity, dental disease, diarrhea and boredom. Your guinea pig should have unlimited access to high quality grass hay. Your guinea pig should eat a pile of hay as big as his body every day.

How often should you feed guinea pigs?

Feed your guinea pig on a consistent schedule—twice a day, morning and evening. Because guinea pigs will overeat if given the chance, be sure not to overfeed pelleted food, as it is predominantly carbohydrate and can lead to diarrhea and decreased appetite.

Are pellets important for guinea pigs?

Hay, vegetables, and a little bit of fruits or treats make up a large part of a guinea pig's diet. However, did you know that guinea pigs can eat flowers as well? Some even contain vitamins and nutrients that can boost a piggy's health. However, not every flower is safe for them to consume.

Do Guinea Pigs Really NEED Pellets?

What should guinea pigs eat daily?

The preferred basic diet for guinea pigs is unlimited amounts of Timothy or other low-calcium hay, supplemented with smaller amounts of a commercial, high-fiber, Timothy-hay based guinea pig pellets. Vitamin C (see below) should be given each day. Hay should be offered free-choice throughout the day.

Do guinea pigs need vegetables every day?

Guinea pigs' need fresh greens and vegetables every day to help them get enough vitamin C (they can't produce it themselves). Our vets' advise one teacup of greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day, which can be split into morning and evening feeds.

Can you overfeed a guinea pig?

Overfeeding can be damaging to your guinea pig's digestion tract, and cause obesity. To prevent yourself from overfeeding your guinea pig, all you need to do is serve your guinea pigs the right portioned meals and cut down on unnecessary sugary treats.

Do guinea pigs like to be in the dark?

So, do guinea pigs like the dark? Yes, guinea pigs prefer the dark. They are prey animals and can easily be spotted during daylight hours by predators.

How many times does a guinea pig poop a day?

A 'normal' guinea pig will produce up to 100 poos a day. This number is naturally lower in older or less mobile guinea pigs. If the number of faecal pellets drops below 50 a day it may be a sign that something is wrong. Reasons for lower numbers of poos can be reduced food intake or slowed gut motility.

Do guinea pigs need grass?

They should have fresh grass as often as possible too, ideally every day. They naturally graze, eating only grass, herbs and some other plants (such as dandelion or groundsel) for long periods, both day and night. Remember, guinea pigs need hay and/or grass for their digestive systems to function properly.

Can a guinea pig survive without pellets?

However, pellet food is not needed if you are careful to round out the remainder of the diet. Guinea pigs do best on a wide variety of foods, including multiple types of grass hays, several different vegetables (preferably that contain vitamin C) and lots of fresh water.

How long can guinea pigs go without food?

So, how long can guinea pigs go without food and water? Healthy guinea pigs shouldn't go over 8 hours without food. They won't starve in this time, but they can develop potentially fatal GI stasis or other health issues. Healthy guinea pigs may go up to 24 hours without water.

How long are guinea pig pellets good for?

So if you have a number of guinea pigs, we recommend you buy a much larger bag, providing you can use it within 3 months so it stays fresh. Small Pet Select sells bags up to the weight of 50lb (22.7kg) which is huge! So this is a great way to buy top quality pellet food for your guinea pigs for a reasonable price.

Do guinea pigs like tummy rubs?

Results. Some guinea pigs will never become relaxed enough to submit to a belly rub, and few guinea pigs actually enjoy sitting in such an exposed position for very long. Most guinea pigs prefer a good scratch behind the ears or gentle petting on the back.

Do guinea pigs like showers?

Guinea pigs don't enjoy being wet, and in cold climates bathing guinea pigs and not drying them off properly can give them chills, and make them feel very miserable at the very least.

What color do guinea pigs see?

Unlike most rodents, guinea pigs -- also called cavies because of their scientific name, Cavia porcellus -- do see colors. They are not color-blind; they see most colors accurately. They also rely on their other senses, such as hearing and touch, which are more developed.

Are guinea pigs always hungry?

Senior Guinea Pig

I'd be inclined to say that guinea pigs are never hungry - as they have to eat constantly because they have to keep their gut moving. As for wheeking - they just want some yummy goodies, they know it's irresistable!

Can guinea pigs eat lettuce everyday?

Romaine and green leaf lettuces can be fed 5 to 7 times per week. Both Romaine and green leaf lettuce have relatively low calcium content and relatively high Vitamin C content, making them the best lettuces for guinea pigs.

Do guinea pigs squeak when hungry?

Wheeking is the sound a guinea pig makes when it is hungry so don't be surprised if the wheek around the time you usually feed them or if they see you bringing some food.

Can I give my guinea pig cucumber everyday?

Overall, cucumbers aren't bad for guinea pigs. But feeding them too much in a day can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea because of their high-water content. As long as cucumbers don't make up a big part of your guinea pig's diet, you shouldn't have anything to worry about health-wise.

Can guinea pigs live off just vegetables?

Guinea pigs can also eat fresh vegetables every day, as long as you cut everything up into tiny pieces. A single cup of daily vegetables is appropriate for guinea pigs. Before you feed veggies to your pet, wash them meticulously with water.

What do guinea pigs like to play with?

What do guinea pigs need in their cage?

Enclosures should be lined with newspaper and then at least 5cm of soft, nontoxic, nonabrasive, inedible, dust-free and absorbent bedding to provide cushioning and prevent foot problems. Suitable options for bedding include soft grass hay, fleece fabric, and shredded paper.