What does the guinea pig eat? What is better to feed guinea pigs?

You probably saw a guinea pig at least once. Many people even held this creature in their hands. Guinea pigs are very cute and funny rodents, making funny sounds. You can buy them at the zoo market or in the pet store. In addition, there are special nurseries, where such rodents are bred. There are not very many of them now. If we talk about those who are in Russia, a vivid example is the nursery of guinea pigs "Fili".

Eating guinea pig at home

If you were fascinated by this pretty little beast and decided to start it at home, then first you should carefully think about what you will feed it. We will talk about this in our article. Guinea pig is a herbivorous rodent. Everyone knows that vegetable food is coarse and malopitutive. For this reason, to ensure themselves with the necessary substances, beasts must eat very much. If such rodents live in nature, then they eat a huge amount of vegetation (fresh). These animals eat almost always, not knowing that there are such things as dinner, breakfast and lunch. Food in the intestines of the animal in small portions should arrive almost continuously. This is the only way to ensure the best processing of rough food by your pet's body.

So, what does the guinea pig eat? We found out that the greens. There is a lot of ascorbic acid in it. Due to a lack of vitamin C, an animal may have health problems. All because ascorbic acid maintains the normal state of the walls of the blood vessels. Vitamin C is also necessary for a full-fledged immune defense.

A good source of ascorbic acid are sprouted oats and green grass. On the day the rodent needs about twenty milligrams of vitamin C. During the gestation period, mumps will require slightly more ascorbic acid - about 30 milligrams per day.

This microelement is also contained in salad, dogrose, sweet pepper and, of course, in fresh greens. In the drinking bowl of rodents, you can add vitamin C to 5 mg (you can buy it at a pet store or veterinary pharmacy). In addition, ampoules are sold and ascorbic acid (you can buy even in a regular pharmacy). You can also use special vitaminized food and feeding for rodents.

But back to our main topic. What does the guinea pig eat? Her diet is quite varied. All feed can be divided into several subspecies: coarse, concentrates and juicy.

Roughage

This term means hay and twigs. They contain a very small amount of moisture, but a lot of fiber. This type of food is irreplaceable. It is necessary for the rodent to grind the teeth, and also to improve peristalsis and maintain a viable state of cellulose-processing microflora in the intestine. As you know, cellulose has an absorption action. It, like a magnet, "attracts" toxic substances to itself and carries them away, thus cleansing the intestines.

In this regard, in the cage of your little pet should always be hay. Another advantage of this product is that it spoils very slowly.

What is better to feed guinea pigs? Juicy forages, that is, greens and vegetables. This type of food in the diet should be a lot of pets. Let's talk about it in more detail.

Green fodder

So, this food must be consumed guinea pig. Food should be diversified as much as possible. Therefore, guinea pig can be given clover red, meadow grass, plantain, yarrow. Note that the green must be selected carefully, because some plants can be harmful to the rodent.

Vegetables

What does the guinea pig eat besides roughage and fresh herbs? Of course, vegetables (parsley, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, etc.). Let's talk more about this topic. As we have already found out, guinea pigs eat salad, and all its varieties. This food should be fresh, as the leaves spoil in a matter of hours.

Another guinea pig enjoys eating parsley. It contains a lot of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins. It is appreciated for having antiseptic properties. Offer your pet and dill. It contains iron, potassium and carotene. Dill reduces the formation of gases in the intestine. True, this greens should not be given in large quantities, since it contains many essential oils.

Cucumbers are the subject of adoring guinea pig. The juice of cucumbers has a weak anti-inflammatory effect. Another advantage of this vegetable is its low calorie content. It is useful to give those rodents who need to lose weight. But do not feed the young guinea pig only cucumbers, even though they are very fond of them. After all, a growing body should receive adequate nutrition.

The champion for the content of ascorbic acid is sweet pepper. In addition, it contains a large amount of carotene. Peppers should be fed with slices, but, of course, without seeds.

Another useful product for guinea pig is carrots. It contains many vitamins, carotene, glucose and trace elements.

Tomatoes should also enter the rodents menu. They contain carotene and vitamin C. It is necessary to give the pet only mature fruit. Green tomatoes can not be offered to rodents, since they contain solanine (a poisonous substance). When it ripens, it collapses.

Cabbage is a healthy vegetable, but giving it stands with caution. It contains a lot of sugar, protein and vitamins, as well as organic sulfur. True, cabbage can cause strong gas formation. The rodent should be given only the top leaves of cabbage (preferably white-headed). Although if you are new to the content of such animals, it is better not to spoil your pet with such a product. It's best to give him a little broccoli, it's not so dangerous.

Melon-growing plants

What feeds on guinea pig, in addition to all of the above? Melons (pumpkins, melons, watermelons, etc.), which contain a lot of vitamins, carotene. They should be given to the rodent slices with skin. Especially useful to these animals zucchini and pumpkin. They serve as dietary food. Pumpkin seeds are a preventive against worms. In addition, they contain many vitamins, trace elements. In addition, they are an excellent source of zinc. This element is necessary for the prevention of skin diseases, maintaining the skin in good condition.

What else will the guinea pig enjoy?

Nutrition of rodents should be balanced. Therefore, their diet should include fruit and berries. For example, rowan is useful. It contains a lot of ascorbic acid, carotene and vitamin P. The last element increases the strength of the vessels.

Pears and apples contain pectins, carotene and a lot of sugar. In addition, guinea pigs eagerly eat various berries, oranges and bananas.

Concentrates

This is a high-calorie feed. They contain a lot of protein and carbohydrates. To this group of feeds include grain, beans and seeds. Also in this category are ready meals. Especially good products are based on herbal flour. Adult animals should be given about twenty grams per day. Nursing and pregnant females, as well as young individuals need more (about forty grams).

Feeding technology and precautions

How correctly to feed guinea pigs? It is best to give concentrates in the morning and at night. A juicy feed put in a cage when you are at home, so that the remnants of this food after a meal can be removed. Always in a cage the rodent must have hay, and also a mineral-salt stone.

Note that guinea pigs do not tolerate starvation. A rodent who refuses food for some reason may develop dehydration and exhaustion. If you notice that the pet has lost its appetite, do not hesitate and immediately consult a doctor.

Guinea pigs have a habit of constantly chewing something. It can do a disservice to them. After all, abundant consumption of concentrated fodder and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to the development of obesity. Such a pathology, unfortunately, very often appears in domestic rodents. Did you notice that your pet recovered? Immediately take measures to lose weight. After all, obese animals lose the ability to reproduce, as well as their immunity decreases.

Council for the owners of rodents

In order to make the right diet of guinea pig, the recommendations of veterinarians should be taken into account first. After all, every rodent is special, and it is possible that your pet will need more green vegetables, or, conversely, some foods will need to be removed, since the pet gained weight.

A small conclusion

Today we tried to figure out what the guinea pigs eat. Useful food for the rodent is plant food, especially various greens. Carefully choose food for this animal, only then it will please you a long time. Remember that the proper nutrition of guinea pig is the guarantee of her health.