Proper Cavy Diet

HAY

Hay is one of the most important things in a guinea pigs diet. They need unlimited amounts of it. It helps with their teeth. Also with digestion. PLIGPR recommends Oxbow Timothy Hay and Kleenmama's Timothy Hay. Alfalfa hay (a legume hay) is much higher in protein, calcium and carbohydrates and is primarily fed to young pups and pregnant or nursing cavies.

You can buy your hay at a pet store, but Our rescue would recommend you either find a local farmer and buy a bale of hay or order online from Oxbow Hay or Kleenmama's Hayloft. It is extremely cost efficient to buy Timothy hay in bulk as it can last up to six months if stored is a cool, dry location. Oxbow Timothy hay is available in 9, 25, and 50 pound boxes.

There is so much more information about Timothy hay and why your guinea pig needs it at Guinea Lynx: Hay

PELLETS

Pellets are another food that guinea pigs should have continuously, but if your guinea pig is overweight you might want to cut back on continuous pellets. Pellets provide your guinea pig with the nutrients they need to be healthy and active. Be sure to choose a top quality pellet to promote the good health of your pet. Make sure there are no nuts, seeds, or colored pellets in your guinea pigs food. These not only have extra fat oils in them, they also are a choke hazard for your guinea pig. Guinea Pigs should never be fed Rabbit, Mouse, or Chinchilla pellets. Guinea pigs needs are different from other small animals and they have pellets that fit their certain needs.

The recommended of pellet is Oxbow Cavy Cuisine, for adult guinea pigs, and Cavy Performance, for young, pregnant, or nursing guinea pigs. It can be purchased online Oxbow Hay (dot) Com. Also Kleenmama's Hayloft has high quality Vitamin C enriched pellets if you go to Kleenmama's Hayloft (dot) Com

VEGETABLES & FRUITS

Vegetables and fruits are a very important part of a guinea pigs diet. Most people are unaware of this fact. Guinea pigs can not produce their own Vitamin C, and having high in Vitamin C vegetables and fruits helps them out. As a general rule, at least 1 cup of veggies should be given per guinea pig daily. Some owners prefer to do one feeding and some give a morning and evening dose of veggies.

For More information on Vegetables and Fruits and how much vitamin C they offer check out, Guinea Lynx Charts Where they list the vitamin C percentage in all the available Vegetables and Fruits.

VITAMIN C

Guinea Pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C. So as their owners we must provide it for them. There are many ways to do this, you can find pellets that are vitamin C enriched. Also daily vegetables and fruits, and a daily supplement of vitamin C. Whether that be liquid or tablet form.

Whatever you do, DO NOT put the liquid vitamin drops (From The Pet Store) in your guinea pigs water, it makes the water taste bad and has no nutritional value.

Here at PLIGPR we give our pigs, who don't get the vitamins from daily vegetables (i.e. Our current PEW's who do not eat vegetables) .5 ml of liquid vitamin C daily to improve their immune systems and keep them healthy. Also for ill Guinea Pig's who we are hand feeding. You can find liquid vitamin C at most drugs stores or online at Amazon (dot) Com

For more information about Vitamin C please check out Guinea Lynx-Vitamin C

Proper Cavy Housing

CAGES

BEDDING

HIDEY HOUSES

LOCATION

NAIL TRIMMING

WEIGH WEEKLY

BATH TIME

SIGNS OF ILLNESS

Guinea pigs are very good at hiding their sickness. They will not show very many signs of illness until they are very ill. You want to keep a daily watch for symptoms such as the following.

-Refusal to eat or drink
-Weight Loss
-Labored breathing, wheezing
-Crusty eyes, sneezing
-Rough or puffed-up coat
-Swollen abdomen
-Dull and/or receding eyes
-Lethargy, hunched posture
-Drooling
-Watery diarrhea
-No feces
-Unable to urinate
-Blood in urine
-Bleeding from rectal area
-Limping, hopping
-Hair loss, excessive scratching, flaky skin
-Loss of balance

Emergency Medical Guide list reprinted with permission, www.guinealynx.info

If your guinea pig is showing any signs of illness like the ones listed above, please get your guinea pig to a cavy knowledgeable vet, also please check Guinea Lynx: Medical Guide Where you will find a forum that discusses illness in guinea pigs and also where you find help on hand feeding, weighing etc.