Guinea pigs are delightful little creatures that belong to a subset of animals known as cavies. These animals are beloved by many and commonly kept as pets. Like all animals, guinea pigs have sensitivities to certain foods, which can be harmful.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Grapes?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat grapes – although in moderation. As the proud caretaker of a guinea pig, it’s up to you to ensure they get the proper nutrition and avoid eating anything that might potentially cause harm or discomfort to them! It can be a little challenging to find information on the ideal diet to offer to your guinea pig.
Look no further; this article intends to help you understand what foods are best for your fuzzy friend and which things it would be best to steer away from!
Guinea Pigs’ Dietary Needs
Caretakers of guinea pigs can get a little creative when selecting some aspects of their pet’s diet. However, three primary staples should be daily present in cavies’ diets: commercial food pellets, timothy hay, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Like other species, these animals have continuously growing front teeth which, if left unattended, would pose a health risk to them. Due to this heavy tooth growth, guinea pigs must constantly be chewing to grind their teeth down and counteract their growth.
Timothy hay is a necessary foodstuff to keep at hand for your cavies; when removed from the wild, these animals must be able to chew constantly to care for their teeth and avoid discomfort.
Timothy hay is an excellent chewing snack. It also promotes the growth of a vital bacterial culture in the pig’s intestinal tract, which is necessary for proper digestion. Timothy hay can be offered basically at all times during the day as guinea pigs aren’t known to overeat and are safe to chew the stuff at will.
Do You Know?
Lots of snacks are safe for guinea pigs, but some snacks you should just not give your pet. We sat down and did some research and our vet has verified it: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cucumbers?
Cavies bodies share the characteristic of humans needing vitamin C in steady amounts as part of their daily diet. This is why many brands of guinea pig food pellet products are infused with vitamin C. Although these pellets are a necessary food item for your guinea pig, the quickly degrading nature of Vitamin C makes it all more important to include the third daily food group listed in this article, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Guinea pig food pellets are best used up within three months of their manufacture due to the rapid oxidation of the added vitamin C. The vitamin loses its effectiveness and breaks down in the pellets as time goes on and will fail to maintain your pet’s required dosage.
Which Fruits and Vegetables can Guinea Pigs Eat?
Vegetables are necessary for maintaining digestive health for your guinea pig. When selecting products to offer your pet, be sure to stick with fresh items, especially those with a high vitamin C concentration. Your pet should be given a revolving stock of products to eat. Be sure to remove fruit or vegetables that have been exposed to open air for longer than a couple of hours.
Leafy greens are the most important type of product to offer. Lettuce, kale, and cilantro are all good options to feed daily. Other options like tomatoes, broccoli, and red peppers should be readily available due to their high vitamin C content.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Grapes or Other Berries?
Yes, however, they should only be eaten in moderation. The fruit has a very high sugar content which can cause some severe health issues if eaten in excess. Try to pick fruits with high nutritional properties and lower sugar content to protect your pet’s digestive system. Red grapes are slightly lower in sugar content than green grapes, so if you want to feed your pet grapes, you should try to go for the darker varieties, which also have high antioxidant properties.
