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If you are fond of small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits, you may wonder can guinea pigs eat rabbit food? No, guinea pigs can’t eat rabbit food because of several reasons.
Both the pets indeed enjoy eating fruits and vegetables, but guinea pigs need more vitamin C in their diet because they can’t synthesize it in their body. Guinea pig’s food is specially formulated to provide adequate vitamin C.
It is no doubt that guinea pigs and rabbits have similarities even if they belong to two different families. Still, they have major differences in their physiology that restrict them from sharing the food.
Pet owners who own these animals may want to deal with both pets equally. Well, you can deal equally in some aspects but not the diet. This article explains why you should feed differently to both these pets.
Can Guinea Pigs and Rabbits Eat the Same Food?
Rabbits and guinea pigs require two different types of food to stay healthy. Both these pets have different physiological needs and digestive systems as well.
Rabbit food is not good for guinea pigs, and guinea pig food is not good for rabbits. They can only eat hay; however, hay is not a complete diet for any pet.
Let us know the dietary requirements of the rabbit as well as the guinea pig.
Rabbit diet
The complete and balanced diet for a rabbit should include fresh vegetables, fruits, hay, and a commercial pellet diet.
Rabbits possess a very delicate or sensitive digestive system that can be easily affected by food changes. If you want to make any changes to the regular diet of your rabbit, you should change it gradually.
You should introduce the new diet in small amounts and watch for any abnormal response. Gradually introducing the new food and gradually eliminating the old food will make your rabbit habitual to the new food.
Guinea pig diet
Like rabbits, guinea pigs require a well-balanced diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, hay, and a commercial pellet-based diet. Additionally, your guinea pig needs an endless supply of timothy hay, fresh water, and pellets in his access.
Vitamin C is very important for guinea pigs. They can get it from fruits and vegetables or commercial pellet-based food. Additionally, guinea pigs can’t eat high-sugar foods.
They are unable to metabolize carbohydrate-rich food, unlike rabbits. It may lead to disastrous health effects like diabetes, obesity, or other associated illnesses.
Do You Know About Bread?
Lots of snacks are safe for guinea pigs, but some snacks you should not give your pet. We sat down and did some research, and our vet has verified it: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Bread?
Food Requirements of a Guinea Pig and a Rabbit
Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food? You may have seen the major difference in the diet preferred by both pets. However, the dietary requirements can also make you understand why guinea pigs and rabbits can’t share the same food.
Rabbit Food Requirements
The difference between the nutritional needs of guinea pigs and rabbits can help you formulate the diet for both these pets. Rabbits need the following ingredients in their food.
- Protein 16%
- Fiber 18%
- Calcium 1%
Guinea Pig Food Requirements
Here are the nutritional requirements of guinea pigs.
- Protein 18-20%
- Fiber 10-16%
- Calcium 1%
- Vitamin C 25-50%
Now you see, guinea pigs and rabbits don’t have the same nutritional requirements. That is why we need to formulate different foods for these pets.
Risks to Consider When Feeding Rabbit Food to Guinea Pigs
Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food? The most obvious risk of feeding rabbit food to guinea pigs is vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamins C deficiency is critical because it leads to the development of scurvy. However, there are many other risks of feeding rabbit food to guinea pigs mentioned below.
Choking hazard
Some rabbit foods are suitable to feed guinea pigs because of the choking hazard. For example, the nuts and seeds you offer to the rabbit can risk choking your guinea pig.
If you don’t handle the condition seriously, it may take your guinea pig’s life. Therefore, you should not risk your guinea pig’s life by offering rabbit food.
Allergic Reactions
Some pet animals do not do well with new food. When you start feeding a new food, it may cause allergic reactions.
Additionally, guinea pigs don’t have a strong immune system; they are vulnerable to infections and diseases that include allergic reactions. Allergic reactions develop due to those foods that irritate.
Rabbit food can develop an allergic reaction in guinea pigs, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. If you see your guinea pig in that situation, cut off the food supply and offer a lot of water. If the situation gets worse, you should see a veterinarian.
Conclusion – Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food?
If you want a final verdict on, can guinea pigs eat rabbit food? No, you should not feed rabbit food to guinea pigs because it is a health risk for them.
