Guinea pigs, or cavies, are quiet and small, making them ideal pets for both adults and children. As long as their needs are met, they are easy to care for. It is important to note that their diet plays a crucial role in their health and well-being. Cheri Schubert, a guinea pig breeder and former Registered Veterinary Technician, emphasizes the importance of selecting the right food for your pet. Guinea pigs are herbivores with continuously growing teeth and no ability to produce their own vitamin C, so a balanced diet must be meat-free, promote healthy teeth, and include vitamin C. Failing to provide a proper diet can lead to illness, weakness, and a shortened lifespan. Our experts have narrowed down the top guinea pig food choices to help you make the best decision for your pet.
Oxbow Essentials Cavy Cuisine Adult Guinea Pig Food — Best Overall
The Oxbow Cavy Cuisine pellets are a well-known brand that prioritizes the health of your furry friend. Specifically designed for adult guinea pigs, these pellets meet their unique nutritional needs. They provide the necessary fiber for optimal digestion while reducing the intake of calcium, protein, and high calories that are essential for growing guinea pigs. The pellets also contain stabilized vitamin C to boost overall immunity, and a specialized calcium-to-phosphorus ratio ensures optimal health. These pellets mimic the natural diet of adult guinea pigs and are suitable for those over six months of age. However, some users have reported that the pellets break up easily, resulting in dust in the bag.
Pros:
– Tailored for adult guinea pigs
– Specialized calcium-to-phosphorus ratio
– Contains stabilized vitamin C for a healthy immune system
Cons:
– Pellets may break up easily.
Garden Select Fortified Food for Guinea Pigs
For guinea pig owners who want to provide their pets with freshly picked garden ingredients, the Oxbow Garden Select formula is a great option. This pellet formula is ideal for picky eaters who tend to only choose their favorite ingredients from blends, which can lead to an unbalanced diet. By combining carefully selected garden-fresh ingredients and hay, this food ensures that your pet is getting the variety and flavor they desire. It’s important to note that this food is not recommended for growing, pregnant, or nursing guinea pigs, but it can provide complete and balanced nutrition for adults. The Oxbow Garden Select formula features uniform pellets that discourage selective eating and is free from refined sugars, artificial colors, and artificial preservatives. Additionally, it includes three different types of grass hay and comes in a 4-lb. bag.
Taiyo pluss discovery premium guinea pig food
Taiyo Pluss Discovery Premium Guinea Pig Food is a natural blend of essential vitamins and minerals that promote optimal health and vitality in Guinea pigs. Made with natural ingredients including diet cane molasses, ground soybean hulls, ground flax seeds, ground oats, ground rice, and sun-cured alfalfa meal, this product offers numerous benefits such as improved digestion, healthy skin and coat, dental support, sturdy growth, and a stronger immune system. Unlike other brands, it contains no added sugars, making it an ideal dietary option for your pet. Furthermore, it offers a 10% bonus on 1kg, making it a cost-effective choice. The product comes in stick form and is packaged in a container suitable for all age groups. Taiyo Pluss Discovery is a trusted brand for your pet’s nutritional needs.
Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Pellets
For pet owners who value high-quality food and are willing to pay a bit extra, Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Pellets are an excellent choice. Produced in small batches in the USA, these pellets are fortified with a precise blend of vitamins and minerals to promote your pet’s health. They are also free from Chinese-sourced ingredients and packaging materials, providing peace of mind for many pet owners. Small Pet Select even offers a money-back guarantee for this product.
Benefits of these pellets include their freshness, delicious taste for most guinea pigs, and appropriate calcium levels that can prevent bladder stones. However, they are pricier than many other guinea pig foods, and some pets may not find them appealing. Additionally, these pellets may contain GMOs, which some owners may prefer to avoid.
Kaytee Timothy Complete Guinea Pig Food
Main Features:
– Minimum 14.0% crude protein
– Minimum 2.0% crude fat
– Minimum 23.0% crude fiber
– Maximum 12.0% moisture
The Kaytee Timothy Complete Guinea Pig Food is a top choice for pet owners looking to provide their furry friends with a balanced diet. Its sun-cured timothy hay, alfalfa meal, oats, and wheat content provide a rich source of fiber essential for maintaining your guinea pig’s digestive system health. This recipe is also low in calcium and protein, making it the perfect meal for adult guinea pigs.
The recipe is free from sugary fruits and seeds, ensuring that your pet won’t selectively feed. Kaytee has been providing pets with healthy nutritional meals for over a century, making them a reliable company to trust.
Sun-Cured Timothy Grass Hay, Wheat Middlings, Ground Wheat, Oat Hulls, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Sun-Cured Alfalfa Meal, Dried Cane Molasses, Salt, Dicalcium Phosphate, Soy Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dl-Methionine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (a Preservative), Ferrous Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Copper Sulfate, Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Dried A. Oryzae Fermentation Extract (Source of Protease), Dried Bacillus Licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus Subtilis Fermentation Product, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite.
Final Thoughts
To ensure the health of your guinea pig, it is essential to provide them with a diet that is rich in fiber and vitamin C. This can be achieved by feeding them a combination of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as specially formulated guinea pig food pellets that cater to their nutritional requirements. It is equally important to ensure that your pet always has a steady supply of clean and fresh hay and water. By following these guidelines, you can rest assured that your guinea pig will be a happy and healthy companion. We hope that this article has provided you with valuable insights on the best food options for your furry friend. Please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
FAQs
- What human foods can I give my guinea pig?
- Several human foods can be offered to guinea pigs as treats. Schubert notes that Cheerios and quick plain rolled oats are popular options, along with vegetables that are high in vitamin C and some fruits. Bell peppers, kale, leafy lettuce, green beans, parsley, cilantro, strawberry tops, and cucumbers are great vegetable options. Be sure to limit starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots, and avoid gas-producing vegetables like cabbage and onions.
- Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food?
- “Guinea pigs can be fed rabbit food on a very limited basis,” says Schubert. Rabbit food lacks the nutritional components, primarily adequate vitamin C, that guinea pigs need, so it should never be fed to a guinea pig long term. If you absolutely cannot find guinea pig food or are running low and can only find rabbit pellets, you can temporarily mix your rabbit and guinea pig pellets or feed the rabbit pellets until you can get more guinea pig pellets. Vitamin C deficiency is a serious problem and will negatively affect guinea pigs that don’t get adequate amounts in their diet.
- Can guinea pigs eat any other type of pet food?
- With the exception of feeding rabbit pellets for a very temporary time, Schubert says, “I would not recommend any other pet foods for a guinea pig. Many of the other foods contain things that guinea pigs shouldn’t eat.”
