What Guinea Pigs Eat

The most important food you will need to provide for your guinea pigs every day is hay; but not just any kind, like what you would feed a horse. It should be timothy hay. They go nuts for this stuff. I like to fill the cage up and watch them tunnel through and munch on it. It’s funny the way they purr in contentment when I do this for them. This hay is very important for their health because it keeps their teeth trimmed properly and it is nutritious for them. I use the hay for the double use as a food and litter.

Next, you should give them a bowl of good quality pellets to snack on. This is another favorite guinea pig food, and I just fill up the bowl whenever I see that it’s empty. Never get the mixed seed kind of dry food because guinea pigs don’t eat seeds. The packaging might say that it is guinea pig food but don’t believe it.

Morning – Provide clean fresh water, check pellets and hay; replenish if necessary. Two romaine leaves, one baby carrot and a few slices of cucumber per pig.

Evening – Provide clean fresh water. Two romaine leaves, half of a roma tomato and one slice of apple each.

Here is another example menu of a typical day in my house of what I feed my guinea pigs. In the morning, I put fresh water in their water bottle and check on the pellet and hay situation. If they are running low, I add some fresh stuff.

I usually have with me already four romaine leaves, their favorite food. About three times per week I will give them something extra for breakfast, such as a few slices of cucumber or a couple of baby carrots per pig. This is enough for the day until I give them their evening meal. This is when I spice it up a little more.

I bring the usual romaine lettuce, and predictably one of the following: a sliced bell pepper, a medium sized tomato, a few slices of cucumber, some parsley/cilantro sprigs and an orange or a banana which I just break into chunks. The fruit is a treat that I only give once or twice per week because of the sugar. I like to mix it up and keep them guessing, but guaranteed, whatever I bring them they munch up every last crumb.

Of course, these aren’t the only foods that you can give your guinea pig, I’m just showing you an example of what I usually do, to help give you some perspective on what they eat and how much in a typical day.

A few other foods they enjoy are melons, mangoes, arugula, red/green leaf lettuce, carrots, peaches, bean sprouts, chard and green beans. In the summer I pick grass and dandelion leaves for my guinea pigs, they love it. Just be careful that it is fresh and clean from dust and pesticides.

Dairy -  including cheese and yogurt.

Iceburg lettuce -  is only full of water and has very little nutrients; not even nutritious for humans. Can cause diarrhea in guinea pigs.

Celery is okay, but make sure to cut it thinly across, because this vegetable is a choking hazard for guinea pigs because it is stringy.

Nuts

Cauliflower in small amounts is okay, but only occasionally

Junk food -  we have the choice to eat candy and potato chips, but never offer these to your pet.

Meat 

If you know of anything else, just leave a comment and I will add it to the list.