As with all other animals, the diet of guinea pigs varies depending on age and condition. A newborn guinea pig does not eat in the same way as an adult or pregnant guinea pig.
It is very common for caregivers of these animals, being less common than dogs and cats, to question their nutritional needs and how to feed the cuy.
- In this Peritoanimal article we will explain what a balanced diet of a guinea pig should look like at all stages of your life.
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Did you know that guinea pigs only have two udders? It’s true! For this reason, it is recommended that litters of more than 3 puppies stay longer with parents before weate.
If the litter has only two puppies, they must stay with the mother for up to 21 days. If you have 3 or more puppies, they should stay with the mother for at least 30 days. It is very important that you pay attention to the behavior of males, because as soon as they begin to show reproductive attempts on the mother, they must separate from it. Men reach sexual maturity around 3-5 weeks, so staying with the mother can cause an unwanted pregnancy. In contrast, females reach sexual maturity later, between 4 and 6 weeks.
This may seem surprising, but despite feeding, on the second day, pigs begin to try to feed on solids, i.e. food, vegetables and hay. You should encourage puppies to eat solid foods early. Make them available in the cage to supplement breast milk. A slice of fresh vegetables every day is the most important thing for puppies and mom! You should always have food available for puppies to get used to and eat. When they reach adulthood, however, it will be necessary to restrict food to prevent them from eating only food and subestiming hay.
She should never feed the puppies that are with her mother and she breastfeeds with her hand. However, if the mother ends up dying, or for some reason does not breastfeed, it is necessary to feed the cubs.
Ideally, you would find a foster mother, that is, a guinea pig with puppies who agreed to breastfeed these babies. Breast milk is an integral part of the diet of orphaned puppies.
If it’s impossible to find a foster mother for them, you can use a mix of guinea pig food. Mix 40 mg of food with 10 ml of water (you can use other measures, provided they are proportional). Cut the tip of a 1 ml syringe and use it to provide the puppies with this mixture. Offer 1 to 2 ml of food every hour or no more every 3 hours. Most importantly, the piglet does not suck this mixture into the lungs. For this reason, you will never be able to feed the puppies in the back. You have to feed them in their natural position.
Ideally, consult a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animals to make sure that everything is fine and if something happens, always have their number at hand.
Have guinea pigs recently been born in your home? Check out our article with naming ideas for them.
At the time of weate, or even earlier, pigs already eat everything, including hay. Let’s start by talking about hay because it is the most important food and should be the basis of the guinea pig’s diet throughout its life.
Hay must be green, wide and long! Quality hay ensures an adequate supply of fiber, allows the proper functioning of the intestinal tract and is essential for the prevention of dental problems in guinea pigs, which are one of the most common diseases in these animals. Therefore, you must allow your guinea pig to have hay available 24 hours a day and always fresh. Ideally, change the hay 2 to 3 times a day.
In addition, guinea pigs should eat food (prefer a uniform diet, to prevent the piglet from choosing only a few cereals) and a ration of fruits and vegetables. Avoid rations for various species (bracelets, rats, and rabbits). Each animal species has different needs, so rations must also have different composition. Choose a food specially formulated for guinea pigs and their age.
Piglet rations are generally supplemented with vitamin C. This vitamin is essential in the guinea pig’s diet because, like humans, they do not produce vitamin C and need to eat it. You should avoid buying supplements for this vitamin. A guinea pig-friendly diet combined with fresh fruits and vegetables rich in this vitamin is enough!
To find out which fruits are best for piglets, read our full list of good guinea pig fruits and vegetables.
In short, the key to a balanced diet is
The amount of food should be limited to avoid the risk of obesity and the piglet should eat more food than hay, because as mentioned above, this promotes the development of dental diseases. The teeth of these animals grow constantly and hay allows them to wear out. Therefore, the food should represent only about 20% of the guinea pig’s diet.
Ideally, feed your piglets only twice a day and in small amounts. Because different rations have different constitutions, caloric intake may vary. Therefore, it is ideal to follow the indication of the container in grams.
There are several forbidden foods for guinea pigs. Among them are
The gestation of the guinea pigs lasts between 60 and 75 days. Most commonly, it lasts about 65 days. This is a very sensitive step for women and requires additional care. During the guinea pig pregnancy, you can never neglect fruits and vegetables! Calcium and vitamin C intake is critical to the good development of pregnancy. During this phase, the female will consume more water than normal, so keep in mind to make sure fresh water is always at your disposal.
Therefore, the diet of pregnant guinea pig should include foods rich in vitamin C, such as these vegetables:
These fruits are also rich in vitamin C
The important thing is to vary the cuy diet, regardless of the stage of life you are in. Like everything in life, moderation is important. Always offer small amounts, especially if it’s your first time having tasted a certain fruit or vegetable. Look at their faeces after ingesting this food, if there is no change, you can keep giving. Every piggy is a different world. Some piglets are sensitive to certain foods, while others are not. Besides, not all piglets like the same things. Try to know the intestinal reactions and tastes of your piglet to choose the best fruits and vegetables for him.
Also read our article on how to properly handle a guinea pig to avoid accidents and injuries.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Balanced Diets section.