![]() 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. "Also, when you open the pelleted feed, store it in a plastic container to continue to preserve the vitamins and minerals and freshness.” This means that if you are choosing a pellet designed for guinea pigs, it will contain vitamin C, but you need to make sure the food isn’t more than four months old and you store it appropriately. It is very important to make sure you understand the milling process date and that it isn’t more than four months old," explains Cheri Schubert, a guinea pig breeder and previously Registered Veterinary Technician. “All guinea pig feed contains a supplement of Vitamin C. Next, avoid foods that are high in fat and calories like seeds and sugary treats as these will contribute to obesity and health issues. Foods that are milled more than a few months ago will begin losing their vitamin C, and foods that are not designed for guinea pigs may not have as much as a guinea pig needs. The most important things to look for when selecting a guinea pig food is to make sure the food is designed for guinea pigs and that the date of milling is as recent as possible. What to Look for in Guinea Pig Food Formulated for Guinea Pigs These pellets should always be offered alongside a high-quality timothy or orchard grass hay, so Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay ( view at Chewy) is a great option to fulfill the rest of your guinea pig’s needs. ![]() It is affordable, widely available, and provides the nutrients like vitamin C that guinea pigs needs from their pellets. Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food ( view at Amazon) is a great all-around option for guinea pigs over six months of age. Oxbow offers high-quality foods at fair prices, especially if you care for a number of guinea pigs and can purchase it in bulk. Key Ingredients: Dehydrated alfalfa meal, wheat middlings, soybean meal, soybean hulls, wheat flour, cane molasses, vegetable oil, calcium carbonate, salt, monocalcium phosphate, vitamin C, hydrolyzed yeast, vitamin E supplement | Recommended Daily Serving Size: ⅛ cup per day Other quality foods including Oxbow also offer 25-pound bags of food, which will be more cost effective per pound as well. ![]() Blue Seal does offer a 5-pound bag of this food but it may be more difficult to find. However, Blue Seal food is “tried, tested, and true,” according to Schubert. Because of this, this large bag of food is not a good choice if you only have a few cavies. However, 25 pounds of guinea pig food is more than a two year supply of food for one cavy, and since the vitamin C expires after four months from the date it is milled, much of the food will be wasted if you have less than six cavies. The cost of quality guinea pig food will decrease if you buy it in bulk, so a 25-pound bag of Blue Seal Furry Friends guinea pig pellets is a great option if you are on a budget. Must have at least six guinea pigs to make a large bag be cost effective Smaller sized bags are harder to find and are more expensive There are numerous food options to choose from, so our veterinary and guinea pig experts have helped narrow down your choices to the best guinea pig foods. If a diet does not meet all of these criteria, your guinea pig may become sick, weak, and be unable to live a long and happy life. Guinea pigs are herbivores, have teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives, and like humans, are unable to make their own vitamin C in their bodies.īecause of these things, the proper diet for a guinea pig must not contain any meat, help keep their teeth at an appropriate length, and contain vitamin C. “There is a lot of thought that goes into buying guinea pig food,” says Cheri Schubert, a guinea pig breeder and previously Registered Veterinary Technician. Like most pets, what you feed your guinea pig is a very important part of providing them with what they need, so choosing the right food for your cavy should not be a decision you take lightly. As long as you provide them with what they need to thrive, they are also pretty easy pets to care for. Guinea pigs, are also commonly referred to as cavies, are great pets for both children and adults because they don’t take up a large amount of space and are fairly quiet.
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