Your guinea pigs' diet

Overview

• Guinea pigs are herbivores, which means they only eat plants and plant-based food.
• In the wild, guinea pigs eat fresh grasses and wild plants.
• It’s vitally important for guinea pigs to eat lots of fibre to keep their teeth short, and their guts moving.
• Vitamin C is an important part of your guinea pigs’ diet because they can’t produce it themselves
• If you need to change your guinea pigs’ diet, it’s important to do so slowly to prevent an upset stomach.

What should I feed my guinea pigs?

The best diet for your guinea pigs’ is one that mimics their natural diet as much as possible. Our vets’ recommend the following:

• Hay/grass: At least 85 – 90% of your guinea pigs’ diet should be hay and grass
• Fresh greens and veg: A teacup amount of fresh greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day – greens and veg high in vitamin C are especially good
• Pellets: Each of your guinea pigs should have one tablespoon of grass-based pellets per day
• Water: Your guinea pigs should always have access to clean, fresh drinking water

Hay and grass

Guinea pigs rely on the fibre in hay and grass to keep their teeth short and their digestive system moving. Hay and grass should make up 85 – 90% of your guinea pigs’ diet, and unlike pellets, you can’t overfeed it. Make sure your guinea pigs have constant access to good quality, fresh feeding hay – timothy hay is a great option, and if possible, fresh grass from the garden*. Large piles of fresh feeding hay will encourage your guinea pigs’ to eat the fibre they need, while also providing a great place for them to burrow and forage!

*If your guinea pig is new to fresh grass, introduce it slowly to avoid an upset tummy, and never feed mown grass, as this can make them poorly.

Fresh greens/vegetables

Guinea pigs’ need fresh greens and vegetables every day to help them get enough vitamin C (they can’t produce it themselves). 

Our vets’ advise one teacup of greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day, which can be split into morning and evening feeds. Try to aim for a variety of 5 – 6 different greens (including some that are high in vitamin C), to ensure they have a good balance of nutrients. If your guinea pig is new to fresh veg and greens, introduce it slowly, and don’t give them more than the recommended daily allowance because it might cause an upset tummy.

There’s a huge variety of greens that are safe to feed to your guinea pigs – some higher in vitamin C than others. Take a look at our list below for ideas:

Safe vegetables

• Artichoke leaves
• Baby corn on cob
• Bell Peppers – high in vitamin C
• Beetroot
• Carrot tops
• Cauliflower leaves and stalks
• Celery leaves
• Chicory
• Collard greens
• Courgette (and flowers)
• Green beans
• Lettuce – Butterhead, Red leaf, Cos, Little Gem (not iceburg)
• Parsnips
• Pak Choi/Bok Choi
• Peas – leaves and pods
• Rocket
• Savoy cabbage
• Spring greens – high in vitamin C
• Swiss chard
• Tomato (not leaves/vine, as poisonous) – high in vitamin C
• Watercress

Safe herbs

• Basil
• Coriander
• Dill
• Mint
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Safe veg to be fed in moderation

• Asparagus ) – high in vitamin C
• Broccoli (too much can cause gas) – high in vitamin C
• Brussel Sprouts (too much can cause gas)
• Cabbage (dark green varieties)
• Cucumber (too much can cause diarrhoea)
• Kale – high in vitamin C
• Parsley – high in vitamin C
• Red cabbage
• Romaine lettuce
• Spinach – high in vitamin C

You can also offer a variety of fresh items foraged from your garden as part of their daily greens – for more information, read our advice below.

Pellets

Our vets recommend one tablespoon of pellets per adult guinea pig each day. Make sure the pellets you choose are made specifically for guinea pigs and are a consistent shape and colour, so they don’t only pick out the bits they like best. Grass-based pellets are ideal. Pellets should always be fed alongside hay, grass and fresh food, and should never be the main part of your guinea pigs diet.

Never feed your guinea pigs a muesli style mix (brightly coloured pellets, with a mixture of seeds and flakes) – this type of food is high in sugar, low in fibre, and can cause dental problems, weight gain, and tummy issues.

Treats

If you want to give your guinea pigs something special, our vets’ recommend items foraged from the garden, vegetables and a variety of hay and grass. Fresh fruit is also a nice treat, but only in very small amounts because it’s high in sugar and can cause weight gain. Guinea pig safe fruits include:

• Apple (not the pips because they’re poisonous)
• Banana
• Blueberry
• Carrot
• Cherry
• Kiwi
• Melon
• Pear
• Plum
• Squash
• Strawberry

Try to avoid the colourful guinea pig treats available in pet stores – they are often very high in sugar, and bad for your guinea pigs’ teeth and tummy. If you do want to give your guinea pigs a treat, reduce their pellets and fresh food a bit, so they’re not having too many calories.

Why is a healthy diet important for my guinea pigs?

Your guinea pigs’ diet plays a vital role in keeping them healthy. Without the correct vitamins, minerals and lots of fibre, they are likely to develop problems with their tummy, teeth, and vitamin C levels:

• Gut health: Guinea pigs rely on a high fibre diet to keep their guts healthy and moving. A lack of fibre in your guinea pigs’ diet can cause their guts to slow down, or even stop working completely (which is called ‘gut stasis’). The fibre in your guinea pigs’ diet comes from generous piles of fresh hay and/or grass.
• Tooth health: Guinea pigs’ teeth grow constantly, so it’s important that they continuously chew fibre to wear them down. If their diet doesn’t contain enough hay and/or grass, their teeth are at risk of overgrowing, which causes painful spikes that prevent them from being able to eat.
• Vitamin C: Just like us, guinea pigs are unable to produce vitamin C themselves, so they need to get it from their food. A lack of vitamin C can cause a condition called ‘scurvy’. A good way to make sure your guinea pig is getting enough vitamin C, is by feeding fresh greens that are high in it.

FAQ's