Vitamin C is not naturally produced in guinea pigs, thus they should to be given it day after day to guarantee first-class health. The lack of vitamin C causes scurvy. Every guinea pig has to be given 10mgs of vitamin C on a daily basis to 1kg body weight. A vitamin C supplement can be found in pet stores and supermarkets that sell food. A guinea pig cannot only on this source of supplement. Vitamin C can also be added to 1qt of water, freshly made every 12 or so hours, alternatively a handful of kale or cabbage can be given, even a quarter orange.
Oxbow cavy cuisine, which is a timothy hay-layered pellet food, a guinea pig in adult stage will enjoy this food and it will promote good health. Should your guinea pig be a little under 10 months old, the recommended diet for this age group will be alfalfa hay- layered pellet based food. A guinea pig that is mothers-to-be and is nursing requires a higher protein and calcium consumption, which is where Cavy Performance plays its roll. Certain guinea pig chow contains artificial colors which have a bad influence on your guinea pig and makes them hard to please should they eat this kind of food. Guinea pig mixed feeds also consist of nuts and seeds; these are high in fat and are not healthy for guinea pigs.
It is recommended to always serve food in a heavy ceramic bowl, as to prevent it from been tipped over while eating. The sides of the bowls should be high enough to hold back the bedding and fecal pellets. Washing the bowl after every meal is strongly advised and you also have to make sure that the bowl is well dried before adding fresh food. A guinea pig however is more concerned about what contents are in the bowl more than the cleanliness. Water should be made easily available and free from contamination; you may do this by supplying more than one bottle of water which should be equipped with “sipper” tubes. Water bottles tend to become contaminated and clogged as the guinea pig chews on the end of the sipper tube and back washing food particles up the tube.
Should you notice that your guinea pig is picking up a bit of weight, this could be the result of eating too many pellets, either out of boredom or they are lacking in exercise. Preferably decrease the amount of food, a guinea pig can fill up on hay and their daily vegetables, these foods are not fattening rather very healthy. Weighing your guinea pig on a daily basis and keeping a record of the weight of your guinea pig. Should you be concerned about your pigs’ weight, either a decrease or an increase in excessive amounts, veterinary advice is recommended.
When purchasing food, guinea pig recommended quantity is 2 x 4kg for a few weeks for the average amount of 5 guinea pigs.
A gradual change has to be made when introducing food; a guinea pig can be at risk to sudden changes in its diet, when first been introduced to a more solid foodstuff this in turn may make their tummies upset. Failure to introduce food at a gradual level usually results in refusal of water and food; this may lead to a disease. Towards new food; a guinea pig in general is a creature of habit and does not handle change to scent, surface, flavor, arrangement or appearance very well.
Even if you should store pellets in a cool, dry place, about half of the vitamin C content is ruined and lost probably within 6 weeks after purchasing.
Recommended food, as a guinea pig requires a lot of vitamin C can be found in;
Recommended Food Calcium per ratio
Watercress 2:1
Turnip Greens 4.5:1
Swiss Chard 1.1:1
Squash 1:1
Spinach 2:1
Mustard Spinach 7.5:1
Kale 2.4:1
Dill Weed 3.2:1
Dandelion Greens 2.8:1
Loose Lettuce 2.7:1
Lambs quarters 4.3:1
Cabbage 2:1
Beet Greens 3:1
Chinese Cabbage 2.8:1
Cilantro 1.4:1
Collards 14.5:1
Chicory Greens 2.1:1
Guinea pigs are high maintenance pets and needs to be cared for very carefully. A dose of vitamin C should not be disregarded and be taken with high regard. It has to be remembered that guinea pigs take time to adjust and lots of patience is required.