What to feed guinea pig

In the guinea pig cage, there must always be hay (in the summer you can add fresh grass to it). It has a beneficial effect on the process of digestion of the animal and helps to grind the teeth, which in guinea pigs, like all other rodents, grow throughout life. The hay should be dry, slightly greenish and have a pleasant smell. It should not be moist, moldy or have a musty smell.

Also in the diet of guinea pigs must enter dry food, it is advisable to purchase a specialized dryFeed for guinea pigs in a pet store. If you for some reason could not get a special feed, you can cook it yourself from a mixture of oats, wheat, barley, corn, millet, sunflower seeds.

The grain mixture should be given 2-3 times a day (for adult guinea pigs) and 3-4 times a day (for pregnant females and hairless guinea pigs skinny). It is advisable to feed guinea pig every day at the same time. On the day the guinea pig should receive 4-6 st. l. dry food (1-2 tablespoons per one feeding). If the pig does not eat dry food at once, you do not need to remove it from the cage, let it remain in the feeder.

Feed guinea pig exclusively cereal mixture can not be, as this can lead to obesity. In addition, dry food contains insufficient vitamins and minerals, so such feeding can lead to a decrease in immunity and the development of various diseases.

In the morning pig is given juicy food - fresh vegetables and fruits, plants. Pregnant and lactating mumps, as well as mumpsbreed skin them twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. All fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly washed before giving them to the animal. Plants need to be collected away from roads, plants, places for dogs, etc.

Of vegetables guinea pigs can be given cucumbers, carrots,tomatoes, white cabbage, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi cabbage, pumpkin, cabbage salad, bell pepper (red, yellow, green), pork, beets, Jerusalem artichoke, sweet corn (not canned), zucchini, peas. All kinds of cabbage and peas are given rarely and slightly, since in large quantities they can cause bloating. Do not feed guinea pig onions, beans, potatoes.

Of fruits and berries allowed apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, kiwi, mandarins, grapes without peel and bones, oranges, dried rosehips, melon, watermelon. Of herbs and greens You can give dill, parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa, dandelion, clover, yarrow, plantain, dried nettle.

Please note that some plants are poisonous to guinea pigs. These include plants of such families asAraliaceae (header, tetraplasandra, Fats, Schefflera), Araceae (Aglaonema, Alokaziya, anthuriums, arisaema, Dieffenbachia, calla, Zamioculcas, Monstera, Spathiphyllum et al.), Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis, Hippeastrum, euharis and m. p.), kutrovyh (oleander, dipladeniya, Adenium et al.), nightshade, Euphorbiaceae (spurge, poinsettia, aloe, cyclamen, ficus and m. p.). If the guinea pig accidentally ate a poisonous plant as soon as possible Take it to the vet, taking the leaf of a plant, which your pet is poisoned.

To grind the teeth, you can give twigs of trees (willow, alder, birch, pear, apple), as well as special crisp hard sticks or dried crusts of white bread. You can not give pigs sprigs of cherries, plums, yew, lilac and conifers.

In the cage of guinea pig should always be fresh water. It is best to pour filtered water, which should be changed daily. Also in the cell you need to hang special wheels of salt, which the mumps will lick as necessary.

Yet all guinea pigs need vitamin C, because their body is not able to synthesizehis own. An adult guinea pig needs about 10-20 mg of vitamin per 1 kg of weight, pregnant females - twice as much. Part of the vitamin C they get with vegetables, fruits and green food, as well as with some industrial feeds.

If the mumps are observed lack of vitamin C (it is manifested in lethargy, loss of appetite and weight, loss of hair), vitamin C needs to be pounded and added to water. It is also desirable to add vitamin to the drinker in the winter.

So, let's sum up. Feed guinea pigs need hay, a grain mixture, as well as vegetables, fruits and green fodder. Hay, grain mixture and fresh water shouldto be present in a cage constantly, and a juicy and green forage is given once a day, after a while, removing the uneaten remains so that they do not deteriorate. Also, the pigs need salt, vitamin C and twigs for teeth grinding.