Why is hay so important for guinea pigs?
Hay is absolutely vital to the digestive health of your guinea pig. It prevents obesity, dental disease, diarrhea and boredom. Your guinea pig should have unlimited access to high quality grass hay. Your guinea pig should eat a pile of hay as big as his body every day.
Can guinea pigs live on just pellets?
Your guinea pig can’t survive on pellets alone. It’s crucial you don’t feed your guinea pigs pellets and nothing else. A guinea pig that is fed solely on pellets will become ill and experience serious health problems, especially with their digestion and teeth, that may be irreversible.
Why do guinea pigs need fresh hay?
Hay and grass
Remember, guinea pigs need hay and/or grass for their digestive systems to function properly. Also, their teeth are always growing, and eating hay helps wear them down to keep them at the correct length and shape. The wrong diet can cause serious dental disease.
Can guinea pigs survive off of hay?
It is quite possible for guinea pigs to eat a well-balanced and complete diet alone through a variety of hays. Hay also has the additional advantage of being a food that the guinea pig intestinal tract is designed to process—and it even helps keep the teeth worn down in a proper fashion.
Is hay necessary for guinea pigs?
Guinea pigs need continuous access to hay to aid their digestion and limit the growth of their teeth. Fruit and vegetables: Fresh vegetables can be offered once a day and should be equivalent to about one cup total per guinea pig per day.
What happens if a guinea pig doesn’t have hay?
Guinea pigs can go without hay for 12-24 hours and they will die within 24-48 hours. However, hay shouldn’t be your pet’s primary source of nutrition. They’re mostly supplementary food items to fulfill their dietary requirements.
Why do guinea pigs love hay so much?
This is because their teeth and digestive system are adapted to survive on lots of grass-based food. Their herbivore teeth are particularly special – these continually grow throughout their lives, meaning that guinea pigs need to keep chewing on tough vegetation in order to wear them down.
What can I give my guinea pig if I don’t have hay?
If your guinea pig is used to eating some grass in their diet, you can safely substitute hay for grass during the summer and fall months if you run out of hay for a little while. Make sure you hand-pick the grass from a safe untreated area that has not been exposed to pesticides, other animals, or car exhaust fumes.
Do guinea pigs need hay or straw?
Straw is not recommended as it usually contains very hard and often sharp stalks which can cause hay stick injuries. It is also not an appropriate substitute for hay, as it has very little nutritional value.
Can a guinea pig survive without hay?
Your guinea pig needs a fresh supply of grass hay daily. They can go for up to 24 hours without hay, but between 24-48 hours, they will likely die. What is this? The reason for this is that guinea pigs need fiber in their diet every day, which hay provide.
What do you feed guinea pigs when out of hay?
Your guinea pigs should have fresh, washed leafy greens or weeds each day, such as kale or broccoli, which are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Guinea pigs don’t naturally eat fruit or root vegetables, but you can give them in small amounts as treats, such as small pieces of carrot or an apple quarter.
Do guinea pigs need hay overnight?
Your pets need constant access to good quality grass or hay and this means both day and night. In order to maintain a healthy digestive system and strong healthy teeth, guinea pigs need to be chewing on either or both of these whenever they want to – Timothy hay is recommended.
Can guinea pigs die from not having hay?
This is why it’s important to feed your guinea pigs unlimited hay. If enough hay isn’t given their back teeth grow over their tongue and they are unable to eat. They will starve to death unless given a dental to trim their teeth back.
What happens if guinea pigs dont eat hay?
What is the reason for Guinea Pig to need hay? It helps them grind down there teeth which are constantly growing. Also they need it to aid in digestion. They need hay 24/7, if you use a pile of hay replace it daily.
What do guinea pigs usually die from?
Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, is a frequent cause of death in guinea pigs. Pneumonia in guinea pigs is usually caused by bacterial infection (most often Bordetella bronchiseptica, but other bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus zooepidemicus may also be the cause).
Can a guinea pig survive a day without hay?
Your guinea pig needs a fresh supply of grass hay daily. They can go for up to 24 hours without hay, but between 24-48 hours, they will likely die. What is this? The reason for this is that guinea pigs need fiber in their diet every day, which hay provides.
Can I make my own hay for guinea pigs?
Growing grass for hay making
Making your own hay may not be the smartest move financially given the time and effort involved, but it can be extremely satisfying when it works and if your rabbit or guinea pig has been fed fresh grass and herbs during the summer months, home grown hay give great continuity of diet.
What can guinea pigs eat besides hay?
Fruit and vegetables: Fresh vegetables can be offered once a day and should be equivalent to about one cup total per guinea pig per day. Leafy greens like romaine lettuce, red and green leaf lettuces, kale, cilantro and parsley should comprise the bulk of your pig’s fresh produce.
What can guinea pigs eat besides timothy hay?
Fresh grass, orchard hay, and meadow hay are all great alternatives to Timothy Hay. Some alternatives like Alfalfa are fine for a few days but should not regularly be given to your guinea pig.
What human food can a guinea pig eat?
Vegetables and fruits are great treats to offer your guinea pig. You can use these as extra-special offerings to help bond with your guinea pig or as treats for training. Good fresh foods to feed your guinea pig include: Bananas.
Can guinea pigs eat something other than hay?
Other foods that are good to fed guinea pigs a few times a week include broccoli, cabbage, endive, carrot tops, Brussels sprouts, kale, silver beet, mint, and fruits such as apples (but with no seeds), mango, and papay.