Page 5 - Caring for guinea pigs indoors

Diet

Guinea pigs are herbivores which means they only eat plants. Hay makes up
most of the guinea pigs’ diet, about seventy per cent. Grazing on hay prevents
their teeth growing too long. Make sure your guinea pig has a constant supply
of hay.

You also need to feed your cavy pellets containing Vitamin C. These make up
twenty per cent of their diet. You must buy pellets made, especially for guinea
pigs, as vitamin C is essential for guinea pigs. Fresh vegetables such as red,

orange and yellow bell peppers, kale, broccoli and parsley are excellent
sources of vitamin C. You can also give your cavies dandelions! About eight per
cent of their diet should be vegetables (or dandelions) containing vitamin C.

Make sure to wash any fruit or dandelions as sometimes people spray
pesticides on plants to keep bugs away, especially in fields, parks and farms.
Pesticides can be poisonous. Instead, pick fruit and dandelions from your

garden to be safe.

You can also feed guinea pigs occasional treats like strawberries, kiwi fruit and
carrots. Foods with higher sugar levels are not as good for your guinea pigs’
digestive system so only give them small amounts of fruit and sugary foods.

Guinea pigs need a constant supply of water. Refill their water bottle up every
morning.

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