These are the Best Guinea Pig foods for Your Pet

Without question, guinea pigs are great pets for both children and adults. They are precious and lovable. Plus, these fuzzies do not take up much space and are relatively quiet. You only have to provide them with what they need to thrive. You also have to get them the best guinea pig food. What you feed your guinea pig is vital to providing them with what they need. That is why you have to choose the guinea pig diet carefully. 

The pet stores have all sorts of food products. All these fancy brands and their ridiculous claims can mislead you. No wonder that you get confused about what to buy. 

Every guinea pig owner would want to know ‘what do guinea pigs eat?’ 

Also, you would wonder, ‘what do guinea pigs like to eat?’ The food has to be nutritious and, of course, something your pets enjoy having too. 

This article will tell you all about guinea pig food. We are covering what do ginny pigs like to eat, the best guinea pig food to feed your pet, and also about the food you should not give. 

What is the best guinea pig food? Also, what is the best guinea pig food brand? Let us find out, shall we?

 List of Best guinea pig food

• Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food

Oxbow is hands down one of the best guinea pig food brands. You may wonder why. Well, the brand is famous for its incredible quality creations. This product, in particular, is top-rated among guinea pig lovers. The specialty of this mixture is that these tiny pellets contain no seeds. Also, they are uniform in shape, so even the picky eaters will not be selective. 

The food is available in many sizes of bags. Make sure only to buy as much as your guinea pig will eat within a few months.

You should feed commercial guinea pig pellets daily. Most guinea pigs will not overeat. Perhaps, you will have to reduce the amount you offer if your pet becomes obese. Choose a good quality pellet designed for guinea pigs. Since the vitamin C in pellets also loses its potency over time, look for ones that use a stabilized form of vitamin C. In addition, make sure to buy in small quantities and store in a cool dark place.

• Blue Seal Furry Friends Guinea Pig Pellets

Here is one of the best picks if you are on a budget. Usually, the cost of quality guinea pig food will decrease if you buy it in bulk. A 25-pound bag of Blue Seal Furry Friends guinea pig pellets is an excellent option if you are on a budget. However, here is the deal. A 25 pounds of guinea pig food is more than a two-year food supply for one piggy. 

Also, vitamin C expires fast, and you may end up wasting a lot of food if you have less than six piggies. So, of course, this large bag of food is not the smartest choice if you only have a few cavies. In this case, you can get a 5-pound pack of this meal. However, it may be more challenging to find. 

• Oxbow Organic Bounty Adult Guinea Pig Food

Here comes another product from Oxbow. Their Organic Bounty food is a top-notch choice if you offer your guinea pig organic food. You can purchase a 3-pound bag of food if you only own one or two guinea pigs. That way, it will help ensure that you constantly offer them fresh food containing vitamin C. Another great thing about this food blend has the USDA organic seal. That tells you that the ingredients are grown by certified organic farmers. However, remember that the cost will be higher than other foods.

• Vitakraft Guinea Pig Food

 Vitakraft is another excellent brand that makes high-quality guinea pig food. Their timothy hay-based pellets contain vitamin C, omega fatty acids, and natural oils.

Other than that, it contains ingredients like vegetables and whole grains. This formula is not only healthy for your pet but also yummy. 

The blend also has antioxidants, minerals, and probiotics, all of which are essential for your guinea pig’s dental health. The incredible mix of ingredients also helps keep your pet’s coat shiny. 

It contains various textures and long-strand fibers, which will help maintain your pet’s teeth.

• Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet

Here is a mixture with the ideal balance of nutrients for your guinea pig! It contains vitamin C that guinea pigs require every day. If you wonder, ‘what is the best food to feed your guinea pig for vitimin c,’ this product is perfect. As you may know, guinea pigs have such sensitive digestive tracts. The product will help ease the digestion of your pet. Also, the blend promotes mental and physical stimulation for your guinea pig. 

Another plus point of Wild Harvest Advanced Nutrition Diet is its container. The product comes in a flip holder. It is perfect for keeping the food fresh for a long time.

• Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay Small Animal Food

Oxbow’s Orchard grass hay is the best hay for guinea pigs. Orchardgrass is very soft and sweet, and it does not get stuck in the coats of long-haired piggies. Other than that, it is also less likely to poke an eye. These features make it a favorite among guinea pig owners, breeders, and of course, guinea pigs.

You will find them in multiple-sized bags. Be sure only to buy as much as your guinea pigs will eat on time, though. As you may already know, there never can be too much hay in the cage of a guinea pig. Your guinea pig’s diet should include a lot of grass. It helps keep the pet’s digestion working well and helps wear down teeth, preventing them from becoming overgrown.

If your guinea pig is still a baby, you should feed him alfalfa hay. That is because it contains higher calcium levels than other kinds of grass. Calcium is vital to promote healthy bone growth.

However, when your guinea pig is full-grown, you should offer him timothy hay with lower calcium and plenty of fiber. It is better to limit calcium intake because it can cause serious health issues like kidney stones.

•  Kaytee Timothy Baked Apple Biscuit – Small Animal Treats

Here is a fab option to offer your piggy as a treat. Kaytee’s Baked apple timothy biscuit formula is one of the best treats for guinea pigs. Why, though? Well, Kaytee’s product offers healthy ingredients like vitamins, minerals, hay, and apples. Other than that, the food also helps keep your guinea pig’s teeth trimmed. Note that each of these biscuits contains nearly ten calories. If your guinea pig starts gaining too much weight, be sure to reduce the amount of the treats you give. Keep in mind that these treats should not take up more than 20 percent of your guinea pig’s diet.

• Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement

As a guinea pig owner, you may already know how vital vitamin c is for your pet. Vitamin C is of the highest importance to guinea pigs because they cannot produce their own. That is why you have to provide them with enough of the vitamin. Without sufficient vitamin C in their food, guinea pigs can become ill with scurvy. A great way to supplement with additional vitamin C is to use vitamin C tablets. 

Oxbow’s Vitamin C product is the perfect choice to offer your cavy. The blend also contains a lot of fiber to aid digestion and help prevent diarrhea. Plus, guinea pigs enjoy having them too. However, as it is a supplement, it is better to talk to your vet before adding it to your pet’s diet. Usually, the amount of vitamin C required varies, but most guinea pigs need about 10–20 mg per day. However, pregnant, young, and ill guinea pigs need more.

Many guinea pig pellets contain vitamin C. However, unfortunately, vitamin C is quite unstable and tends to degrade with time. So always make sure to keep the food in a cool dark place. That way, you can preserve vitamin C. 

Let us discuss Vitamin C a bit further. It is not only commercial food you can feed your piggy to provide vitamin c. You can also offer vegetables high in vitamin C along with a good, fresh guinea pig pellet. 

Now, you may wonder, “what is the best food to feed your guinea pig for vitamin c?” Cucumbers, guava, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and peas contain vitamin C. Other than that, you can add foods like kiwifruit, berries, and pineapple. They are some of the best sources of Vitamin C. Also, you can give them as a tasty treat for your guinea pigs to enjoy. However, remember only to feed them a few times a week, not every day, as these fruits and veggies have pretty high sugar content.

What dry food is best for guinea pigs?

Usually, pallets made of mostly timothy hay are the best dry food you can offer your pet. Timothy hay is better than other types because it contains less calcium. You can try Oxbow guinea pig pellets. The brand creates some of the best pallets, and they are fantastic for your pet. Oxbow guinea pig food is one of the best guinea pig food uk offers. You can find it in many other countries as well. 

best guinea pig food for babies

Now, let us talk about baby piggies. Note that baby guinea pigs should have a different diet than adult guinea pigs. You have to include a lot more vitamin C, Calcium, and other vitamins and minerals for a growing guinea pig.

These babies require food with different nutritional content than older piggies would have.

Suppose you own a baby guinea pig younger than six months. Here, you need to offer extra amounts of vitamin C. Also, feed the baby piggy more calcium-rich food to help with development and grow up strong.

Before you purchase baby guinea pig food, there are a few things that you have to know. You have to consider the quantity of calcium and vitamin C. Also, you have to decide whether you would rather have all pellets or a mixed bag. Then, think about the size of the bag you buy because you do not want to get a large quantity and waste it.

Calcium content

One of the main ingredients that are vital for growing piggies is calcium.

Feeding them food with sufficient calcium in it will help with their growth and overall health as well. 

So when you are out there in the market going through food items, check the ingredient list carefully. Pick one that has a decent amount of calcium in there.

Vitamin C it content

As we discussed earlier, Vitamin C is an essential nutritional need for your guinea pig, especially baby piggies. Usually, pellets containing more alfalfa hay have significant amounts of Vitamin C. When you go through the ingredient lists of products, check for vitamin C before purchasing. 

All pellets or a mixed formula?

You may know that guinea pigs are such picky eaters, especially the young ones. It can put you in trouble when you pick the food for them. If your pet is a selective eater, you can go for pellet-based food. It will do a great job because each piece has the same ingredients as the other pellets in the blend.

However, suppose you are not too worried about your guinea pigs being picky eaters. In that case, you can choose a variety formula instead.

The mixture still has a lot of nutritious pellets and little treats that your piggy will surely enjoy.

The size of the bag

Next up, you have to decide on the quantity you will purchase. The amount you get should depend on how many baby piggies you have and their age.

Suppose you only have a couple of guinea pigs. In that case, you may not need a large number of food packets. Also, make sure not to purchase a big pack of food if your young piggie is close to turning too old for baby guinea pig food.

You have to understand that baby piggies and adult piggies require different nutritional content in their diet. That is why you cannot offer your baby guinea pigs the same food that you provide adult piggies. On that note, let us learn a bit more about baby piggies’ food.

Scroll through to find out the best guinea pig food for babies.

• Pet Health Baby Guinea Pig Food by Sherwood 

At the top of the list is a fantastic product for baby piggies. It has alfalfa hay and contains a decent amount of calcium and a whole serving of vitamin C.

Those two are essential for the growth of baby guinea pigs. The Vitamin C in it is shelf-stable and will help promote a good fur coat, and is excellent for their digestion.

A plus point about this food is that it does not contain corn, wheat, soy, or cheap fillers. The formula will help keep your piggy’s weight under control. You do not have to worry about your pet becoming too overweight as they grow.

This product is one of the most wholesome pelleted foods out there when it comes to nutrition. So it is pretty clear as to why this food is excellent for baby guinea pigs.

• Oxbow Animal Health Garden Select Young Guinea Pig Food

Many guinea pigs, especially young ones, are picky eaters. And this particular baby guinea pig food is a great pick if your little ones are selective. The pellets are 100 percent uniform and made from garden-inspired ingredients. That is why they do well for more selective eaters. It has vitamin C and calcium that growing guinea pigs need daily. Also, it contains antioxidants to aid their performance and overall health.

You see, the best thing about this product is that there are no artificial ingredients, refined sugars, soy, or wheat in these pellets. It does a perfect job of including what guinea pigs eat in their natural environment.

• Oxbow Cavy Performance Young Guinea Pig

Our next pick is a highly rated food blend perfect for baby piggies under six months old.

It has sufficient vitamin C in the formula, which is excellent for your pet’s growth. Also, the best thing is that there are no artificial ingredients. The food is very healthy and nutritious to help the development of baby guinea pigs. Other than baby piggies, this product works well for pregnant or nursing piggies. 

Also, if your young guinea pigs have issues with pooping regularly, this food will help get their digestion back on track. Now, here is the catch. 

Guinea pigs that are picky eaters will find it somewhat challenging to adjust to it. If your piggie is not a selective eater, it will enjoy this food.

• Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Young Guinea Pig Food

This baby guinea pig food is mainly for people with many young guinea pigs. However, it’s still a great choice, even if you only have multiple guinea pigs.

The reason why is because it is available in a large quantity. It has all the other bags’ essentials but just on a much larger scale.

Also, here is the best part; the food packet is resealable. That means you can keep the food fresh for a long time. Even if you only have a few guinea pigs and want to store some extra food for them, you can do it while still keeping the meal fresh.

When choosing a guinea pig diet or pellet, avoid these ingredients: 

• nuts or seeds, 
• dried fruits
• corn products 
• animal by-products
• beet pulp,  
• high sugar content (, corn syrup, sucrose, fructose, etc.)
• Artificial preservatives or added chemicals. 

Moving on from commercial food brands, let us see what other foods your guinea pig can enjoy. 

Fruits and veggies for guinea pigs

Giving your guinea pig fresh food is a fantastic idea. While the piggies can get the nutrition from store-bought food, you can always add some refreshing food to their diet. Veggies and fruits can be beneficial for your little pet. Besides, fruit and veggies are the way to go if you wonder what to feed guinea pigs when out of food.

What fruit can guinea pigs eat? 

Guinea Pigs can eat fruit as a treat. However, note that it does have high sugar content. 

Why is it a concern? Well, guinea pigs are prone to diabetes. 

That is why you should offer such treats occasionally, maybe one or two times a week only. Also, make sure to provide these foods in moderation. 

What can guinea pigs eat– List of fruits:  

• Apples [without seeds]
• Pears
• Banana
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Cranberries
• Kiwi 
• Pineapple
• Watermelon
• Oranges

best veggies for guinea pigs daily 

Offering a variety of fresh veggies for guinea pigs is a great idea. However, you may not know which vegetables you can add to your pet’s diet. 

Many piggy owners wonder, “can guinea pigs eat lettuce? Yes, of course, they can. 

Your piggies can have lettuce types such as green leaf and romaine lettuce. Apart from that, you can offer dandelion greens and snow peas to your piggy. 

Also, you can give the pet herbs such as borage, marigold, nasturtium, rosemary, parsley, coriander, basil, and dill. 

You can also offer your pet veggies like broccoli, cabbage, endive, carrot tops, Brussels sprouts, kale, silverbeet, and mint.

Guinea pig food chart

As you know, guinea pigs feed on plants. It means their diet consists of veggies, fruits, hay, and herbs. They get their nutrition through these food items. You have to see how much is the right amount for the pet. Make sure that most of the diet has grasses like hay. You can use timothy hay here. It is the best type of hay because it has the right amount of protein, fat, and fiber for your piggy. You can add leafy greens, fresh veggies, and fruits to the rest of the diet. 

What food can kill guinea pigs?

We spoke about the best food you can offer your piggy. Now, it is time to discuss what not to feed your pet. You have to know about the food that is toxic for guinea pigs. Most of the food that may seem harmless can cause serious health issues. 

 These are the foods that you have to keep away from your piggy’s sight:

• Nuts
• Seeds
• Dried beans
• Corn
• Buttercups
• Lilies of any kind
• Garden shrubs (like hemlock or privet)
• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Onion grass
• Potato tops
• Daffodils
• Peanut Butter
• Foxglove

Apart from these foods, do not let the pet have human foods such as bread, pasta, crackers, pickles, or dairy products. Also, refrain from feeding them sweets like biscuits, sugar, breakfast cereals, and chocolate.

You may have learned quite a lot about guinea pig food. Nonetheless, it is better to refer to your vet before making changes in your pet’s diet. Also, when you make any change in your guinea pig’s diet, make sure you introduce any changes gradually over a few weeks.

Summary 

There you have it! Now you are an expert on the best food for guinea pigs. You now know ‘What is the best brand of guinea pig food?’, ‘What is the best type of food for guinea pigs?’ and lots more.

Essentially, your guinea pigs need a balanced diet that includes plenty of timothy hay, freshwater, and nutritious food. Remember, grass needs to be the majority of your guinea pig’s diet, followed by good hay pellets and yummy leafy greens. You can offer fruits and all-natural snacks occasionally as a special treat. Also, provide your guinea pig pellets with vitamin C to keep them healthy and content. Also, remember to feed your pet twice daily. Provide clean, fresh water at all times. Multiple water dispensers should be available as well. Other than that, keep a water bottle and a small water bowl in their cage. Get your piggy the best food and keep your pet away from any toxic food items. Keep your piggy healthy and happy.