Quantity: Only use small amounts occasionally as a treat. Consult your veterinarian for specific directions in all other cases. Oat Hay is quite distinctive, which means that some guineas will like it, others may not.
Also, Oat Hay is high in protein and fat. Basically, Botanical — also known as Gourmet Hay — is an epicurean delight for guinea pigs. A blend of many kinds of grasses, herbs, and dried flowers, Botanical Hay gives cavies several different flavors of hay at once. Depending on the combination, it typically has a standard amount of fiber, protein, and fat. Also, I have to say, this stuff smells amazing! Truthfully, the answer is, there is no one best type , though a lot depends on the health of your pigs and their preferences.
Usually, pet owners try out different kids of hay to see which ones their guineas like best, then vary it with other kinds they prefer. Yes, guinea pigs should have unlimited access to hay. Use a hay dispenser to keep things fresh and dry, or spice things up by adding some to an edible container, such as a paper towel roll, cardboard box, or untreated wicker basket. Yet, when you give your guineas the opportunity to experience different tastes, it encourages natural foraging behaviours.
But also, mealtime should be fun and interesting. Variety is the spice of life, or so they say, so why not keep our pets happier by offering lots of different choices? In the wild, our herbivore cavies have a wide variety of plants, grasses, and herbs readily available.
With teeth that are perpetually growing, they require continual access to things they can chew on. However, your domestic pets depend on you to bring them hay to keep their teeth at bay. If stored properly in a cool, dry, dark place , dried grass and hay can be stored for about a year. Hay does need to be well ventilated , however, since damp conditions can cause mold to grow. On the other hand, too much sunlight and exposure to heat can break down the food, leaching out much-needed nutrients.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Any changes should be made gradually, over weeks. The most important part of a guinea pig diet is HAY! Not chaff, straw or guinea pig mix; but good quality, edible hay. Hay is important for maintaining both healthy teeth and a healthy gut. These molar teeth need to be worn down by lots and lots of chewing, and hay is the best thing for this! Hay also provides lots of fiber, which is important for the gut to stay healthy.
Our recommended choice is Oxbow Timothy Hay or Botanical Hay due to its high quality and consistency. A high sugar content in the diet can cause an upset gut in guinea pigs, as the sugars disrupt the correct balance of bacteria that live in the gut.
Foods like carrots, kiwifruit, berries, and pineapple are also great as a source of Vitamin C and a tasty treat for your guinea pigs but only feed them a few times a week, not every day, as these foods have quite a high sugar content.
Make sure that you source grass, herbs, fruits, and vegetables that have not been sprayed by any chemicals, as these could harm your guinea pigs. Lawnmower clippings should never be fed to your guinea pigs as these can cause gastrointestinal blockages and make your guinea pigs very sick. Although many contain adequate levels of Vitamin C when fresh, this is only when the food is very fresh and within just a few months these foods no longer contain Vitamin C.
Mix any new food into the existing diet in small quantities, slowly increasing the amount over two weeks. It is important to also know what not to feed guinea pigs, as there are plenty of items that might seem harmless but can in fact cause significant health issues. Make sure you do not feed your guinea pigs the following foods this is not an exhaustive list : cereals; grains; nuts; seeds; dried beans, corn, and peas; buttercups; garden shrubs such as hemlock or privet ; lilies of any kind; sweet peas; nightshade; oak; avocado; onion grass; onions; potato tops; mushrooms; daffodils; foxglove; rhubarb leaves; and human foods such as breads, biscuits, sweets, sugar, breakfast cereals, dairy products, chocolate, pasta, crackers, or pickled foods.
Provide clean fresh water at all times. Multiple water dispensers should be available and enclosures should be fitted with a water bottle and a small water bowl should be available as well. Can I keep guinea pigs and rabbits in the same enclosure? How should I keep and care for my guinea pigs? What companionship do my guinea pigs need?
0コメント