In case you have a guinea pig and a canine, you is perhaps questioning if their diets are very related. Otherwise you may need to provide your guinea pig a tasty deal with and marvel if they could like some pet food. Maybe you could have run out of guinea pig meals and are questioning if they will share a few of your canine’s meals.
Can guinea pigs eat pet food? Briefly the reply is not any. In contrast to canines, guinea pigs are strictly herbivores, so because of this, pet food isn’t applicable. On this article, you’ll be taught why pet food doesn’t exchange guinea pig meals.
Why Can’t Guinea Pigs Eat Canine Meals?
Guinea pigs are herbivores, which means they’re constructed to thrive on a weight-reduction plan with no meat, little or no fats, and many fibre. Pet food accommodates protein and carbohydrates that can trigger extreme digestive points in guinea pigs. A guinea pig consuming pet food will even be malnourished as pet food doesn’t have the vitamins they want, in a kind they’re able to course of.
Extra causes guinea pigs can not eat pet food are talked about beneath:
1. Guinea Pigs Have Delicate Stomachs
Guinea pigs are susceptible to gastrointestinal illnesses. Their good intestine micro organism and excessive fibre weight-reduction plan preserve their gastrointestinal tract functioning healthily. If an excessive amount of carbohydrate e.g. pet food, starchy greens, nuts or grains, is eaten, a situation referred to as “dysbiosis” happens, which means there may be an overgrowth in dangerous micro organism. Dysbiosis could result in diarrhea, lethargy, weight reduction and even loss of life.
2. Guinea Pigs Don’t Produce Vitamin C
Like different primates and most bats, guinea pigs can not produce an enzyme referred to as gulonolactone oxidase which is used within the formation of vitamin C. With out this enzyme, vitamin C should be present in your guinea pig’s weight-reduction plan to stay wholesome. Since canines have this enzyme, no vitamin C is critical of their meals.
3. There Are No Dietary Advantages
Guinea pigs additionally don’t get any dietary benefit from consuming pet food, as they want fibers, minimal fat, and different dietary features pet food doesn’t include. They aren’t tailored to make use of the proteins in meat.
What to Do if Your Guinea Pig By chance Eats Canine Meals
In the event you’ve seen that your guinea pig by chance acquired into some pet food, they may get very sick. Verify how a lot pet food they may have eaten, hopefully it was solely a small quantity.
Be certain they not have entry to pet food. You’ll want to put them in a clear, enclosed space with numerous water, grass hay, and their regular dietary additions of greens and pellets. Monitor your guinea pig’s poops, feed and water consumption, and conduct.
Name your vet to allow them to know what has occurred and observe their recommendation; in case your guinea pig turns into unwell you will have to observe up with a veterinary go to.
Ideas for Feeding Your Guinea Pig
A wholesome, species-appropriate weight-reduction plan will assist preserve your little pet wholesome.
A wholesome guinea pig weight-reduction plan consists of:
- Hay: The weight-reduction plan ought to be 80% grass hay equivalent to Timothy hay or orchard grass hay. Entry to this ought to be limitless.
- Fruits and Greens: Guinea pigs want 10-25 mg Vitamin C a day. The perfect sources of Vitamin C are kale, parsley, kiwi fruit, broccoli and strawberries. Give a packed quarter to half a cup of contemporary produce a day.
- Pellets: A small quantity of good quality guinea pig pellets could be given. About 10% of the weight-reduction plan is appropriate.
When introducing new meals to the weight-reduction plan, add a small quantity each few days and monitor for any diarrhea or discomfort. Additionally keep in mind to avoid high starch foods equivalent to grain, cereal, peas, corn and nuts.
Remaining Phrases
So, can guinea pigs eat pet food? It’s NOT protected for guinea pigs to eat pet food. A part of accountable pet possession is feeding your pet a nutritious diet. Whereas a lot of the weight-reduction plan ought to merely encompass grass hay, you’ll be able to combine it up with wholesome produce that can delight their style buds and supply that a lot wanted increase of vitamin C!
Featured Picture Credit score: New Africa, Shutterstock