Guinea pig hay allergy: What can my piggy eat instead of dusty hay?

The ideal hay for guinea pigs is a grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass hay. Guinea pigs cannot have clover hay or alfalfa hay as their main diet. You may need to ask the farmers what kind of hay this is to determine if it is the appropriate type of hay for your guinea pig!

It might not like that hay. If it comes from a pet store there is a chance it is old and dusty. Try finding someone with horses and ask if you can buy a slice of grass hay from them. Might cost you two or three dollars, but will be far nicer hay and your piggy will likely eat it.

Fresh grass along with some green vegetables are a fine substitution for most small herbivore species like guinea pigs and rabbits, but any food change must be done gradually to avoid diarrhea. If you can get fresh grass year-round, this is a fine option, but make sure to stay away from legumes like alfalfa as this is too fattening for guinea pigs long-term and should only be used as a treat. Don't forget to add vitamin C either to the water or as a food supplement as this is required for pigs!

Hi there! Guinea pigs really like their veggies and pellets, so your guy may be starting to want those more often instead of hay. However, Guinea pigs really need to be eating hay as the main staple of their diet. This makes sure their gastrointestinal tract is always active and working. Try to continue to offer your pig hay and very small amounts of the other stuff. He also needs to have a vitamin C supplement in the diet. If your pig isn't eating much though in general, my biggest concern is always checking the teeth (which should be done a couple of times a year anyway by a veterinarian who is skilled at treating Guinea pigs), and also making sure the pig isn't bloated. Guinea pigs can also colic and have issues with the gastrointestinal tract not moving at an appropriate pace. I would monitor your pig for another 12 hours and if he is not improving, I'd take him in to see his veterinarian to insure nothing serious is going on.

Yes, guinea pigs needs a high fiber diet to aid in digestion and to promote a healthy gut. If he was picking out select bits, he may not have been getting enough fiber. The Oxbow Orchard grass is an acceptable substitute.

Yes, it is the same type of hay. I recommend Oxbow brand. You can use orchard grass, timothy, oat or a combination of them. Just do not use alfalfa hay. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/oxbow-orchard-grass-hay )

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Keep in mind that she just may simply not like those. I would encourage you to try other vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers or celery and also other types of dry food until you find what she prefers. Best of luck!