Am I feeding my guinea pig enough veggies? Will he get tired of food?

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!

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.

If your guinea pigs are still young (under a year) then they are probably just needing extra calories because they are growing. I would recommend to offer them as much fresh hay as they want. Continue to restrict the amount of pellets because overfeeding them can cause unwanted weight gain. you can add in extra veggies as needed. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

It's OK for him to eat spinach everyday, but it should not be a major component of his diet, because it is too concentrated. The major component of his diet should be a high fiber pellet and high quality hay. Fruits and vegetables are also good to give on a daily basis, but they should not be the majority of the food he is eating. It's best to have variety, but if he has a few leaves of spinach each day, then I see no problem with that. I hope that helps and all is well with Mellow.

Hi. Please refer to the following link as this is a great article on feeding GPs and has a list of safe fruits and veggies. https://tricountyhumanesociety.org/pet-tips/critter-tips/139-proper-guinea-pig-diet Copied from link-Guinea Pig Diet Timothy Hay WebGrass Hay Grass hay is an important part of a guinea pig's diet and should always be available. It is good to give a variety of grass hay, as each type of hay provides a slightly different texture and fiber content. Alfalfa Hay - Only give to pregnant, nursing, or young guinea pigs under 6 months of age. Alfalfa hay is too rich for adult guinea pigs, and in excess can lead to health problems. Botanical Hay - This hay has a great variety of grass and dry flowers, which offers different flavors for guinea pigs to enjoy. Oat Hay - This is a good hay to throw in some variety as it is thicker and harder and helps keep teeth ground down a little. Orchard Grass - This hay has a softer texture, which is nice for bedding as well as food. Timothy Hay -This grass hay is a favorite for most guinea pigs and is the most available in stores. Pellets Stay away from "gourmet" pellets that include peanuts, seeds, colorful cereal, and other additives. Guinea pigs that are pregnant, nursing or under 6 months of age may receive unlimited alfalfa pellets. Guinea pigs 6 months and up should receive only 1/8 to ¼ cup of alfalfa pellets. Any more than that can lead to obesity and health problems, and is unnecessary when also fed hay and fresh fruits and vegetables. Timothy pellets are healthier than alfalfa pellets for guinea pigs 6 months and up because they have a lower fat and calcium content. It is best to purchase pellets in small quantities and store them in a dry, cool, dark place to preserve the potency of the vitamin C. Look for a pellet that uses stabilized vitamin C and has a "Best If Used By" date to ensure quality. The Tri-County Humane Society sells Timothy Pellets, Timothy Hay, Oat Hay, and Botanical Hay from the Oxbow Company, which is a premium brand for small animal diets. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Guinea pigs should eat about 1 cup of vegetables each day. Fruit should be given once or twice a week, and limited to 1-2 tablespoons per 2 pounds of body weight. Remember to rinse all fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Most fresh fruits and vegetables have high water content, so your guinea pig may drink less water than expected. Do not feed wilted or spoiled food, and remove uneaten fruits and veggies daily. New foods must be introduced slowly to avoid digestive upsets. If you notice loose stools, you are feeding too much and you should cut out the fresh fruits, veggies and pellets, feeding only grass hay until the stool is formed again. Variety is the key to maintaining a healthy guinea pig! Vegetables Alfalfa, radish & clover sprout Basil Beet Greens (tops)* Brussel Sprouts Carrots Carrot Tops* Chard (red or green)* Cilantro Clover Cucumber Dandelion Greens (no pesticides)* Escarole Green Peppers Mint Parsley* Pea Pods (the flat edible kind)* Peppermint Leaves Radichio Radish Tops Raspberry Leaves Romaine Lettuce or Red/Green Leaf Lettuce Watercress* Wheat Grass (*)=Use no more than twice a week. Fruits Apple Blueberries Melon Orange (including peel) Papaya Pear Peach Pineapple Plum Raspberries Strawberries Tomato Do Not Feed Guinea Pigs the Following: Bananas (too sugary) Beans (causes bloating) Bok Choy (causes bloating) Broccoli (causes bloating) Cabbage (causes bloating) Cauliflower (causes bloating) Celery (strings dangerous, no nutrients) Collards (causes bloating) Commercial Treats (too sugary) Iceberg Lettuce (no nutritional value) Kale (toxic in excess) Grapes (toxic in excess, too sugary) Mustard greens (toxic in excess) Rabbit pellets (don't contain vitamin C) Raisins (toxic in excess, too sugary) Seeds in husks (can be a choking hazard) Spinach (toxic in excess)

I do not think the pellets are bad but should be given in moderation. These are high in fat and can cause obesity. I recommend a large amount of roughage like Timothy hay all day long with moderate amount of veggies and small amount of pellets. The roughage is really good for their teeth too.

Hay is not a bad diet for guinea pigs but the do have an absolute requirement for vitamin C - this can be from vegetables/fruits (sych as peppers, dark leafy greens, brocolli or squashes), supplemented pellets or in Rose's case vitsamin C srops for her water may be helpful also