Guinea pigs need a balanced diet that is high in fibre and because they cannot produce vitamin C themselves, their diet needs to provide this too.
Just like rabbits, guinea pigs need constant access to fresh hay, water and grass. Excellent quality hay maintains healthy digestion and helps to wear your guinea pigs teeth down, preventing them from growing too long and becoming painful. Water should also be constantly available in either heavy based water dishes or bottles. Water should be checked at least once or twice a day and replenished with a fresh supply.
Guinea pigs are, like humans, are one of the very few mammals who cannot make their own vitamin C, so they need to get it from their food. Guinea Pigs are highly prone to getting scurvy and they lose their resistance to other diseases, which is a disease caused by low levels of Vitamin C.
Vitamin C enriched foods should be fed in small amounts on a daily basis in addition to their unlimited supply of hay. This is to make sure your guinea pigs get all the nutrients they need. Superpet Warehouse recommends feeding your guinea pigs nuggets, as guinea pigs often choose to eat certain bits of muesli mixes, so they are missing out on important vitamins and minerals and this can lead to dietary deficiencies, weight gain and other health problems. If you wish to change your guinea pigs food then we suggest making this a gradual transition over the course of a week to 10 days by phasing out the old food completely.
Fresh leafy green vegetables, herbs and dandelions should be given to your guinea pigs every day. Variety is important to maintaining good health but remember to introduce new foods slowly and gradually. Fruits such as apples and root vegetables such as carrots are naturally high in sugar and should only be given in moderation as treats.