How to Avoid Overfeeding Your Guinea Pig

Last Updated: March 4, 2022 References

A guinea pig's diet should be equivalent to 80% hay, 15% fresh vegetables and herbs, and 5% of commercial pellets. Overfeeding can be damaging to your guinea pig's digestion tract, and cause obesity. To prevent yourself from overfeeding your guinea pig, all you need to do is serve your guinea pigs the right portioned meals and cut down on unnecessary sugary treats. This article will take you through some helpful tips.

Method 1

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Feeding the Correct Portions

1
Provide an unlimited amount of hay. Guinea pigs are herbivores with a diet consisting of 80% of grass hay. Hay is extremely important as guinea pigs are constantly eating, and the fibers help them digest their food and keep their teeth trimmed. If you find your guinea pig is regularly hungry, give them more hay, which should keep them occupied instead of consistently eating their pellets or other treats.
- Timothy, bluegrass, meadow grass, and orchard grass hays are all good options to feed.^{[1]
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- Do not feed alfalfa hay to guinea pigs over 6 months. Alfalfa is high in calcium and purposely branded for pregnant or nursing sows and pups under the age of 6 months.
2
Give your guinea pigs each 1/8 cup of pellets per day^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
The Humane Society of the United States
National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare
Go to source}. Choose plain pellets that are timothy-based. Avoid muesli or colorful treat mixed feed as these encourage selective feeding, with the treats being high in sugar. KMS and Oxbow are both advised brands.
- If you have more than one guinea pig, provide their serving of pellets in separate bowls in case one guinea pig decides to eat all the pellets by themselves.
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3
Feed one cup of fresh vegetables and herbs per day. Generally, this is equivalent to a small plateful per guinea pig. Try to choose vegetables that are high in vitamin C, such as capsicums (bell peppers), broccoli, and mustard spinach.
- Try cos lettuce, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, carrot, spinach, kale, coriander, basil, Brussel sprouts, etc.
- Avoid avocado as it's high in fat. Iceberg should also be avoided as it contains high water content with little nutritional value. Cabbage is also another vegetable that should be avoided as it's high in calcium and can cause bloating.
- Be mindful of each vegetable's nutritional value. Some vegetables are high in sugar, such as carrots, with others being high in calcium, such as spinach and kale. If they are fed too much calcium it could lead to health problems with their liver and urine.
4
Limit treats. Commercial treats may seem like a rewarding idea for your guinea pigs, but they are high in sugar and contain no nutritional value. If you're going to give your guinea pig treats, feed them fruits such as apples and strawberries. However, keep it to a minimum as sugar can lead to obesity.
- If you want, you can make your treats. These are healthier than store-bought ones (which you should avoid), but still should be fed very sparingly. If you do buy treats from a store avoid giving them more than once a day.
- Pea flakes are a better store-bought alternative to other commercial treats, but should still be kept to a minimum. These are used to clicker train guinea pigs.
5
Never feed human foods such as bread and crackers. Guinea pigs are strictly herbivores. While it may seem common to feed guinea pigs bread crusts, this isn't good for them and can throw out their nutritional balance.
6
Acquire measuring utensils. If you're unsure of how much you are feeding your guinea pig, it's best to monitor the quantity by measuring them before you feed your cavy. Obtain a kitchen scale and a measuring cup.
- Pellets can be measured via a quarter of a cup or 1/8.
- Vegetables may be a bit harder to measure as they cannot be measured in liquid form. Instead of measuring one cup, weigh the vegetables. One cup should be equivalent to half a pound (or 8 oz).
7
Weight your guinea pig at least every month. The average adult sow (female) should weigh 700 to 900 grams with adult boars (males) on average being 20% heavier at 900-1200 grams.^{[3]
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Research source} Take into consideration that the weight of your guinea pigs is heavily influenced by factors such as their sex, age, and breed. Do not be considered if your guinea pig is slightly over or under the average weight in grams.
- According to Guinea Lynx, you should ideally weigh your guinea pigs weekly. Not only to see if they're putting on too much weight but to spot any decline in weight as a symptom of a sudden health issue. Weighing is one of the best ways to monitor your guinea pigs health.^{[4]
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- To weigh your guinea pig, use a normal kitchen or bathroom scale that fits your guinea pig's whole body.^{[5]
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- The weight of your guinea pig will determine how much you need to feed them. If they are over the recommended weight they are likely eating too much. Cut down the portion of their pellets and cut out sugary treats altogether, including fruit.

Community Q&A

Question

My sister's guinea pig doesn't have a cagemate, but it has been like that for 3 years and it has been fine. It is cheerful, tends to run around, but I am wondering if I should get a companion.

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

Definitely look into getting your guinea pig a companion, as they are social animals that like to be in pairs or small groups of three to four. While your guinea pig may seem happy; they generally do not show signs of loneliness. Introduce a baby guinea pig to your current guinea pig.
Question

How much of the bedding should be in their cage and should I have a fleece pad in there as well?

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

If you are using wood shavings or paper bedding, line the base of the cage with newspaper or puppy pads and add two inches of fresh bedding. Fleece pads are not necessary, but they can be added to provide some extra cosiness for your guinea pigs.
Question

I feed my guinea pig, Chunky, normal portions but he still weighs 4.5 pounds. Is that normal? He shares a cage with his biological brother, Speedy, who weighs 2.5 pounds.

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

The measurements of Chunky seems to be out of the normal range. In other words, he is likely overweight. The average weight of an adult boar is anywhere from 900 to 1300g. However, some boars can weigh up to 1800g depending on their breed and body size. It's best to visit a veterinarian to set up a dietary plan. You will likely be advised to separate Chunky and Speedy during feeding times.

Warnings

Check to make sure everything you feed your guinea pig/s (especially food) is safe for them to eat. Always wash the veggies before giving them to your guinea pig, because if they aren't fresh and clean they might make them sick.

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