Guinea pigs love consuming completely different fruits, veggies, and herbs, and due to this, you may assume that catnip is a superb alternative for them. Nevertheless, in contrast to most different herbs that are completely secure for guinea pigs, catnip will not be a good selection for them.
There merely isn’t sufficient data on the market about catnip and guinea pigs, but it surely’s attainable that catnip can result in digestive issues on your pocket piggie.
What Can Occur if Your Guinea Pig Eats Catnip?
More often than not guinea pigs will steer clear of catnip on their very own as a result of they don’t just like the scent. In the event that they do occur to eat some catnip, there are some issues it is advisable to maintain a watch out for.
Some sources declare that feeding your guinea pig catnip could cause abdomen ache, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, or different digestive issues, however there isn’t a ton of data on the market to again this up. Even with these restricted sources, it’s higher to play it secure and keep away from giving your guinea pig catnip.
When to Take Your Guinea Pig to the Vet
In case your guinea pig does occur to eat some catnip, you’ll wish to monitor their conduct for a day or two. If they begin displaying indicators of digestive issues, go forward and take your guinea pig to the vet instantly to allow them to get the required remedy.
You additionally may wish to take your guinea pig to the vet instantly in the event that they eat so much of catnip, however this can be a precautionary measure.
The 7 Issues You Ought to Feed Your Guinea Pig
When you shouldn’t feed your guinea pig catnip, there are many different sorts of meals you may give them. We’ve highlighted some meals it’s best to make a staple of your guinea pig’s food plan right here. As a normal guideline, guinea pigs food plan must be made up of about 80% top quality hay, 15% recent greens, and 5% industrial pellets.
1. Guinea Pig Pellets
When you may assume you may give you a very pure food plan that meets all of your guinea pig’s dietary wants, that is extraordinarily laborious to do. For this reason it’s endorsed to feed your guinea pig industrial pellets as a small a part of their food plan.
These pellets guarantee your guinea pig will get the entire important vitamins, together with vitamin C.
2. Timothy Hay
Timothy hay is a crucial staple of your guinea pig’s food plan and they need to have fixed entry to it. Not solely does it present an important supply of fiber to spice up digestive well being, it additionally helps put on down a guinea pig’s ever-growing tooth.
3. Kale
Leafy greens ought to make up the vast majority of your guinea pig’s food plan, and the darker the greens, the higher. Kale is filled with darkish leafy greens and has loads of useful vitamins on your guinea pig.
4. Parsley
When you don’t wish to feed your guinea pig catnip, parsley is a good herb you may feed them every so often. Likelihood is they possible received’t be capable to get sufficient of the inexperienced stuff, however you do wish to restrict the portions and frequency.
5. Pink and Inexperienced Leaf Lettuce
Darkish leafy greens are nice on your guinea pig, and a number of the best and most reasonably priced to choose up are purple and inexperienced leaf lettuce. The darker the lettuce leaves, the higher it’s on your pig. Keep away from iceberg lettuce because the excessive water content material can contribute to diarrhea.
6. Bell Peppers
Pink and inexperienced bell peppers have plenty of vitamin C and are an important deal with you may add to your guinea pig’s food plan. It shouldn’t make up the vast majority of their food plan, however mixing in small chunks with the remainder of their meals is a good concept.
7. Tomatoes
Ripe tomatoes make a great sweet treat for your guinea pig a couple of times every week. Guinea pigs will love the style, simply don’t overdo it as a result of an excessive amount of could cause digestive points and will contribute to cheilitis, sore lips.
Last Ideas
Whereas catnip shouldn’t be a part of your guinea pig’s food plan, there’s a spot for other herbs, vegetables and fruits. Guinea pigs love selection, so the extra you combine issues up, the happier they’ll be.
Simply make sure you’re nonetheless giving them loads of timothy hay and some industrial pellets so that you’re assembly all their dietary wants whilst you mix up their diet!
Featured Picture Credit score: Gaston Cerliani, Shutterstock
