Guinea pigs are herbivores. Extra exactly, their wild food plan typically consists of grass and different wild vegetation that they will forage. In captivity, their food plan ought to carefully replicate that of their wild food plan, with house owners permitting cavies to forage on grass and a few weeds and vegetation whereas additionally being given hay. So as to add selection and to make sure that a guinea pig is getting the entire required nutritional vitamins and minerals of their food plan, house owners can feed greens in addition to the occasional fruit and vegetable-based treats.
However, not all greens are thought-about secure, whereas some ought to solely be fed often. Turnip greens, that are the elements of the plant that develop above the bottom, ought to solely be fed to Guinea pigs sometimes. Just like the turnips themselves, turnip tops are excessive in oxalates which might contribute to painful bladder stones.
The Guinea Pig Eating regimen
Guinea pigs historically come from the Andes mountains of Peru and Argentina, however they have been domesticated and reared as a meals supply all through South America earlier than spreading throughout the globe, each as pets and as laboratory check animals. Within the wild, they’re foragers. They’d eat the grass and wild vegetation of the Andes mountains. They’d by no means eat meat, not even scavenged meat, and would hardly ever eat fruit or greens.
Pet guinea pigs want a food plan that’s much like that of their wild counterparts, though it has been tailored barely to profit piggies and their people. They’ll nonetheless be allowed to graze on grass, however that is sometimes supplemented with good-quality grass hay. They are often allowed to feed on wildflowers and weeds, like dandelion greens, however are additionally given greens and greens to make sure that they obtain the mandatory nutritional vitamins and minerals. They’re nonetheless not fed meat, nevertheless, as a result of their digestive system is unable to course of the meat and it could possibly truly make them sick.
The overwhelming majority of a guinea pig’s food plan ought to encompass grass and hay, with solely 10% to fifteen% of their food plan being contemporary greens and greens. This equates to round one teacup filled with appropriate greens a day. Consultants suggest that this every day allowance be cut up in two and that every vegetable portion ought to encompass half a dozen secure greens and different secure greens.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnip Greens?
Within the wild, piggies wouldn’t eat root greens. They’d hardly ever come throughout this kind of plant and, even when they did, they wouldn’t be capable to dig up the basis. Nevertheless, they’d be extra prone to eat the plant above the basis. As such, many house owners query whether or not it’s okay to feed their guinea pigs components like carrot tops and turnip greens.
Whereas carrot tops are thought-about typically secure and may be fed frequently, turnip greens are a unique proposition. They do have a number of well being advantages, particularly since they’re excessive in vitamin C, however as a result of they comprise oxalates, the amount of turnip greens in a guinea pig’s food plan needs to be restricted.
The Advantages of Turnip Greens
Turnip greens do have well being advantages to your guinea pig. Particularly, their advantages embrace:
The Risks of Turnip Greens
Whereas turnip greens do provide a number of well being advantages to piggies, there’s such a factor as an excessive amount of turnip.
Turnips comprise oxalates, that are pure compounds which might be generally present in fruit in addition to greens. Oxalates bind minerals, like calcium, which is able to result in kidney or bladder stones if excessive concentrations of oxalates are fed. Kidney stones are painful to cross, and in the event that they develop too giant, it might be unattainable to cross the stones naturally, which means that your guinea pig may have surgical procedure to assist take away them.
Learn how to Feed Turnip Greens to Guinea Pigs
Turnip greens may be fed to guinea pigs, however they need to be fed carefully. You possibly can feed a small handful a few times per week, however no more than this. The greens don’t want cooking, however they need to be washed completely to take away any toxins and chemical compounds. Begin with a smaller quantity, maybe only a single size of inexperienced, and see how your guinea pig handles it. Search for diarrhea and different abdomen issues and cease feeding this ingredient instantly in case your pet does expertise any hostile reactions.
Prime 3 Tricks to Assist Preserve Your Guinea Pig Wholesome
A correct food plan is a key element to maintaining a wholesome guinea pig. And whereas a food plan that consists primarily of grass and hay would possibly sound simple to handle, it doesn’t take a lot to throw the dietary steadiness off. Beneath are three suggestions that can assist you guarantee your guinea pig’s food plan is as wholesome as potential.
1. Feed Guinea Pig Pellets Each Day
Guinea pig pellets are hay-based pellets which might be fortified with vitamin C. They assist guarantee your piggie is getting sufficient of this important vitamin that it could possibly’t synthesize itself in addition to different important vitamins. Feed a spoonful of pellets every day, and be certain that the pellets are all the identical, fairly than a mixture of textures and tastes, in any other case, your piggie could decide its favorites and depart the remainder.
2. Select the Proper Kind of Hay
Hay makes up 80-85% of your guinea pig’s food plan, so it must be good high quality hay. Until your vet has suggested it, keep away from alfalfa hay and feed timothy or different varieties of grass hay as an alternative. You possibly can’t feed an excessive amount of hay and also you shouldn’t be stunned in case your cavie is continually munching and grinding on its hay provide.
3. Monitor Oxalates
Oxalates are present in fruit and greens, however an excessive amount of may cause urinary tract stones. This implies you must monitor every little thing you feed your guinea pig and feed these greens which might be thought-about excessive in oxalates carefully.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Turnips?
The foundation of the turnip is the part that people typically eat, and it has related dietary content material to the turnip greens. It additionally has related guidelines in the case of feeding time. You may give a small quantity of turnip often however don’t overfeed this vegetable.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Collard Greens?
Collard greens are wealthy in nutritional vitamins A, C, and Ok, and are considered a good addition to a guinea pig’s diet. As with all greens, it’s best to feed a spread and provide a collection of totally different greens over time, however collard greens are a very good addition to that roster.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs have very particular dietary necessities. 80-85% of their food plan ought to encompass hay and grass. They need to even be given a spoonful of hay pellets every day, and the rest of their food plan can encompass leafy greens and greens. Feed a very good number of totally different greens and all the time preserve monitor of calcium, phosphorus, and oxalate ranges of the veggies you do serve.
Turnip greens are a very good addition due to their excessive vitamin C content material, however they do comprise oxalate so the quantity you feed needs to be restricted to a small handful a few times per week.
Featured Picture Credit score: jjcsjoao, Pixabay
