Dehydrated Foods!?!?!?!?

[Ellbell]

Hello,
I'm looking for some info on Dehydrated foods for Guinea pigs.
Are they safe for guinea pigs?
I have seen a lot of so called "toppers" for rabbits that are basically dehydrated flowers and herbs.
I also know that some dried fruits can be bad as they have a high sugar content.
Does anyone have any experience with feeding dehydrated food?
This is for info based on treats only and not part of their every day diet
I know fresh is best

 

[luckyandsammy]

Mine have a bit of the "toppers" on their meadow menu pellets every morning.
It's a different topper every day as I have a few bags and they seem fine, they really enjoy the extra treats!

 

[RosieMaia]

I own a food dehydrator, so I make my own dehydrated fruits (to include in my breakfast cereal) and vegetables. I make a handful of veggies each year, whenever I have some home-grown or locally farmed produce. I use the dehydrated veggies as a treat, probably a piece for each pig weekly. For instance, this year I dehydrated 3 carrots, 1 parsnip, 2 celery stalks, half a baby zucchini and half a cucumber with peel, and that will suffice for the whole year. I add the dried veggies usually to the hay pile for the pigs to rummage through. I also make dehydrated forages like strawberry and dandelion leaves, chamomile and rose-hips. These are also used sparingly, once a week at best.

Now, the dehydrated fruits are a whole different manner. Dehydrated blueberries, wild strawberries and cherries - they get these really very rarely and only as a reward after being brave. E.g. after a trip to the vet, bath time, or if I accidentally nick the quick of Rosie's dark nails.

I wouldn't give commercially dried vegetables and fruits, as they often have added chemicals (e.g sulphur dioxide) to speed up the drying process and to keep them fresh longer. I, on the other hand, keep mine in the fridge.

 

[Lossy]

I've given my pigs a variety of these, and put a sprinkling in their hay, they seem to enjoy them and like having a forage around, keeps them busy

 

[Ellbell]

Thanks so much everyone! Really helpful! I'm thinking of starting a little hobby where I make custome garlands for cages and little treat bags with dehydrated herbs and flowers.