Diabetic guinea pig meals

[anyar.dris]

As some of you know, Carson was diagnosed last week with diabetes and was the cause of his sudden cataracts. Now we cut out a lot of sugary veg to give them. They are just down to cucumber and celery as their staple meal everyday (they don't really drink water from the bottle but started doing it this week), spinach, kale and salad leaves. I tested his wee tonight and he has high glucose levels. And you can definitely see him eating loads of cucumber today.

Now hubby said we need to stop giving them cucumber, celery, parsely, as they still contain sugar. I'm struggling to think what else I can give them that can replace those food. Should I stop giving it to them all together? I mean Bodie is all fine eating hay and pellets as that's mostly what he prefers, of course he considers the veg as treats anyway as he would eat some and then would spend a lot of time just eating hay. But I don't know what else to do. I'm panicking coz hubby says I'll speed up Carson getting blind if I still give him cucumber and celery. I need some help modifying their meals that they can enjoy. All I hear every day is Carson wheeking asking for food. I mean he usually asks for grass but now that it's starting to get cold, there are less grass to give them as well.

I just feel sorry for them as their meal selection keeps on getting less and less and would eventually probably going to be just hay and pellets and hope for the best they continue to regularly drink water from the bottle. Is it best to stop giving them veg completely? Where would they get Vit. C?

 

[Claire W]

Cucumber is fine to feed daily as are peppers (except red which are more sugary) lettuce and coriander. Those things are what I fed when I had a diabetic guinea pig.

Remember that like with humans with diabetes, they still need a little sugar in their diet.

Please do not get hung up on testing his urine as those test sticks often show glucose in guinea pigs. A blood test is more accurate. A pin prick done on the ear by your vet is usually sufficient x

 

[anyar.dris]

Cucumber is fine to feed daily as are peppers (except red which are more sugary) lettuce and coriander. Those things are what I fed when I had a diabetic guinea pig.

Remember that like with humans with diabetes, they still need a little sugar in their diet.

Please do not get hung up on testing his urine as those test sticks often show glucose in guinea pigs. A blood test is more accurate. A pin prick done on the ear by your vet is usually sufficient x

Thank you for this. It eases my mind up a bit. We still have to take him for his post op, hopefully by next week so we can ask the vet again for his blood test.

 

[Claire W]

Thank you for this. It eases my mind up a bit. We still have to take him for his post op, hopefully by next week so we can ask the vet again for his blood test.

All the best for his post op x

 

[Merab]

Sorry that Carson has diabetes but it is a condition that can be controlled.
This is a new diagnosis and it will take a little time for his levels to stabilise.
Once they are and his diet is suitably adjusted he should be fine.

Assuming that diabetes is much the same in all mammals sugar levels fluctuate naturally.
Sometimes a reading can be high for no apparent reason but it’s only a worry if the readings are consistently high.

Try not to worry too much.
Hugs