Hay and fruit+veggies

[Sofiathepeso]

I’ve noticed that Charlie her has begun to look a little on the big side. He’s about to turn 6 and I think he needs to change his diet. He’s been drinking a lot of water and has been given food 2-3 times a day and always has access to water, what do I do?

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

What food do you give him 2 - 3 times a day?

 

[Piggies&buns]

What does he weigh? How has his weight changed to make you think he is getting too big? You should not do anything such as put him on a diet unless your vet has concerns about his weight.

Heft is a more reliable way to gauge - the details in the guide below should help you.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

A healthy diet is one which consists mostly of hay. He needs constant access to it. Vegetables and pellets should be kept strictly limited.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

Drinking water is great, but hay you can give as much as you want at least that he always got fresh hay, never to much hay is a good thought. Pellets is just nessesary once a day and a small dose

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

What does he weigh? How has his weight changed to make you think he is getting too big? You should not do anything such as put him on a diet unless your vet has concerns about his weight.

Heft is a more reliable way to gauge - the details in the guide below should help you.
Weight - Monitoring and Management

A healthy diet is one which consists mostly of hay. He needs constant access to it. Vegetables and pellets should be kept strictly limited.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Agree on that diets are not for piggies unless vet advices. Not something to do on your own. If you are worried about his weight, might take him to the vet? But for now just look at what you giving him?

 

[Eeworkowski]

They can always have hay and water but only give him a tbsp of pellets a day. Also give him only about a cup of vegetables a day

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

They can always have hay and water but only give him a tbsp of pellets a day. Also give him only about a cup of vegetables a day

good advice

 

[Sofiathepeso]

Drinking water is great, but hay you can give as much as you want at least that he always got fresh hay, never to much hay is a good thought. Pellets is just nessesary once a day and a small dose

He also always has access to hay in his cage, he has a lot of free floor space to go on when he wishes.

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

He also always has access to hay in his cage, he has a lot of free floor space to go on when he wishes.

That’s sound good. Now that he is six I would recommend also adding vitamin c into his diet. Not in water but tablets. Tablets from beaphare or oxbow.

 

[Sofiathepeso]

What food do you give him 2 - 3 times a day?

Lettuce, cilantro and

What food do you give him 2 - 3 times a day?

lettuce, cilantro and cucumber. It changes depending on what season but I always give him a few pieces of fresh fruit everyday. I think the problem is that I'm giving him too much fruit but i don’t know

 

[Sofiathepeso]

That’s sound good. Now that he is six I would recommend also adding vitamin c into his diet. Not in water but tablets. Tablets from beaphare or oxbow.

Do I mix the tablets with food or are they supposed to be eaten separately? And how many do I give him daily? Thanks

 

[Siikibam]

They don’t need vitamin c tablets. If you’re feeding a balanced diet they’ll get it from that. Bell peppers and coriander/cilantro are a good source of vitamin c, and you can feed them daily.

Fruit should also be fed occasionally as a treat - no more than once a week. That includes carrots. Please read the link you were given above, it’s a good guide.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Lettuce, cilantro and

lettuce, cilantro and cucumber. It changes depending on what season but I always give him a few pieces of fresh fruit everyday. I think the problem is that I'm giving him too much fruit but i don’t know

Fruit not necessary in the diet. If you do give it, then is not suitable to be given every day, it’s too high in sugar. Fruit should be given no more than once a week.

A guinea pig being given a healthy balanced diet does not need to be given supplementary vitamins. Excess vit c is excreted so would be of no benefit. Look at the links I put in above regarding feeding guides above

 

[Sofiathepeso]

They can always have hay and water but only give him a tbsp of pellets a day. Also give him only about a cup of vegetables a day

Oh... my goodness. That’s definitely the problem because I always refill his pellets and oats everyday. He has a large variety of food, but I was worried about him eating only pellets and hay so I give him light greens too. I feel pretty great now that I know he should be eating less pellets.

 

[Shelley anne]

I give very little fruit. My three year old is a little tubby too so I seldom give fruit now.

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

Do I mix the tablets with food or are they supposed to be eaten separately? And how many do I give him daily? Thanks

So oxbow you give one tablet daily. The beaphar is 3 small once daily While oxbow is a big tablet. If you got picky guinea pigs I would recommend oxbow as many like those. As they are a bit expensive you probably don’t need to give them daily. I know a lot of people that only give them every 3-4 day, but everyday with an illness.

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

Oh... my goodness. That’s definitely the problem because I always refill his pellets and oats everyday. He has a large variety of food, but I was worried about him eating only pellets and hay so I give him light greens too. I feel pretty great now that I know he should be eating less pellets.

They don’t really need oats if you don’t want them to keep or gain weight. They should just have around a tbsp of pellets.

 

[Siikibam]

So oxbow you give one tablet daily. The beaphar is 3 small once daily While oxbow is a big tablet. If you got picky guinea pigs I would recommend oxbow as many like those. As they are a bit expensive you probably don’t need to give them daily. I know a lot of people that only give them every 3-4 day, but everyday with an illness.

As I said above, piggies don’t need vitamin c tablets unless prescribed by a vet due to a deficiency. Too much can also be bad.

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

As I said above, piggies don’t need vitamin c tablets unless prescribed by a vet due to a deficiency. Too much can also be bad.

As I said above, piggies don’t need vitamin c tablets unless prescribed by a vet due to a deficiency. Too much can also be bad.

I’ve never heard a vet say too much is bad. Yet yes of course you should not give them more than needed, but if you end up giving a little bit to much it will leave the body easily as the body only consumes what it really needs of the c vitamins and then the rest will go out. Every time I’m at my vets office they always ask if you give them c vitamins on the side, and my vet has informed wine that they should have it as it’s not always true what people think that a few pieces of peppers etc is enough for them. It might not be needed everyday but should be given at least once a week and everyday if sicj.

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

Lettuce, cilantro and

lettuce, cilantro and cucumber. It changes depending on what season but I always give him a few pieces of fresh fruit everyday. I think the problem is that I'm giving him too much fruit but i don’t know

Lettuce is good, as long as not too much, cilantro and cucumber they should not have to much of either. Since cucumber is just water it can give them soft poops. So just 1-2 slices a day. Fresh fruit is definitely not recommended everyday. That should just be given every once in a while. At max once a week I would say

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’ve never heard a vet say too much is bad. Yet yes of course you should not give them more than needed, but if you end up giving a little bit to much it will leave the body easily as the body only consumes what it really needs of the c vitamins and then the rest will go out. Every time I’m at my vets office they always ask if you give them c vitamins on the side, and my vet has informed wine that they should have it as it’s not always true what people think that a few pieces of peppers etc is enough for them. It might not be needed everyday but should be given at least once a week and everyday if sicj.

Too much is bad. Yes excess is excreted but when too much is given (over 50mg I believe) it can cause problems, particularly if the levels suddenly drop. It is the same as in humans.
Hay contains vit c and with it needing to make up the most of their diet, with a variety of supplementary veggies , there will be enough in the diet.

Cilantro and cucumber are absolutely fine to feed every day. A 1cm chunk of cucumber and a few sprigs of cilantro.

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

Too much is bad. Yes excess is excreted but when too much is given (over 50mg I believe) it can cause problems, particularly if the levels suddenly drop. It is the same as in humans.
Hay contains vit c and with it needing to make up the most of their diet, with a variety of supplementary veggies , there will be enough in the diet.

Cilantro and cucumber are absolutely fine to feed every day. A 1cm chunk of cucumber and a few sprigs of cilantro.

Ok, at least my veterinarian have told me guinea pigs should have c vitamins as tablets. It is not something you get prescribed from a vet, yes they might say that you need to give them that if they are ill. But yea. I will follow my vets recommendations as they know what they are doing and are great with guinea pigs xx

 

[Thebubbypiggies]

I know that the beaphar is 41 mg a day if you give them the 3 small tablets, so you can still give them some veggies without going over 50 grams. But i think everyone has different opinions and are told different. At least my vet told me that, and I trust them. If your vet told you something else then that’s fine too have a nice day