Iceberg Lettuce For Guinea Pigs?

[Andrew]

So i've been feeding my guinea pig salads with mixed fruits and veggies. The thing is i've been using iceberg lettuce as the base for my salad.
But according to this: http://www.guineapighub.com/guinea-pig-diet.html

Iceberg lettuce is on the list of foods to AVOID giving to your pet guinea pig. Does anybody know why? And has anyone fed iceberg lettuce and not experience anything negative. If it really is bad for them, then that's kind of alarming since i've been feeding them that all this time...
Thanks!

 

[maxdawn]

Iceberg Lettuce is not Guinea Pig food and is not a healthy part of their diet. Guinea will get no nutrition from it other than a little water. Guinea pigs that are given large amounts of iceberg lettuce will fill up on this food which has no nutrition, and it then prevents them from eating as much of their good foods. Eating a diet with lots of iceberg lettuce can cause them to be malnourished, get sick and die if only given iceberg lettuce (sad but true, this lettuce is inexpensive so people may be tempted to give it daily like food- causing their guinea pigs to die of starvation). Guinea pigs need lots of timothy hay and vitamin C rich pellets as the staple of their diet. Things like green leafy vegetables are great snacks that give them lots of vitamins. Iceberg gives no vitamins, no calories, but makes them feel full- so iceberg lettuce should only be given as a treat in small amounts and try to give them green lettuces instead. Hhope this helps

 

[Merrypigs Sanctuary]

Iceberg lettuce is also incredibly high in water content, so although good for preventing dehydration in summer it can cause diarrhoea in piggies :3

 

[Treacle]

I have known a piggy die from just one meal of iceberg lettuce.

 

[Jerrybelly]

Although not toxic, iceberg lettuce should not be fed. If you do want to feed lettuce as part of a varied diet, then opt instead for the soft leafy kinds.

 

[Pink Jumper]

Not even one lettuce leaf shared between two guinea pigs just once in a while?

 

[Jerrybelly]

Not even one lettuce leaf shared between two guinea pigs just once in a while?

I wouldn't even give iceberg occasionally, no. Something like romaine lettuce is okay though, as part of a balanced diet.

 

[Gizi]

Iceberg lettuce SHOULD be AVOIDED. Unfortunatly I made the same mistake you did and gave one of my piggies iceberg lettuce although it was only for 2 meals. Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value and is high in water content and can cause dirrahoea. It should NEVER be fed! I would recommend to feed them normal green lettuce with veggies of course and sometimes add in a few things linke romaine lettuce and other treats.

Here a link to a recommended diet...
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

 

[Pink Jumper]

I wouldn't even give iceberg occasionally, no. Something like romaine lettuce is okay though, as part of a balanced diet.

Not to worry, I was aware that they shouldnt have iceberg and i do not give my pigs it. I was just wondering as i regularly waste iceberg in my house so just wanted to make doubly sure that even one leaf is a complete no no!

 

[DM030819]

I definitely agree 100% on no iceberg. But, I read recently somewhere that it can be used in certain circumstances. I cannot for the life of me remember where, or what it was. I'll see if I can find it again.

 

[Lecie89]

No iceberg lettuce! It barely even has any nutritional value for us as humans. I always feed green or red leaf lettuce as it's safe and won't leave a possibility to create gas like other types of lettuce or spinach!

 

[Black Jack]

I used to feed my guineas Iceberg about 15 years ago and this was recommended at the time as a good guinea food. However I noticed a few years back that the "experts" were advising to avoid it at all costs. Luckily I never had any poorly piggies. I now only feed Romaine, Little Gem, Cos or flat lettuce and have no complaints.