Why guinea pigs cant eat seeds?

[AppleMom]

I read a post here about not buying gpigs food with any kind of seeds. Or any treats that a pet store sells for gpigs. I was wondering why they can't eat it. I'm a first time owner of gpigs and I wouldn't want to cause any harm to my piggies. The food that they absolutely love has different kind of seeds. I've try many food for my picky piggies and the one with seeds that said it for piggy they absolutely love. My piggies are really picky, so when I try this brand they go crazy with it. Especially my girl Apple. She adores the pumpkin seed. I want to know if it's bad and why so I can learn and don't make a mistake twice. Also I buy them a fruit stick that has honey and said it has vitamine C. They also adore it. They eat it like in two days. I do feed my gpigs veggies every single day. Mostly greens and plenty of water and extra orchard grass.
But please let me know what the best food for my piggies. I don't want to cause them any harm. My piggies seem extremely healthy and happy. But like I said I'm a first time owner and I have to make mistakes. But if I do I want to make them right.
Any advice will be appreciated. And well herd.
Thank you.
AppleMom

 

[Claire W]

Hi. The reasons why guinea pigs shouldn't eat seeds are because 1) the seeds can get stuck in their teeth causing pain and discomfort and 2) they are a choking hazard. The problem with pumpkin seeds is they have a high fat content which can cause weight gain.

Honey sticks should be avoided because honey is high in sugar which isn't good for piggies and yoghurt / chocolate drops are a big no no too as guinea pigs shouldn't be fed dairy products.

You can treat your piggies by providing them with fresh veg, fresh grass and a variety of tasty hays

 

[AppleMom]

Hi. The reasons why guinea pigs shouldn't eat seeds are because 1) the seeds can get stuck in their teeth causing pain and discomfort and 2) they are a choking hazard. The problem with pumpkin seeds is they have a high fat content which can cause weight gain.

Honey sticks should be avoided because honey is high in sugar which isn't good for piggies and yoghurt / chocolate drops are a big no no too as guinea pigs shouldn't be fed dairy products.

You can treat your piggies by providing them with fresh veg, fresh grass and a variety of tasty hays

I do provide fresh vegetable daily. Also unlimited hay and fresh water for my piggies. And fresh pellets daily. The food I buy is only for guinea pigs and it brings seeds already included. So far I haven't had any problem with the seeds in there pellets. As my piggies are really picky and don't like most pellets I've try in the past. This brand is there favorite and they eat it. It's mostly pellets and some sunflower seed and some pumpkin seeds. I will know try to avoids those seeds. My piggies are still young and they need some fat the vet told me. So they can grow healthy. As my only girl in hes las visit only weighed 9onz. She was tiny. Thank for the advice. I will get the seeds out as much as I can. For there well being.

 

[Lisajazz]

I fed a guinea pig mix with seeds in once - as a treat. And one of my pigs looked to be in agony and a total panic. Her top front teeth had gone through a sunflower seed and it was wedged on her teeth and she couldn't get it off or close her mouth. In the end I got it off but I had to wrap her in a towel so she couldn't move and it took ages to get off.

It makes me cross that things like that are allowed to be sold because they can be a hazard - what if she was a hutch piggy who didn't see their owner very much each day? My pig was in my living room and lucky I noticed.

If you're fattening up try oat hay, corn on the cob, flaked peas and adding bran mix to a little bowl in the cage.

 

[AppleMom]

My piggies are inside with me also. They are in the living room with me 24/7. So I see what they are doing every single minute. Thank God I did not had a accident with the seeds. I will buy a new brand of food and hopefully they like it. Because my piggies are really picky. At least they love veggies. And I know they can eat that. It just scares me that if piggies can't eat seeds they sell gpigs food with seeds for them. It's just frustrated to see thing they can't eat.

 

[Lisajazz]

It's annoying isn't it that they are even allowed to sell things that aren't suitable - happens all the time but so frustrating.