Content
- Importance of guinea pig hay
- Guinea pig grass
- How to give hay to guinea pig
- types of hay
- Timothy Hay (Timothy Hay)
- Orchard Grass (grass hay)
- Meadow (meadow hay)
- Oat, Wheat & Barley (oat, wheat and barley hay)
- Alfalfa hay (Lucerne)
- Where to buy guinea pig hay
- Guinea Pig Hay - Price
- Hay is the mainstay of the guinea pig diet
Hay is the main component of the guinea pig's diet. If you have guinea pigs, you can never afford to run out of hay in their cage or pen.
In addition to providing it in unlimited quantities, it is important that you know how to choose the best hay, as quality hay is the key to preventing dental problems, gastrointestinal disorders and obesity in guinea pigs.
In this PeritoAnimal article we'll talk about everything you need to know about guinea pig hay, from the importance, the types that exist, how to choose and where to buy. Keep reading!
Importance of guinea pig hay
Guinea pigs are strict herbivores and need to ingest large amounts of fiber! Hay is rich in fiber and is essential for the proper functioning of the digestive system of the guinea pigs.
The teeth of guinea pigs, like those of rabbits, are constantly growing. That's right what you read, the Your pig's teeth grow daily and he needs to wear them out. Guinea pig dental overgrowth is one of the most common problems seen in the veterinary clinic and is most often caused by lack of hay intake. Most of the time the tutor doesn't even notice the exaggerated growth of the teeth, as he can only observe the incisors and molars, only the veterinarian can observe with the aid of an otoscope (as you can see in the image). While the incisor teeth (the ones you see in the front of the pig's mouth) he can wear away with wooden objects, cracking the feed and other vegetables. On the other hand, the pig needs the upper and lower molars to make continuous movements for wear and this can only be achieved by chewing the long strands of hay, which take time to be processed. That's why the quality of the hay is so important that you can tell by its green color (not yellow, dry), pleasant smell and long strands.
Guinea pig grass
Grass can be very beneficial to your guinea pig. However, it can be more difficult to arrange and preserve than dry hay, as being fresh it can rot quickly after harvesting and cause intestinal upset in your piglet.
If you can find good quality grass, you can give it to your piglet. Some petshopts sell wheat grass trays. If you have a garden and it's safe for your guinea pigs, let them take a walk and eat this fresh, pesticide-free grass that you care for. But if you intend to bring grass from elsewhere, you must always ensure that it is free of herbicides and other chemicals. It is best to plant your wheat grass for your guinea pigs yourself.
Anyway, although the guinea pig grass is very beneficial. If you don't have a garden, it is impractical to get fresh, good quality quantities to give to your pig every day. Dry hay has the advantage of being easy to store and also supplies all the animal's needs. For this reason, it is more common to sell the dry version than the fresh one. The big problem is finding good quality hay, because the market has many types of hay and not all of them are good.
How to give hay to guinea pig
If your guinea pig lives in a cage, ideally it has a support for the hay. Hay racks are the easiest way to keep hay clean, avoiding contact with guinea pig feces and urine. In any case, the racks sold in the market are usually not big enough for the amount of hay your guinea pigs need each day. For this reason, you can also spread some hay around your pigs' cage or pen.
Another complementary option is to make guinea pig toys yourself. Take a roll of toilet paper, make holes and fill the entire interior with fresh hay. Your guinea pigs will love this toy, which in addition to encouraging them to eat more hay, is an excellent way of environmental enrichment.
In petshops you can also find hay stuffing toys and accessories and increase your piggies' interest in this key food in their diet.
types of hay
Timothy Hay (Timothy Hay)
Timothy hay or timothy hay is one of the most common in petshops. This type of hay has a high content of fiber (great for the pig's digestive system and preventing tooth overgrowth), minerals and other nutrients. The nutritional values of this type of hay are: 32-34% fiber, 8-11% protein and 0.4-0.6% calcium.
Orchard Grass (grass hay)
Another great quality guinea pig hay. The composition of orchard grass hay is similar to timothy hay: 34% fiber, 10% protein and 0.33% calcium.
Meadow (meadow hay)
Meadow hay is made up of 33% fiber, 7% protein and 0.6% calcium. Both meadow hay, orchar grass and timothy hay are hay varieties of grass hay, of the family of grasses and sedges.
Oat, Wheat & Barley (oat, wheat and barley hay)
These types of cereal hay, compared to grass hay varieties, have a higher sugar level. For this reason, although they are very beneficial for your piggies, they should only be offered sporadically. Diets with high sugar levels can disrupt the intestinal flora of guinea pigs. Choose to buy timothy hay, orchard or meadow and provide this type of hay only once in a while! Regarding nutritional values, oat hay is made up of 31% fiber, 10% protein and 0.4% calcium.
Alfalfa hay (Lucerne)
Alfalfa hay has a high calcium content and is not recommended for guinea pigs over 6 months of age. Alfalfa is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and calcium, so it is only recommended for young guinea pigs, pregnant guinea pigs or by veterinary indication for a sick guinea pig. Generally, this type of hay is composed of 28-34% fiber, 13-19% protein and 1.1-1.4% calcium. This high calcium content, continuously supplied to a healthy adult guinea pig, can lead to urinary system problems.
Where to buy guinea pig hay
You can find hay in almost all petshops in Brazil. Sometimes it can be difficult to find good quality hay (green, soft and long) but it is not impossible. Look in agricultural or petshops. If it is very difficult to find a physical store, you always have the option of online pethops.
Guinea Pig Hay - Price
The price of guinea pig hay varies widely. The more expensive, the better the hay is not always. But if you buy hay at a pet store, the price can be the main indicator of its quality. Either way, on a farm or even on a trustworthy farm, you can find a quality hay supplier at a more affordable price.
Hay is the mainstay of the guinea pig diet
A balanced guinea pig feed should be made up of about 80% hay, 10% self-feed and 10% vegetables. Furthermore, each stage of the guinea pig's life has specific nutritional requirements. Read our full article on guinea pig feeding.
Furthermore, you cannot forget to change the water of your guinea pigs daily. Hay must also be changed daily.
If your guinea pig has stopped eating hay, do not ignore this symptom and go to your trusted exotic animal veterinarian as soon as possible. Dental, gastrointestinal and even more serious problems may be at stake. The sooner the diagnosis is made and the treatment defined, the better the prognosis.