If you remember last time I posted, my piggy had a URI. He’s all better, except he refuses to eat pellets. His appetite is back, but he only wants veggies. I know this isn’t the best because veggies are soft and won’t wear down his teeth. I’m not sure if vitamin c is an issue as i always have orange slices on hand for him but I’m not sure if that’s enough to sustain him. He drinks normally, is extremely vocal and his temperament is even better than it was before he was sick, but he just only wants veggies. I’m continuing his syringe fed supplements as per my vet, but started to give him less to encourage him to eat pellets, he just won’t. Can veggies be a sustainable diet for him if I monitor his teeth? He always eats hay, and I feed him veggies when he has his supplements and I’ll give him a cucumber slice as a snack throughout the day. He’s not eating too much veggies, I’m just worried I won’t be able to get him back to a healthy weight. I'm not TOO concerned about malocclusion as I’ve filed down teeth before in my animal science program, I’m just not sure what to do!
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My recovered piggy is now spoiled.
- Thread starter Rory4062
- Start date
Hay is the most important part of the diet and is the food which will maintain the weight. It also wears the teeth. Hay must make 80% of their daily food intake. As long as he is eating plenty of hay, he will gain weight.
You could also give fresh grass (introduce slowly into the diet if he isn’t used to having it). Both grass and hay contain some vitamin c.
Veg is one cup per day and is supplementary. It’s only 15% of the daily food intake. It will not make them gain weight anyway. Veg will not wear the teeth. He will get vit c from his veg - ensure you give a higher vit c veg such as bell pepper or herbs such as coriander to ensure he gets all the trace elements needed.
Fruit does not need to be in the diet due to the high sugar content but also because of the acidity (particularly in citrus fruits) which can lead to lip infections. A small amount is fine for a very occasional treat but it should only be a tiny amount and no more than once a week.
Pellets are the one thing they can do without in their diet, so don’t worry if he doesn’t want them. Pellets will also not wear the teeth
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
You could also give fresh grass (introduce slowly into the diet if he isn’t used to having it). Both grass and hay contain some vitamin c.
Veg is one cup per day and is supplementary. It’s only 15% of the daily food intake. It will not make them gain weight anyway. Veg will not wear the teeth. He will get vit c from his veg - ensure you give a higher vit c veg such as bell pepper or herbs such as coriander to ensure he gets all the trace elements needed.
Fruit does not need to be in the diet due to the high sugar content but also because of the acidity (particularly in citrus fruits) which can lead to lip infections. A small amount is fine for a very occasional treat but it should only be a tiny amount and no more than once a week.
Pellets are the one thing they can do without in their diet, so don’t worry if he doesn’t want them. Pellets will also not wear the teeth
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets