Saw guinea pigs being fed white bread.

[RosieLily]

Hi guys,

Hope you’re doing well.

A family friend has two gorgeous boars. They have a big beautiful cage, a play pen, hideys and other pigloos, and more hay than I have ever seen. They look very happy! But they’re being fed pieces of white bread. From what I know, pigs aren’t supposed to be eating that stuff? I expressed that to her, she stated some “reputable place” deemed it fine. Whatever that place is, I have no idea.

I had to drop it then and there as I was leaving and in a hurry. I will see that friend again tomorrow, should I insist, as nicely as I can of course? I really don’t think guinea pigs should eat white bread?! If I’m wrong here, please correct me so I know in the future!

Thanks and all the best,

Rosie’s and Lily’s servant

 

[Swissgreys]

The short answer is that guinea pigs should certainly not eat white bread - they don't need bread products, and they could affect their overall gut health.

However it can be difficult to broach these subjects, particularly as they are often met with 'I have been doing this for years and they are fine'.
Maybe print out the Forum diet guide?
And always start with something positive - praising the set up and the care she offers her boars, before mentioning again why you are concerned about them being offered white bread.

And sometimes it really is just a matter of balance.
Is it a very small piece fed on very rare occasions?
It still isn't ideal, but sometimes a bit of balance is necessary, and if it isn't a regular thing and it could cause a breakdown of the friendship then it might be worth just not saying anything at all.

 

[Eriathwen]

It's a very old way of keeping, babies were often weaned on milk soaked pieces of brown bread. In fact some breeders stuck in their ways still do so today, it was also offered warm as a winter feed to adults.

If you want to broach the subject again you could always say you were intrigued and looked into it and found it was an older practice that has now mostly been updated and replaced with healthier more appropriate feed items such as wheat bran and rolled oats, which you're going to try with yours. That way you're offering an alternative as obviously she likes to treat them to things without sounding like you're criticising or judging, plus in the future you could maybe tell her how much yours enjoyed a more healthier treat and she may eventually alter what she's doing.