DIETARY FACT SHEET
 
GUINEA PIGS
 

At Peters Pure Animal Foods, we care about pet guinea pigs. This feeding advice sheet has been prepared to help you keep your guinea pig happy and healthy.

Guinea pigs are herbivores and eat only grasses, grain, fruit and vegetables. For a balanced diet, guinea pigs need dry feed, fresh fruit and vegetables, hay and water.

1. DRY FEEDING –Peters Rabbit & Guinea Pig Foods
 
Peters rabbit and guinea pig foods are specially formulated to provide guinea pigs with the essential vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain health and vitality. There are 3 tasty varieties to choose from to make mealtime fun for your pet. All contain added vitamin C, an essential ingredient as guinea pigs cannot produce it naturally. It must be supplied from their food.
 
MultiGrain Mixture is 13% protein made from wholesome and delicious grains and seeds blended with sweet molasses. It is suitable as a maintenance diet for adult guinea pigs. Contains crunchy whole grains for guinea pigs to chew to wear down their constantly growing front teeth and to help satisfy the chewing urge.
 
Lucerne Pellets are 17% protein, specially suited to young and breeding animals as the extra protein helps promote growth. Old, frail or convalescing pets may also benefit as it helps maintain weight. Your pet will enjoy the delicious flavour of fresh lucerne and the crunchy texture of the pellets.
 
Alfalfa & Fruit Meal is a 14% protein blend of fresh, leafy lucerne, tasty seeds and grains and juicy dried fruits. A special mealtime treat for your pet! It is suitable as a maintenance diet for adult guinea pigs.

2. HAY – Peters Pasture Hay (Pet Bedding & Food)
 
Hay is very important for maintaining your pet’s health. It provides essential roughage that aids digestion and reduces the risk of hairballs and other internal blockages. It also helps to satisfy the chewing urge. Feed Peters Pasture Hay daily in generous amounts. It is also ideal bedding and your pet will enjoy burrowing into a generous nest of hay for warmth and comfort. Replace regularly.

3. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
 
It is important to supplement your guinea pig’s diet with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Most of the following foods are a source of vitamin C. Apples, banana peel, beans, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower leaves, celery, corn (husks or silk), cucumber, green and red peppers, melons, oranges, parsley, parsnips, peas, pears, pumpkin, silver beet, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, turnips. Too much lettuce and cabbage may cause diarrhoea so feed sparingly.
Ensure the food is fresh and washed clean. Place the roughly chopped food in a heavy ceramic bowl that can’t be tipped over. Introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts to avoid stomach upsets. This will also help you to identify your pet’s favorites.
 
Do not feed rhubarb, radishes, potatoes or oxalis as these are toxic to guinea pigs. Do not feed any mouldy or spoiled food. A number of plants are also toxic so beware of feeding plants or shrubs from the garden.

4. WATER
 
Ensure your guinea pig has plenty of fresh water. We recommend a gravity flow plastic bottle with a metal tube (sipper tube) as this keeps water clean. Replace daily.

TREATS – Peters Fruit Crunchy Bar
 
Peters Fruit Crunchy Bar is made from crunchy grains and seeds and juicy dried fruits, it can be hung in the cage to add variety and interest to your pet’s diet.
 
You can find a selection of Peters products at Coles and Bi Lo supermarkets, Big W stores, Woolworths, Safeway (Vic) and Action supermarkets (Qld).

FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
This fact sheet is intended to provide an introduction to dietary guidelines for your guinea pig. You can obtain more information by consulting reference books available in your local library or contact the Cavy Clubs listed below;
 

NSW: New South Wales Cavy Club,
Leone Jones, Ph. (02) 9982 9934

SA: South Australian Cavy Club,
Pauline Exley, Ph. (08) 8522 1268

SA: Southern Cavy Club of S.A,
Lorraine Hatcher, Ph. (08) 8382 6442

TAS: Hobart Cavy Club,
Helen Brown, Ph. (03) 6224 9497


These quality products are endorsed by:

and the NSW, VIC, SA & TAS Cavy Clubs.

PETERS PURE ANIMAL FOODS PTY LTD (ACN 007 161 551)   49-53 Capital Link Drive CAMPBELLFIELD VICTORIA 3061 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: (03) 9357 8110    Facsimile: (03) 9357 8145    Email: peters@vicnet.net.au