One of the first questions new guinea pig owners ask is, “How much hay should I give to my guinea pig?”. These little foragers are constantly munching on something, because it´s their favorite thing to do! It´s natural for a guinea pig parent to wonder if it´s healthy for a guinea pig to munch on something throughout the day.
So, when it comes to hay, how much is enough? How much hay do guinea pigs actually need? Throughout this blog we will discuss what these animals need, and why hay is so important in their diets. So, stay with me to find out more!
Table of Contents
How Much Hay Do Guinea Pigs Need?
So, how much hay do guinea pigs actually need? The answer may surprise you: a lot! In fact, your guinea pig needs hay every day and lots of it!
Guinea pigs need unlimited access to fresh, high-quality hay. Hay is the staple food source of a guinea pig’s diet, and they shouldn’t be limited on how much they have access to on a daily basis. In fact, guinea pigs need their diet to be about 80% hay.
Guinea pigs need hay to survive as they can be without hay only about a day. Hay is an essential part of a healthy diet for many reasons. Most importantly, it provides them with vital nutrients and fiber for digestion. Chewing hay is also vital for their dental health. More about this later on in this article.
If you have more than one guinea pig, place the hay in different areas of the cage so that each guinea pig can have their own space for eating and its own supply of hay. Otherwise, you might have to witness your precious pets fighting over some yummy pile of hay.
What Type Of Hay Should I Offer To My Guinea Pig?
Timothy hay is preferable to other varieties as it has a higher nutritional content than other types of grasses and hays for guinea pigs. The best timothy hays are those which are made from cut stalks rather than dried stems because these stalks contain more nutrients than dried ones.
Timothy hay is the guinea pig’s staple food. It’s also high in fiber, low in fat and protein, and has a higher calcium content than other types of hays.
There are, naturally, differences in taste, so some guinea pigs might prefer other types of hay to timothy hay. Oaten and meadow hays are usually the top picks. All these hays are good choices. Go with the one your guinea pig prefers.
Different types of hays can be purchased from most local pet stores or online retailers such as Amazon. I highly recommend this lovely small family-owned company Small Pet Select. They produce the BEST hays, and they provide stress-free auto-ship and save program.
Guinea Pigs Need Hay for Their Digestion
Hay is full of fiber that guinea pigs need to digest any food properly. Actually, piggies digestion system depends on hay, and without it, their digestion system might slow down or even stop completely.
Hay also helps prevent hairballs from forming by acting as an absorbent for excess water from the food your guinea pig eats. Just like cats, guinea pigs and other rodents can get hairballs! This is normal and natural, however it can be scary since guinea pigs don’t have the same regurgitation reflex as your cat. Since your guinea pig won’t regurgitate the hairball it will pass it through its digestive tract.
If your pet isn’t getting enough hay or other source of high fiber, it will be harder to pass these hairballs leading to possible surgery as an intervention.
Hay is high in fiber and low in calories, so it keeps your guinea pig’s digestive system healthy, ensuring a long life for your furry friend!
Hay Helps Wear Down Guinea Pigs’ Constantly Growing Teeth
The number of teeth that a guinea pig has can vary, but they typically have two pairs: the front incisors and the back molars. Because their teeth grow continually throughout their lives, it’s crucial to provide them with hay as often as possible so they’ll be able to wear down their ever-changing teeth.
If you don’t want your guinea pig to develop overgrown teeth or experience pain due to an infection in its mouth, you must give it access to hay at all times. Hay aids in keeping the animal’s mouth clean and healthy by helping scrub away plaque and tartar from its teeth.
Keeping your guinea pig’s teeth healthy is essential to their overall health and well-being.
Hay Provides Entertainment And Play
When you see your guinea pig eating hay, it’s a sign that your little friend is healthy and happy. These little cutie pies need food, but they also need entertainment and stimulation. Luckily they can get both with hay!
Your guinea pig usually go craaaaaazy when they see a new fresh pile of hay. They LOVE to burrow in their hay and rearrange piles. You can go crazy too: try different things to keep them entertained. You can use a hay rack or feeder, but you can also put hay in cardboard boxes or socks. These are inexpensive ways to make your little friend happy!
Besides being healthy for your pet’s digestive system, hay can actually make him more social! Guinea pigs are herd animals who love having friends around them, so there’s nothing like chewing on a lovely leafy bale of hay together with some pals—and maybe even snacking on some delicious grasses along with it (if you’re lucky enough to live where that stuff grows!).
If you notice that they aren’t eating their hay and seem disinterested in it in general, you should consult a veterinarian. Any loss of appetite is a sign that something is not right.
Can A Guinea Pig Live On With Just Hay?
The short answer to this question is NO! Guinea Pigs get a lot of nutrients and fiber from hay, but it lacks vitamin C. Unlike many other animals, guinea pigs cannot manufacture their own vitamin C. It is a vital nutrient for health, so guinea pigs must ingest adequate levels in their diets. Vitamin C is vital for the development and maintenance of skin, joints, and gums and also is essential to healing wounds.
So, in order to stay healthy and happy, guinea pigs need to have their daily dose of vitamin C. Guinea pigs require 10-20 mg of vitamin C every day to maintain good health. Pregnant or nursing guinea pigs need more than that (30-40 mg) and unhealthy guinea pigs may need up to 100 mg of vitamin C a day!
Although hay is the #1 party of your cavy´s diet, high-quality pellets with stabilized vitamin C is an easy (and tasty!) way to add vitamin C into your guinea pig’s diet. Provide 1/8 cup per guinea pig per day.
Read this in-depth article on health problems your guinea pigs might face if they don´t get enough vitamin C, and what foods you should feed your guinea pigs in addition to hay and pellets:
18 Guinea Pigs Foods That Are High in Vitamin C
Remember that piggies can easily get diarrhea if they have too much veggies or fruits. It´s like giving dessert or candy to a kid: make sure they eat their main dish first. In short, a guinea pig diet should be: 80% hay, 20% veggies and fruits + small amount of high-quality pellets.
How Much Hay Do Guinea Pigs Need? To Sum Up!
Keeping your guinea pig happy and healthy is as easy as giving them unlimited access to hay, making sure they have enough water, the proper vitamins, and access to clean bedding – along with love and cuddles, of course! Being a pet owner to a guinea pig is one of the best things you can do, as these fluffy little creatures are full of endless love and can provide hours of entertainment.
I would love to hear your opinion on this article! I hope you find this article helpful and eye-opening! It would be awesome to hear from you! If you have any questions or comments whatsoever, please let me know in the comments below. I will be more than happy to help you out!
We’re always happy to help fellow pet owners make sure their animals are happy and healthy. For more information on guinea pigs and how you can be the best pet owner possible, make sure to check out this blog for more updates!
