Oxbow Vitamin C and Harvest Hay Stacks Review

Fun fact: most mammals produce their own Vitamin C internally. Notable exceptions: humans, fruit bats, primates, capybaras and of course, guinea pigs.

In Our Fridge: Basil

Grilling season is finally here! Many of the girls' favorite fruits and veggies have been cropping up in stores. Watermelon, blueberries, corn, and tomatoes, just to name a few. Basil, however, is one of those herbs that elicits strong opinions. Some guineas love it while others can't stand the scent.

Guinea Pig Forages: Dandelion Greens & Flowers

Dandelion greens are a favorite with many guinea pigs but did you know they can also eat the flowers? Provided the dandelion plant is from a clean, pesticide free location where other animals do not frequent, cavies can munch on the leaves, flowers and stems.

Ask Alice: Am I Overfeeding My Guinea Pig?

Answering your guinea pig care questions.

"We have ample food in our piggy cage at all times. But, I find that our two piggies tend to 'pig out' every chance they get and we're refilling bowls and hay numerous times throughout the day.

I'm not overdoing it, am I? I don't want them to get sick or something from over eating."

-Mandy

Hi Mandy,

That's a good question! Sometimes new cavy owners are concerned that their guinea pigs are eating too much. But when it comes to hay and water, you don't have to worry.

In Our Fridge: Chicory Greens

Chicory, also known as curly endive, has been turning up at our local market as of late. I had given the pigs a sample a year or two ago but most of them weren't impressed. On the lookout for fresh additions to their usual diet, I figured I'd pick up a batch and give it another try.

In Our Fridge: Brussels Sprouts

For variety's sake, we occasionally treat the pigs to a few leaves of Brussels sprouts.

As with any other cruciferous vegetable, Brussels sprouts may cause gas or bloat in guinea pigs.
Strictly limit the amount given.

Return of the Cranberries

Cranberries! The pigs rejoiced at the return of their favorite seasonal holiday treat.

Belka, Peaches, and Poof ate with gusto. Truffle kept losing her half eaten berries and instead of rooting around, shamelessly pleaded for more.

Guinea Pig Nutrition Charts and Unsafe Foods List

"Does this baby carrot contain enough Vitamin C for me?" -Abby-Roo

Ever wondered if a certain vegetable is good for your guinea pig, how much sugar they're getting from that grape, or if the parsley you're feeding contains enough Vitamin C?

What's in our fridge: Honeydew Melon

Giving your guinea pig honeydew melon is a tasty way to keep them hydrated on warm summer afternoons. Cavies can eat both the rind and the pale green flesh. Remember to scoop out the seeds, which present a choking hazard.

Like watermelon, honeydew is high in water content but also contains quite a bit of sugar for our little piggies. When feeding honeydew, cut down the sugar intake by carving the rind so that minimal flesh remains.

What's in our fridge: Watermelon Rind

Abby-Roo and Revy refuse to share

Thanks to its high water content, watermelon is great for keeping your cavy hydrated on hot summer days. Guinea pigs can eat both the rind and the fleshy red part of the watermelon.

However, the flesh is high in sugar so it is best to limit the amount given. Try carving the rind so that only a small amount of flesh remains as a treat. Our pigs get excited even over the rind itself.

How to Grow Wheatgrass Indoors for your Guinea Pigs

The first time I ran across wheatgrass while grocery shopping it never occurred to me to juice the blades as a drink for myself. Instead the thought that came to mind was, "I wonder if the piggies can eat this?"

GuineaLynx, the go-to resource for cavy health, confirmed that not only was wheatgrass safe for guinea pigs to eat but that it was also a common forage food. Being an excited piggy mom, I rushed back to the store. The wheatgrass was a hit and the pigs were hooked. Every wheeker I've had since has loved the treat. However, they weren't so fond of sharing the minuscule containers so I looked into growing it myself.

An easygoing green, there are many different ways to grow wheatgrass. I created this simple guide to illustrate the method that has worked best for me to satisfy six spoiled, grass-happy pigs. Poof was more than happy to help pose/eat.

Why grow wheatgrass for your guinea pigs?

We first started offering wheatgrass to our wheekers when there were only three to feed. Several years and several adoptions later, we finally started growing our own. There was no way sharing a single tiny container could keep Belka, Truffle, Peaches, Poof, Revy and Abby-Roo satisfied!

So why go through the trouble of messing about with dirt and seeds? Here are some reasons why it is worth the effort:

What's in our fridge: Frisee

We thought Truffle was a picky eater... until Abby-Roo came along. She spat out cranberries, made faces at basil leaves, bolted at the scent of bananas, and gave blueberries the occasional half-hearted nibble. Even classic guinea pig forage favorites like clover and dandelion flowers didn't tempt her into venturing outside her food comfort zone.

Frisée was a different story. Given Abby-Roo's previous reactions to being presented with new foods, we were delighted when she devoured the frizzy plant straight away.

What's in our fridge: Radicchio

Poof nibbles on a head of Verona radicchio

We first came upon radicchio in a Trader Joe's salad bag of mixed greens. When Belka, Truffle, Peaches, and Poof began to regularly engage in tug-of-war battles over this unusually colored leaf, it became obvious that radicchio was a favorite. Since there was rarely enough to go around, we sought it out and integrated it into the cavy vegetable rotation.

Crunching on cranberries

Fresh cranberries are a seasonal favorite with almost every guinea pig here. The crisp, tart fruit is the perfect size for demanding cavies to nibble on as a treat.

Crazy cavy faces for mint

Lettuce and cucumber are well known guinea pig dietary staples, but have your cavies ever sampled mint? This common household herb can be fed in moderation as a treat.

Mint is one of Poof's favorite herbs, but sometimes the cooling sensation is too much even for her. She can often be spotted making crazy cavy faces while gobbling up entire sprigs at a time.

Timothy hay comparison

After the piggies finished their sample of Small Pet Select's 2nd cut timothy hay (read the review here), we were curious to see how KMS Hayloft's 2nd cut timothy hay would compare. We placed a small order for everyone to try out. For a visual comparison, click to enlarge the image above or magnify it here.

What's in our fridge: Pumpkin

We piggies finally got the chance to sample fresh pumpkin for the very first time last weekend! Cavy reactions ranged from ecstatic to indifferent.

Small Pet Select timothy hay product review

Responsible guinea pig owners know that quality grass hay is essential for a cavy's dental and digestive health. Although quality hay is available from multiple sources, you may find that not all guinea pigs favor the same hay. This can vary across brands, types, cuts, or even individual bales.

When Small Pet Select offered us the opportunity to sample their 2nd cut timothy hay we were interested in seeing how our pigs would react.

Bluegrass hay is back

Poof sitting on 45 lbs of hay

It's the moment everybody has been waiting for... bluegrass hay is back!