Good for Chewing?

[Solestes]

What types of things do you give your guinea pigs to chew on for their teeth? I always see those wood blocks at stores that are "for guinea pigs" but i cant help but wonder how good they are with that paint on it. What types of things are good for guinea pigs to chew on for their teeth?

[Ly&Pigs]

This question is one of the most frequently asked questions on our forum. The answer though remains the same, HAY, hay and more hay. Unlimited grass hay for all aged pigs is the most essential thing you can give them. It helps aid in digestion and helps wear down their molars (back teeth).

Most pigs have no interest in wooden chew blocks or any type of chew toys. If you want to give them something then try plain, untreated apple branches. Or buy one of those fiddlestix house things and let them gnaw on it.

[mbator]

Mine like to chew on carrots and then lots of timothy hay.

[Ly&Pigs]

Carrots aren't a good chew toy. They have to be limited in the diet to no more than 1 baby carrot per day as they are very high in vitamin A and oxalic acid. Too much vitamin A can cause liver/kidney damage in the long run and too much oxalic acid can form with calcium to form oxalate stones.

[Solestes]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

This question is one of the most frequently asked questions on our forum. The answer though remains the same, HAY, hay and more hay. Unlimited grass hay for all aged pigs is the most essential thing you can give them. It helps aid in digestion and helps wear down their molars (back teeth).

Most pigs have no interest in wooden chew blocks or any type of chew toys. If you want to give them something then try plain, untreated apple branches. Or buy one of those fiddlestix house things and let them gnaw on it.

wont a guinea pig over eat if it has unlimited amounts of food? my guinea pig is a vacume for food, i dont know if he would know when to stop. couldn't that be unhealthy?

[Ly&Pigs]

No, they cannot overeat hay. Like I said, it's essential to their diet. When they get full, they will stop for a while. Cavies are constant grazers.

I also said unlimited hay, not unlimited food. You do want to limit pellets in pigs older than 6 months because pellets are the least of any cavies diet. They should also get the minimum of 1 cup of veggies each per day. Primarily leafy greens and then some other things like bell pepper added in for vitamin C content. See the nutrition charts and sample menus sticky threads at the top of this forum section for ideas.

[Solestes]

Ok. Thank you, i'll be sure to check that out