Nutrition She wont eat her pellets!!!

[cavycalm1]

My guinea pig is reluctant to eat her pellets... we got her yesterday and she will eat veggies and hay, but wont eat her pellets. The rescue I adopted her from sent us home with a Ziploc bag of her pellets, but couldn't tell me what type they are. Right now I have them mixed with oxbow, to help transfer her over. The pellets that she came with are larger than oxbow and seem like they are big for her relatively small mouth... Any help on what type of pellets I might have, or on how to get her to eat the ones she has would be great...

-cavycalm1

 

[Guinea2002]

Have you thought of phoning the rescue and see what type of pellets they are?

 

[Guinea Pig Papa]

They almost sound like they may be rabbit pellets to me, but without seeing them I can't be sure. If they are indeed rabbit pellets, they would be absolutely useless for her. Oxbow pellets are a good quality food to be giving your girl.

 

[bpatters]

Just take the old pellets away, put the new ones in the cage, and give her a few days. She's new, she's scared, and she's not behaving like she will when she settles in.

Cover one end of her cage with a towel, so she feels protected. Put everything under the towel, even her hidey. And then let her be for a while. She'll come out and eat.

Here's some recommended reading for new guinea pig owners:

https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/113176-Information-for-new-guinea-pig-owners
https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/107827-What-NOT-to-do-for-your-guinea-pigs!

And, [MENTION=35161]Guinea Pig Papa[/MENTION], generally the only difference between rabbit pellet and guinea pig pellets is that GP pellets have vitamin C added to them. Rabbits don't need it because they can produce their own. Using them for a few days won't hurt.

 

[cavycalm1]

They did have a lot of rabbits at the rescue, but they told me "they were standard guinea pig pellets". She had apparently been eating them there, but has stopped here... thanks for all the help anyways!!!!

 

[wigglemish]

Just go straight in with the oxbow. If she's not eating the other ones, the mix may even put her off the good quality ones.

Try not to panic. Hay is a guinea pig's primary food intake, it matters most she eats this. Make sure there is plenty available, refresh it daily to make sure there is no smelly, wet stuff in there. Is she eating hay?

Also, is she alone?

 

[cavycalm1]

Yes, she is indeed alone, but the next time the rescue has another guinea pig, she will be coming home with us. And she is eating hay (lots of it), and getting plenty of fresh veggies everyday. She also is starting to eat the pellets, little bits at a time, and doesn't seem to only be eating one type.

 

[wigglemish]

That's good to hear!

I was curious, as if she's been living with a partner previously and then become a solo pig, that may have had something to account for. Good to hear you're keeping an eye out for a friend for her She's probably just being shy