Diet Yogurt

[socks]

When I took Barney to the vet she told me that guinea pigs love vanilla yogurt, and she used to feed her pigs vanilla yogurt for a treat. I wanted to double check with ya'll and see if it's true? And also, does it have to be vanilla? I have a strawberry/banana flavor yogurt I'm eating and I'm SO tempted to bring out one of the pigs and let him have a taste - but only if it's safe!

 

[ILoveMillie]

Guinea pigs are lactose intolerant, so no they cannot have yogurt or any dairy products at all.

You may want to find a new cavy savvy vet that knows more about guinea pigs!

 

[GusGusandOreo]

Yogurt isn't safe for piggies because piggies are lactose intolerant and therefore shouldn't be given dairy!

 

[socks]

Guinea pigs are lactose intolerant, so no they cannot have yogurt or any dairy products at all.

You may want to find a new cavy savvy vet that knows more about guinea pigs!

ahh! thanks for the info! i will DEFINITELY look into a different vet, my goodness.

 

[CavyMama]

Guineas are lactose intolerant and CANNOT have yogurt or any other dairy products. I've had vets suggest yogurt for the probiotics and these were supposedly exotics vets too.

Thank you for double checking

 

[Mastershroom]

Guinea pigs are strict vegans. If you need some pointers, spend some time living in the Coventry neighborhood of Cleveland, and you'll pick it up real quick.

 

[lillypearlandme]

Guinea pigs are strict vegans. If you need some pointers, spend some time living in the Coventry neighborhood of Cleveland, and you'll pick it up real quick.

Arent vegan diets supposed to be slimming? If so, try telling that to my piggy Pearl Its partyly her breed, but she's constantly at the food bowl lol

 

[Mastershroom]

Arent vegan diets supposed to be slimming? If so, try telling that to my piggy Pearl Its partyly her breed, but she's constantly at the food bowl lol

I suppose if you eat enough salad, you can still gain weight.

 

[kananaka]

Interesting. I wonder if the lactose intolerant is "new" information (like the aloe allergy). I remember reading that giving them yogurt is OK to help with digestion in Feb when I 1st became an owner. Never have myself as they haven't been sick and needed a probiotic.

 

[bpatters]

I wonder if the lactose intolerant is "new" information (like the aloe allergy)

No, it isn't new. The information saying that they can have yogurt is just typical of the poor information that's all over the internet about caring for pigs -- they can have bread, they can have milk, they don't need large cages, they need baths every week, they need regular teeth trimming, etc.

As guinea pigs age, they lose the ability to digest milk products, just as many people do. Pups are fine with their mother's milk, but adult pigs don't have the enzyme needed for dairy digestion.

 

[kananaka]

What I meant by "new" was info that was found out a few years ago but not quite known yet. Regardless, good to know so I can pass the info on when need be :cheerful:.