Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dog Food? Vet-Verified Facts and Safety Guide
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If you have a guinea pig and a dog, you might be wondering if their diets are very similar. Or you might want to offer your guinea pig a tasty treat and wonder if they might like some dog food. Perhaps you have run out of guinea pig food and are wondering if they can share some of your dog’s food.
Can guinea pigs eat dog food? In short the answer is no. Unlike dogs, guinea pigs are strictly herbivores, so for this reason, dog food is not appropriate. In this article, you’ll learn why dog food does not replace guinea pig food.
Why Can’t Guinea Pigs Eat Dog Food?
Guinea pigs are herbivores, meaning they are built to thrive on a diet with no meat, very little fat, and lots of fibre. Dog food contains protein and carbohydrates that will cause severe digestive issues in guinea pigs. A guinea pig eating dog food will also be malnourished as dog food does not have the nutrients they need, in a form they are able to process.
More reasons guinea pigs cannot eat dog food are mentioned below:
1. Guinea Pigs Have Sensitive Stomachs
Guinea pigs are prone to gastrointestinal diseases. Their good gut bacteria and high fibre diet keep their gastrointestinal tract functioning healthily. If too much carbohydrate e.g. dog food, starchy vegetables, nuts or grains, is eaten, a condition called “dysbiosis” occurs, meaning there is an overgrowth in bad bacteria. Dysbiosis may lead to diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss and even death.
2. Guinea Pigs Don’t Produce Vitamin C
Like other primates and most bats, guinea pigs cannot produce an enzyme called gulonolactone oxidase which is used in the formation of vitamin C. Without this enzyme, vitamin C must be found in your guinea pig’s diet to remain healthy. Since dogs have this enzyme, no vitamin C is necessary in their food.
3. There Are No Nutritional Benefits
Guinea pigs also don’t get any nutritional advantage from eating dog food, as they need fibers, minimal fats, and other nutritional aspects dog food doesn’t contain. They are not adapted to use the proteins in meat.
What to Do if Your Guinea Pig Accidentally Eats Dog Food
If you’ve noticed that your guinea pig accidentally got into some dog food, they could get very sick. Check how much dog food they could have eaten, hopefully it was only a small amount.
Make sure they no longer have access to dog food. You’ll need to place them in a clean, enclosed area with lots of water, grass hay, and their normal dietary additions of greens and pellets. Monitor your guinea pig’s poops, feed and water intake, and behavior.
Call your vet to let them know what has happened and follow their advice; if your guinea pig becomes unwell you will need to follow up with a veterinary visit.
Tips for Feeding Your Guinea Pig
A healthy, species-appropriate diet will help keep your little pet healthy.
A healthy guinea pig diet includes:
- Hay: The diet should be 80% grass hay such as Timothy hay or orchard grass hay. Access to this should be unlimited.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Guinea pigs need 10-25 mg Vitamin C a day. The best sources of Vitamin C are kale, parsley, kiwi fruit, broccoli and strawberries. Give a packed quarter to half a cup of fresh produce a day.
- Pellets: A small amount of good quality guinea pig pellets can be given. About 10% of the diet is acceptable.
When introducing new foods to the diet, add a small amount every few days and monitor for any diarrhea or discomfort. Also remember to avoid high starch foods such as grain, cereal, peas, corn and nuts.
Final Words
So, can guinea pigs eat dog food? It is NOT safe for guinea pigs to eat dog food. Part of responsible pet ownership is feeding your pet a healthy diet. While most of the diet should simply consist of grass hay, you can mix it up with healthy produce that will delight their taste buds and provide that much needed boost of vitamin C!
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock
