Guinea pigs love consuming totally different fruits, veggies, and herbs, and due to this, you would possibly assume that catnip is a wonderful alternative for them. Nonetheless, in contrast to most different herbs that are completely secure for guinea pigs, catnip is just not a good selection for them.
There merely isn’t sufficient info on the market about catnip and guinea pigs, however it’s potential that catnip can result in digestive issues on your pocket piggie.
What Can Occur if Your Guinea Pig Eats Catnip?
More often than not guinea pigs will keep away from catnip on their very own as a result of they don’t just like the scent. In the event that they do occur to eat some catnip, there are some issues it’s worthwhile to maintain an eye fixed out for.
Some sources declare that feeding your guinea pig catnip may cause abdomen ache, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, or different digestive issues, however there isn’t a ton of data on the market to again this up. Even with these restricted sources, it’s higher to play it secure and keep away from giving your guinea pig catnip.
When to Take Your Guinea Pig to the Vet
In case your guinea pig does occur to eat some catnip, you’ll need to monitor their conduct for a day or two. If they begin displaying indicators of digestive issues, go forward and take your guinea pig to the vet straight away to allow them to get the mandatory remedy.
You additionally would possibly need to take your guinea pig to the vet instantly in the event that they eat quite a bit of catnip, however this can be a precautionary measure.
The 7 Issues You Ought to Feed Your Guinea Pig
When you shouldn’t feed your guinea pig catnip, there are many different varieties of meals you can provide them. We’ve highlighted some meals it is best to make a staple of your guinea pig’s food regimen right here. As a normal guideline, guinea pigs food regimen ought to be made up of about 80% top quality hay, 15% contemporary greens, and 5% business pellets.
1. Guinea Pig Pellets
When you would possibly assume you may provide you with a totally pure food regimen that meets all of your guinea pig’s dietary wants, that is extraordinarily exhausting to do. This is the reason it is suggested to feed your guinea pig business pellets as a small a part of their food regimen.
These pellets guarantee your guinea pig will get all the important vitamins, together with vitamin C.
2. Timothy Hay
Timothy hay is a vital staple of your guinea pig’s food regimen and they need to have fixed entry to it. Not solely does it present a fantastic supply of fiber to spice up digestive well being, it additionally helps put on down a guinea pig’s ever-growing enamel.
3. Kale
Leafy greens ought to make up the vast majority of your guinea pig’s food regimen, and the darker the greens, the higher. Kale is filled with darkish leafy greens and has loads of useful vitamins on your guinea pig.
4. Parsley
When you don’t need to feed your guinea pig catnip, parsley is a superb herb you may feed them from time to time. Likelihood is they seemingly gained’t be capable of get sufficient of the inexperienced stuff, however you do need to restrict the portions and frequency.
5. Crimson and Inexperienced Leaf Lettuce
Darkish leafy greens are nice on your guinea pig, and a few of the best and most reasonably priced to select up are purple and inexperienced leaf lettuce. The darker the lettuce leaves, the higher it’s on your pig. Keep away from iceberg lettuce because the excessive water content material can contribute to diarrhea.
6. Bell Peppers
Crimson and inexperienced bell peppers have a lot of vitamin C and are a fantastic deal with you may add to your guinea pig’s food regimen. It shouldn’t make up the vast majority of their food regimen, however mixing in small chunks with the remainder of their meals is a superb concept.
7. Tomatoes
Ripe tomatoes make a great sweet treat for your guinea pig a couple of times per week. Guinea pigs will love the style, simply don’t overdo it as a result of an excessive amount of may cause digestive points and will contribute to cheilitis, sore lips.
Last Ideas
Whereas catnip shouldn’t be a part of your guinea pig’s food regimen, there’s a spot for other herbs, vegetables and fruits. Guinea pigs love selection, so the extra you combine issues up, the happier they’ll be.
Simply make sure you’re nonetheless giving them loads of timothy hay and some business pellets so that you’re assembly all their dietary wants at the same time as you mix up their diet!
Featured Picture Credit score: Gaston Cerliani, Shutterstock
