[Gpdd] Misc

[Misti Sefcik]

"One of the most important items in the guinea pig diet is grass hay, which 
should be fed in unlimited quantities to both adults and baby guinea pigs. 
It is important to provide an unlimited source of hay because pellets do not 
provide enough long fiber to keep their intestines in good working order. 
The long fibers stimulate muscle contraction of the intestines to improve 
and maintain gut motility (to prevent gastrointestinal obstruction).

Chewing hay is also important. Like rabbits, the molars in guinea pigs are 
constantly growing and must be ground down by chewing. Constant chewing on 
hay promotes healthy and normal wear on their molars. Treats and chew sticks 
are not efficient at wearing the teeth.

Alfalfa hay is rich in protein and calcium, but when combined with pellets 
it doesn’t have the proper ratio of calcium and phosphorus. This can lead to 
improper gastrointestinal motility, such as diarrhea. It also may predispose 
certain guinea pigs to calcium oxalate bladder or kidney stones. Timothy hay 
is a better choice and is becoming more readily available. It’s important to 
keep your guinea pig sleek, so cut down on the amount of protein and 
calorie-rich pellets while feeding timothy hay."

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