The keys to a good diet for your guinea pigs are to use a wide range of vegetables and a bit

of fruit. Keep fruits and vegetables low in calcium, low in oxalic acids and to aim for a good balance of Calcium:Phosphorus (Ca:P) between 1.5:1 and 2:1 There is a great Ca:P ratio calculator on the nutrition page at www.guinealynx.info . All foods in 100 gram portions *except where noted. 100 grams = approximately 3.6 ounces, measurements are in g-grams, mg-milligrams and mcg-micrograms. All foods raw *except where noted, n/a= no date available Groups are divided as follows: A=Almost B=Frequently C=Occasionally Daily 2-4 times per week 1-2 times per week Key to charts below: S=Sugars Ca=Calcium Ph=Phosphorus Greens/leafy greens Arugula Basil (25 grams) Beet Greens (leaves) Broccoli, leaves Chard, Swiss (silverbeet) Cilantro (25 grams) Chicory greens Collard Greens Cress, garden Dandelion greens Dill (25 grams) Endive, Belgian Endive, Curly Kale Lettuce, butterhead Lettuce, romaine or cos Lettuce, green leaf Lettuce, red leaf Mustard greens Parsley (25 grams) Spinach Sweet Potato leaves Thyme (25 grams) Turnip greens Watercress
S (g) Ca (mg) Ph (mg) Vit. C (mg)

D=Rarely/Sparingly 1-2 times per month

Vit. A (mcg)

Oxalic Acid (mg)

Ca:P ratio

Comments

2.05 .07 .50 0 1.10 .22 0.70 .46 4.40 3.85 0 .25 0 0 .94 1.19 .78 .48 1.60 .21 .42 .00 .00 .81 .20

160 038 117 48 51 17 100 145 81 187 52 52 19 135 35 33 36 33 103 34 99 37 101 190 120

52 17 41 66 46 12 47 10 76 66 16 28 26 56 33 30 29 28 43 14 49 94 26 42 60

15 4.5 30 93.2 30 6.8 24 35.3 69 35 21.2 6.5 2.8 120 3.7 24 18 3.7 70 33.2 28.1 11 40 60 43

119 66 316 800 306 84 286 333 346 247 96 108 1 769 166 290 370 375 525 105 469 0 60 0 235

n/a 3.0:1 n/a 2.2:1 610 1.3:1 High in Ca, A and Oxalates n/a 0.7:1 Very high in A, use sparingly n/a 1.1:1 2.5 1.4:1 n/a 2.1:1 450 14.5:1 High in Ca, A and oxalates, feed small portions n/a 1.0:1 n/a 2.8:1 Flowers, root also edible n/a 3.2:1 110 1.8:1 n/a 0.7:1 20 2.4:1 Very high in A, use sparingly n/a 1.0:1 Same for boston & bibb lettuce n/a 1.1:1 n/a 1.2:1 n/a 1.1:1 n/a 2.4:1 425 2.4:1 970 2.0:1 Very high in A and oxalates n/a 0.4:1 n/a 3.9:1 50 4.5:1 310 2.0:1

Other Veggies Artichoke Asparagus Beans, snap, green Beets Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage, green Cabbage, red Cabbage, Savoy Cabbage, pak-choi Carrots, baby (1 med) Cauliflower Celery Corn on the cob, (1 med ear) Cucumber, with peel Peas, edible-podded Peppers, bell, green Peppers, bell, yellow Peppers, bell, red Pumpkin, raw Radicchio Radishes, mild Squash, summer, all Squash, winter, all Sweet Potato Tomatoes, red, ripe Tomatoes, cherry (1) Turnips Yam Zucchini, with skin

S (g)

Ca (mg)

Ph (mg)

Vit. C (mg)

Vit. A (mcg)

Oxalic Acid (mg)

Ca:P ratio

Comments

0 1.88 1.40 6.76 1.70 2.20 3.58 3.91 2.27g 1.18 .48 2.40 1.83 2.90 1.67 4.00 2.40 n/a 4.20 1.36 .60 2.12 2.20 2.20 4.18 2.63 .45 3.80 .50 1.73

44 24 37 16 47 42 47 45 35 105 3 22 40 2 16 43 10 11 7 21 19 25 15 28 30 10 2 30 17 15

90 52 38 40 66 69 23 30 42 37 3 44 24 80 24 53 20 24 26 44 40 20 38 23 47 24 4 27 55 38

11.7 5.6 16.3 4.9 89.2 85 32.2 57 31 45 .8 46.4 3.1 6.1 2.8 60 80.4 183 190 9 8 14.8 17 12.3 2.4 12.7 2.2 21 17.1 17

0 38 35 2 33 38 9 56 50 223 69 1 22 9 5 54 18 10 157 369 1 0 10 68 709 42 7 0 7 10

n/a 130 360 n/a 190 360 100 100 100 n/a 50 150 190 9 20 50 40 40 40 n/a n/a 480 20 20 240 n/a n/a 210 n/a 20

0.5:1 0.5:1 1.0:1 0.4:1 0.7:1 0.6:1 2.0:1 1.5:1 0.8:1 2.8:1 1.0:1 0.5:1 1.7:1 0.3:1 0.7:1 0.8:1 0.5:1 0.5:1 0.3:1 0.5:1 0.5:1 1.3:1 0.4:1 1.2:1 0.6:1 0.4:1 0.5:1 1.1:1 0.3:1 0.4:1

Only feed 1-2 per pig Very gassy, use sparingly Very gassy, use sparingly Very gassy, use sparingly Very gassy, use sparingly Very gassy, use sparingly Very gassy, use sparingly 1 per pig per day is ok Very gassy, use sparingly Cut into pieces, remove strings Husk/silk can be fed daily

1-2 pods per pig

High in sugar Do not feed seeds High in oxalates

High in sugar, A and oxalates 1-2 per day is ok High in sugar and oxalates

Fruits Apples, with skin Apricot Banana (may constipate) Blackberries (25 grams) Blueberries (25 grams) Cherries, sweet (25 grams) Crabapple Cranberries, raw (25 grams) Figs, raw (1 medium) Figs, dried, uncooked, (1) Gooseberries, (25 grams) Grapes, (25 grams) Kiwi Mango Melon, Cantaloupe Melon, Honeydew Oranges, avg. all varieties Orange peel, (25 grams) Papaya Peach Pear Pear, Asian Pineapple, raw, all varieties Plum Raisins, seedless, (10) Raspberries, (25 grams) Strawberries, (5 small) Watermelon

S (g)

Ca (mg)

Ph (mg)

Vit. C (mg)

Vit. A (mcg)

Oxalic Acid (mg)

Ca:P ratio

Comments

10.39 09.24 12.23 1.22 2.49 3.21 0 1.01 8.13 4.03 0 3.87 8.99 14.80 7.86 8.12 9.35 0 5.90 8.39 9.80 7.05 9.26 9.92 3.08 1.10 1.63 6.20

6 13 5 7 2 3 18 2 18 14 6 2 34 10 9 6 40 40 24 6 9 4 13 6 3 6 6 7

11 23 22 6 3 5 15 3 7 6 7 5 34 11 15 11 14 5 5 20 11 11 8 16 5 7 8 11

4.6 10 8.7 5.2 2.4 1.8 8 3.3 1 0.1 6.9 2.7 92.7 27.7 36.7 18 53.2 34 61.8 6.6 4.2 3.8 36.2 9.5 0.1 6.5 20.6 8.1

3 96 3 3 1 1 2 3 4 0 4 1 4 38 169 3 11 5 55 16 1 0 3 17 0 0 0 28

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

0.5:1 Very high in sugar 0.6:1 0.2:1 Feed in very small amounts 1.1:1 0.7:1 0.6:1 Remove pits before feeding 1.2:1 0.7:1 2.6:1 2.3:1 0.9:1 0.4:1 1.0:1 0.9:1 0.6:1 0.6:1 2.9:1 8.0:1 4.8:1 0.3:1 0.8:1 0.4:1 1.6:1 0.3:1 0.6:1 Very high in sugar No sugar added, all natural dried Fine in small quantities Red or green, seedless High in sugar Very high in sugar High in sugar High in sugar High in sugar

High in sugar High in sugar High in sugar High in sugar High in sugar Most boxed raisins contain added sugars, preservatives

n/a 0.9:1 n/a 0.8:1 n/a 0.6:1 Rind is edible

Data for these charts came from: USDA website

FORAGES Forages are great to include in your guinea pigs diet. All forages must be free of chemicals and pesticides and free from other animal feces/urine. Beware of any plants that may be poisonous. If you are unsure if it is safe, dont feed it. Forages can include but Forages can include but not limited to: Comments: not limited to: Comments: Grass/wheatgrass Fresh grass has lots of nutrients Silverweed Clover Both red and white in Yarrow moderation Corn husk/silks Only feed outer leaves of husk if Vetch organic Plantain Young plants are best/less bitter Groundsel Cleavers/Stickyweed Fennel Chickweed Rasberry leaves Ly&Pigs Do NOT take this file and upload it to any other website.