A guinea pig is a wonderful pet. Since your guinea pig isn’t in the wild, it’s important to make sure that you’ve got the right food and hay for your furry friend to ensure the proper amount of nutrients, and to make sure that they have enough to keep them occupied in their cages.
The list below contains our top ten guinea pig dry foods. We’ve also got a brief buyer’s guide at the end to help you narrow down what you need in a food. Scroll down to see our top ten list and pick out the best guinea pig food for you!
| Product | Primary Component | Added Vitamins/Protein | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting "Perfect Blend" Timothy Hay Pet Food Editor's Choice | Timothy hay | No added vitamins | Check Price |
| Oxbow Animal Health Cavy Performance Essentials Young Guinea Pig Food | Alfalfa | Vitamin fortified | Check Price |
| Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Guinea Pig Food Mix | Mix food | Vitamins, fatty acids, and probiotics | Check Price |
| Small Pet Select Combo Pack for Guinea Pigs | Timothy hay | Vitamin fortified | Check Price |
| Kaytee Fiesta Guinea Pig Food | Mix food | Vitamin C and antioxidants | Check Price |
| Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food Pellets | Timothy hay | Vitamins A and C | Check Price |
| Gerty Guinea Pig Food 6-Pound | Alfalfa | Vitamin C | Check Price |
Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting “Perfect Blend” Timothy Hay – Natural feed that’s good for teeth
The feed is just hay, no pellets, so your pet can get the optimal amount of dental hygiene and digestive benefits from eating the feed in its natural state. The feed is the second cutting of hay, which means that the pieces are in a variety of shapes and sizes, so your pets get the best of both worlds for their teeth and their tummies. The feed is fairly well reviewed, though some expressed concern with the fact that their guinea pigs would pick some of the food out and leave the stalks or bottom pieces. There was also some concern about the box the food came in not holding the feed well, with pieces going bad.
Recommendations
This feed is recommended for someone who doesn’t want to feed their pet pellets but instead wants them to get the actual hay, which is more like a natural guinea pig diet.
- 2nd cutting means a variety of shapes and sizes
- Minimally processed
- Some pets will “pick” through the food
- The box it comes in might not be best for storage in warm climates
Oxbow Animal Health Cavy Performance Essentials – Great nutrition for young guinea pigs
While the brand’s claims are good, there isn’t an exact measurement of how much of each element comes in the food. The food does not have any varying sizes or shapes, so won’t be a good support for your guinea pig’s teeth. The mix comes in one twenty-five pound bag and is also good for pregnant or nursing guinea pigs. The feed is very highly reviewed, with customers expressing how much their guinea pigs enjoy it, how well the food is packaged, and the freshness of the mix. The pellets come in a resealable plastic bag for long-term storage.
Recommendations
This Oxbow food is a good recommendation for owners of young guinea pigs that need more nutritional support. However, it doesn’t have the dental benefits that some of the other foods on our list have.
- High in protein and fiber
- Pellets come in a stay fresh bag
- No specific values for protein and fiber
- No different shapes or sizes for dental support
Higgins Sunburst Gourmet Guinea Pig Food Mix – Good food for occasional treats
Still, the food is very highly reviewed, with many owners mentioning that they don’t use it as a primary feed, but instead as a snack or treat to give their pets some variety.
Recommendations
This food is recommended as an occasional snack or treat for pets. It’s a good way to give them a little bit of variety, as long as it’s not overused or a large part of their nutrition.
- Plenty of different nuts and grains
- Resealable bag
- Contains fatty acids and probiotics
- No information about protein or fat content
Small Pet Select Combo Pack for Guinea Pigs – Two products for optimal nutritional value
This combo pack from Small Pet Select brand comes with both a hay and a pellet component. The hay is ten pounds of Timothy hay which is guaranteed to be soft and is the second cutting for a variety of shapes and sizes. The pellets are also made of timothy hay, are vitamin fortified, and don’t have any extra ingredients, which some owners prefer for their pets. The pellets themselves are highly reviewed along with the hay, which gives guinea pigs the chewing materials they need to keep their teeth short and clean. The one complaint that customers have is that the packaging isn’t very good and that the hay and pellets can get mixed in together.
Recommendations
This food is recommended for one-stop shoppers who need to get most of their pets nutritional needs taken care of with two products. The Timothy hay and pellets are both high quality and well reviewed.
- Two products in one box
- Pellets are vitamin fortified
- Second cutting means a variety of shapes for dental health
- Pellets and hay aren’t packaged separately, can become mixed
Kaytee Fiesta Guinea Pig Food – Mix of vegetables and seeds is great for foraging
This Kaytee brand fiesta mix is a mixture of fruits and vegetables as well as probiotics. The mix contains vitamin C and antioxidants and has a variety of sizes to choose from. The mix also contains plenty of different sizes and shapes which are good for your guinea pig’s teeth as well as preventing boredom. The food mix in general is well reviewed, with customers saying that the food gets their pigs more interested in rooting or foraging with their food. There are a few concerns about the corn and other grains included in the Fiesta mix, which can get stuck in guinea pigs’ mouths.
Recommendations
Just like the food listed above, this food is a good recommendation for occasional treats and extras to keep your guinea pigs interested and entertained with their food.
- Plenty of variety of food to keep your guinea pig interested in their food
- Added vitamin C and probiotics
- Food comes in a variety of sizes to keep your pig’s teeth clean
- Corn can get stuck in a Guinea pig’s teeth
- Fiesta mix might need additional nutritional support
Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food Pellets – High nutrient pellet food
These food pellets from Small Pet Select come in five, ten, or twenty-five-pound bags. The food is Timothy hay-based. The pellets have a minimum of 14% fat, 2% fiber, and 25% calcium. They also include vitamins A and C. There are no extra ingredients or hay pieces, so the pellets won’t help your guinea pig’s teeth. The food does come in a resealable bag to keep it fresh. All in all, the pellets are very highly reviewed, with customers satisfied with their purchases. All of the brand’s products are minimally handled, and made in the United States.
Recommendations
This food is recommended for anyone who’s looking to supplement their pet’s hay and vegetables, as well as meet their nutritional needs.
- Comes in a resealable bag
- Minimum fat and fiber contents
- Vitamins A and C included
- Won’t help wear down teeth
Gerty Guinea Pig Food – Good mix food with a minimum of fillers
Grains such as maize, oats, wheat and beans are included. The food has vitamin C added in as well. The food is highly reviewed, especially since it doesn’t have corn in it, which some guinea pig owners believe is bad for their pig’s teeth. There are seeds in it, however, which is something that owners will have to discuss with their vet to see if they’re recommended for their guinea pig’s nutritional needs.
Recommendations
This food is recommended for people who are looking for something with a little more variety, perhaps for picky eaters.
- Plenty of different textures and sizes for dental health
- No corn or other grains that are just fillers
- Does contain seeds that might upset your guinea pig’s stomach
Guinea Pig Food Buyer’s Guide
This guide will touch on what you want to look for in a guinea pig food, with a few of the major categories outlined below.
Look for a food with a good base
The most common bases are alfalfa or Timothy hay. You don’t want a food that contains nothing but fillers that have no nutritional value to your pig, like soybean or gluten meal.
Seeds and corn aren’t recommended
Corn can hurt your guinea pig’s teeth, and seeds can wreak havoc on their digestive system. While the mixed foods can be fun and entertaining for your piggy, the mixes with corn in them can be a dangerous choking hazard.
No mix foods as a staple
Related to the item above, mix foods are a good occasional treat, but the real nutritional value your piggy needs is in the pellet types of foods. It’s important to make sure that your pet is getting their basic nutritional needs satisfied before you give them treats like mixed foods.
Vitamins and minimums
Many foods come fortified with extra vitamin C for your pig’s health, as well as extras like fatty acids, vitamin A, and antioxidants. Discuss with your vet which mix is right for you, as well as which extras your piggy needs. There are also minimums of protein and fiber in some ingredient lists, excellent if you have a pet who needs a certain ratio of protein or fiber in their food.
Conclusion
Overall, guinea pig foods come in either a pellet or a mixed form. While it’s fun to supplement with mixes, make sure your piggy has a good pellet-based food along with hay to ensure optimal nutrition. With the ability to fortify pellets as well as optimize certain mixes for your piggy’s specific needs, finding a food to fit your pig is now easier than ever.
(9 votes, average: 4.56 out of 5)
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