Can Guinea Pigs Eat Wheatgrass? Let's Discover -

Guinea pigs eat only plant food, of course hay in the first place, and they can also eat vegetables and fruits.

Although guinea pigs eat only plant food, it is necessary to give them various types of food so that they can take in nutrients that are good for their health.

I did some research on whether and how wheatgrass could be part of their diet.

Can guinea pigs eat wheatgrass?

Guinea pigs can eat wheatgrass because it is very healthy for them, it has many minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.

Of course, we must mention that it also contains vitamin C, which is one of the most important vitamins for guinea pigs because they cannot produce it on their own.

Wheatgrass is available for purchase at the store or you can grow it yourself in your backyard and feed it to your guinea pigs.

By eating wheatgrass guinea pigs have benefits for their health, so try to make it part of their diet.

In this article, you will learn about the benefits of wheatgrass for guinea pigs, the possible unwanted risks, and what amount of wheatgrass you should give them.

Table of Contents show

Benefits of wheatgrass for guinea pigs

If guinea pigs eat moderate amounts of wheatgrass they will have great benefits in improving their health and ingesting nutrients such as vitamin C.

Here are some of the benefits:

Better digestion – because wheatgrass has fiber which is needed for guinea pigs to have a healthy digestive system and fewer stomach problems.

Vitamin C – helps prevent the occurrence of scurvy, a disease that appears as a lack of this vitamin in guinea pigs. Scurvy is a dangerous disease that causes diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, fatigue, and other problems in guinea pigs.
More energy – because wheatgrass contains a lot of calories that will provide enough energy for your pet to have the strength to run and play all day.
Proteins and carbohydrates – allow the growth and development of the body and muscles of the guinea pigs, and at the same time will help to maintain the heat in their body.

Vitamin A – improves the work of the heart, skin, lungs, and brain of guinea pigs. This vitamin is also important for maintaining the vision of guinea pigs, who naturally do not have very good vision.
Vitamin E – with its action helps to reduce the chances of cancer in guinea pigs, reduces the chances of heart disease, and reduces inflammation.
Vitamin B6 – helps guinea pigs to be happier, sleep better, and reduce stress from everyday things that happen to your pet.

Calcium and magnesium – help improve heart function, prevent diabetes, and reduce the risk of kidney stones.
Iron – prevents the occurrence of anemia in guinea pigs, at the same time reduces fatigue, and strengthens their immunity.

There are other benefits for guinea pigs from eating wheatgrass, but it is clear that this food has excellent health benefits and should be part of their diet.

What are the side effects of wheatgrass for guinea pigs?

If the guinea pigs eat too much wheatgrass, there may be side effects on their health.

You always have to pay attention to the amount that you will give them so that everything is fine with them, so here are some risks that can occur from eating too much wheatgrass.

Stomach problems – especially in the beginning when you start giving them wheatgrass you should always start with small amounts because stomach cramps can occur.

Stones in the kidneys and bladder – because wheatgrass contains a lot of calcium, which in larger quantities can accumulate in the body of guinea pigs and cause the appearance of stones. This condition is very painful for guinea pigs accompanied by painful urination, and then you will have to take them to the vet for treatment.

Pesticide poisoning – When guinea pigs eat wheatgrass, you must pay attention to where it came from, that is, whether it was grown in a home garden or not. Wheatgrass may contain pesticides that are harmful to guinea pigs and may be poisonous to them. Even small amounts of pesticides can be dangerous to the health and life of guinea pigs or make them sick, so wheatgrass should always be washed before feeding to guinea pigs.

How much wheatgrass should guinea pigs eat?

Guinea pigs can eat about a handful of wheatgrass every other day, or a handful every day, that’s quite a sufficient amount.

But in the beginning, give them half a handful of wheatgrass a day so that they can get used to this kind of food.

Before giving them the wheatgrass, it is best to rinse it with water so that there are no residues, pesticides, or dirt.

A moderate amount of wheatgrass along with vegetables, hay, and fruit is great for their health and disease protection.

Will the guinea pigs like wheatgrass?

Guinea pigs love to eat wheatgrass because they like the taste and smell.

Surveys show that as many as 90% of guinea pig owners report that their pets enjoy eating wheatgrass.

What kind of wheatgrass feed the guinea pigs?

You can buy wheatgrass for guinea pigs at your local grocery store or grow it at home.

If you decide to buy wheatgrass from a store, always make sure there is no mold on it and the color should always be light green.

While if you want you can also grow wheatgrass at home in your garden. You need to buy wheat seeds which you can find at gardens or health food stores.

You need to have corms for growing, a jar for sprouting seeds, and of course an organic potting mix for wheatgrass.

What Other Grasses Can Guinea Pigs Eat?

Since guinea pigs eat plant food, they can freely enjoy many types of grass.

Here are some types of grass you can give your guinea pigs:

Timothy Hay

Oat Hay
Blended Hay
Botanical Hay

Organic Meadow Hay
Orchard Hay
Alfalfa Hay

We must mention that all types of hay are not the same and therefore you should be careful about the choice.

For example, when you give them alfalfa hay, oat grass hay, and botanical hay, you should know that these types of hay should not be the main dish, they should be a dietary supplement.

Can guinea pigs drink wheatgrass juice?

Guinea pigs can, but they better not drink wheatgrass juice because they won’t get enough benefits.

When guinea pigs eat wheatgrass instead of drinking wheatgrass juice, it helps reduce their ever-growing teeth.

Another reason not to drink wheatgrass juice is that they might not like it that much, because if they eat vegetables before wheatgrass juice, they must have taken in enough water and fluids.

Can guinea pigs eat wheatgrass seeds?

Guinea pigs cannot eat wheatgrass seeds.

Wheatgrass seeds are dangerous for them because they can easily choke on them.

Another reason is the high content of sugar and fat, which are not good for their health.

Can baby guinea pigs eat wheatgrass?

Baby guinea pigs can eat wheatgrass because it will help them grow and develop.

When guinea pigs are small, they need a lot of nutrients, which fortunately are found in wheatgrass.

Of course, always pay attention to the amount, and do not give them large amounts so that problems with the digestive system do not occur.

Is wheatgrass a good choice for pregnant guinea pigs?

Pregnant guinea pigs can eat wheatgrass as it has benefits while pregnant. By taking in the nutrients from wheatgrass, pregnant guinea pigs will have an easier and better pregnancy.

By eating wheatgrass pregnant guinea pigs will help the fetus in its development and growth.

Of course, be careful with the amount, because you don’t want the pregnant guinea pigs to have side effects such as bloating and stomach problems.

Can guinea pigs eat wheatgrass instead of hay?

Hay is the main food for guinea pigs and wheatgrass cannot replace hay,

Hay is the best food that they can eat in large quantities, while wheatgrass in large quantities will cause problems with the digestive system in guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs can eat hay all day without having any health problems, so hay is an indispensable food for your pets.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs can eat wheatgrass because it offers excellent health benefits.

By eating wheatgrass, the guinea pigs will get a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that they need.

Guinea pigs can eat two handfuls of wheatgrass every other day which will be quite enough to get the benefits without any unwanted risks to their health.

You can buy this food like wheatgrass at the store or grow it yourself in your garden.

Finally, wheatgrass is an excellent food that should be part of their diet, so you can freely give it to them on the menu.