Golden rule: feed various veggies and fruits, feed different types daily with moderation, feed them as many as they can eat and you can afford.

Transcription

1 Guinea Pig diet tips by Karine Jans Guinea pigs shopping list: This list contains veggies, edible herbs and fruits you can feed your piggies, except the edible wild plants, herbs and grasses, which are in another article. As for poisoness veggies and fruits, if it's not in the list, don't feed it!! Golden rule: feed various veggies and fruits, feed different types daily with moderation, feed them as many as they can eat and you can afford. Keep in mind that fruits are fattening, so use them in lesser amounts. Dark green veggies, like parsley and spinach, in general can cause bladder and kidney stones, so feed them in moderation. Cabbages, broccoli and Brussels sprouts will make your piggies gassy and can even cause diarrhea. Acidic fruits like apples, can cause mouth sores, which can make a piggie stop eating, so it can die. Watery veggies and fruits, like lettuces and watermelon can cause diarrhea. There is also a list included at the end, which complies to a low calcium diet, which is preferable and advisable for all pigs. The list contains 0.3% and less calcium veggies and fruit. Combine these with Timothy hay, some dried green oats as a treat, pellets with low calcium value (currently 0.4% calcium pellets are available). Edible wild grasses, plants and herbs: Sometimes, we have piggies with health problems. In addition to what a vet decides for medication, not as a replacement, some plants can be very effective to help the treatment. Check with the vet first. Many plants make real good piggie food, but we have forgotten what their use is besides nutrition. To make sure you pick edible herbs, these pictures will help to pick them. Make sure you know what you are picking! Only pick from places free of contaminants such as pesticides, exhaust fumes or urine. Pick plants that are healthy looking, without insect damage, fungus spots, breakage, or wilting. If you can only eat part of the plant: then it is mentioned which. If nothing is mentioned: the whole plant can be eaten. As for toxic herbs, if it's not in the list, don't feed it!!

2 Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) It s an anti-inflammatory, it reinforces the body, it sooths diarrea and liver problems, it has lots of vitamin B and K and contains Iron, it s a diuretic.

3 Anise (Pimpinella anisum) Useful for flatulence, helps to remove slimes on lungs. Basil (Basilicum ocimum) It s diuretic, it lowers a fever, it s calming, it combats bacteria, it s disinfectant, anti-fungus and sooths cramps.

4 Blackberry leaves (Rubus plicatus) - pick young & tender leaves and shoots. It helps to calm down upset stomachs. Borage (Borago officinalis) It dissolves slimes, it strengthens the body, it lowers fever, it purifies blood, it s a diuretic, it lowers fever, it stimulates milk production in lactating animals, it helps to sooth mucosa infections.

5 Calendula (Calendula officinalis) - leaves and flowers. It relieves allergies a bit, it helps healing wounds. Caraway (Carum carvi) Helps to sooth cramps in the belly.

6 Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) It improves digesting food and is calming. Chickweed (Stellaria media) It s diuretic and mildly laxative. It's often recommended for asthma, bronchitis, or congestion.

7 Cleavers / Stickyweed / Goosegrass / Bedstraw (Galium aparine) It strengthens the heart and arteries, it s diuretic, helps with UTI s and bladder, kidney stone and skin problems.

8 Clover (Trifolium repens or Trifolium pratense, No yellow clover!!) It s an antispasmic.

9 Coltsfoot (tussilaga farfara) Pick leaves only. It helps to sooth a URI, stomach and bowel problems, relieves diarrea and cramps, it s rich in vitamin C. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Useful for flatulence, as an antispasmodic, as an anti rheumatic.

10 Cow Parsley (Anthiscus sylvestris) Useful for flatulence. Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaeae) - berries, leaves in moderation. It enhances appetite, stimulates digestive activity, relieves gout, colds, rheumatism and high blood pressure.

11 Dandelion (Teraxacum officinale) Pick leaves, no roots, no stems, flowers are ok to eat. It helps to improve appetite, it s diuretic, anti inflammatory, it relieves gout and is anti rheumatic, it improves liver problems. Dog Rose (Rosa canina) Only the ripe fruits. It s good to strengthen an exhausted piggie after illness or pregnancy, helps to improve atherosclerosis, healing wounds and fractured bones, it improves digestion, it s calming, relieves stomach and female illnesses.

12 Duckweed (Lemna minor). It s found in ponds. Rince very well to remove possible botox liver damaging becteria. Feed in moderation: it contains more protein then Soya! It s laxative. Field Violet / Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor) It s helpful for cystitis, good for epilepsy and is anti rheumatic.

13 Goat's Rue, French Lilac, Italian Fitch or Professor-weed (Galega officinalis) It stimulates development and increases the amount of milk, it s diuretic. It lowers the blood sugar amount, so don t feed to piggies with diabetes.

14 Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) It s helpful for healing internal injuries after surgery.

15 Lavorge (Levisticum officinale) It relieves digestion problems.

16 Lemon Mint / Melissa (Melissa officinalis) It stimulates digestive activity.

17 Linden / Lime Tree (Tilia cordata or Tilia platyphyllos) Flowers with pale yellow leaflets. It s an anti depressive.

18 Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) Contains enormous amounts of vitamin C: good for scurvy treatment! Narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) Pick the leaves only. It decreases tingly feelings, it s a natural antibiotic, it can be used extra for a cough or a cold.

19 Nettles (Lamium: all types) Of course it s best to dry the stingy nettles, but the ones that don t sting can be fed, all types of them (yellow, white or purple flowers). Nettles should not be fed to piggies with kidney and bladder stone problems, as nettles increase the intake of calcium. It s a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and have natural antihistamines to relieve allergies. Nettles with white flowers work as an anti-depressant.

20 Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Desinfects wounds and the intestines. It s anti-inflammatory, dissolves slimes on the lungs, it s a diuretic, it sooths belly cramps. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Helps to sooth cramps in the belly.

21 Plantain (Plantago Major) It s antiviral, diuretic, helps stomach problems, relieves itching and swelling from insect bites and allergies, helps to heal wounds. It does lower blood sugars, so it should not be given to piggies that are diabetic. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea augustifolia) Pick the root only. It is an antibiotic, it stimulates the immune system and improves the lymph node system.

22 Raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus) Pick young & tender leaves and shoots. Good for curing rashes, belly aches, helping to cure URI s and is diuretic. Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) It s anti-inflammatory and diuretic, it has an anti-cancer effect. This plant should not be used by pregnant piggies as it contracts the uterus. Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) It helps sooth cramps in the belly, it helps to heal skin wounds, it s anti epileptic.

23 Smooth sow thistle (Sonchus Oleraceus) It improves liver problems, URI s, sore throat. Don t use for pregnant pigs.

24 Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) It s used to stop bleeding, it s diuretic. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) It s anti-inflammatory, antifungal, dissolves slimes on the lungs, reduces cramps, opens up the lungs, stops bleeding, improves the digestive system, reduces urinary infections.

25 Wood Avens (Geum urbanum) It helps to stop bleeding, it s antiinflammatory, it reinforces the body, it s helpful at stomach and intestine problems. Whortleberry / Heidelberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Pick berries, leaves in moderation. It s an anti-inflammatory, has a weak anti-diabetic activity.

26 Wild Chamomile (Matricaria chammomilla) It helps against bloated belly s, stomach problems, URI s, it s anti inflammatory. Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) Pick berries and leaves. It helps against stomach and belly problems, UTI s, kidney and bladder stones, it s diuretic, anti rheumatism, anti gout.

27 Willow (salix) Pick leaves and branches. It has a pain relieving capacity, it s calming and helps to stop bleeding, it lowers fever. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) It stimulates digestion and helps against bloated belly. It s a natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, it s good for the cardio-vascular system.

28 HIGH Level Vitamin C foods Beet greens Bell / Sweet Peppers/ capsicum /paprika - red, green, yellow (not hot or chili) Broccoli Rabe / Rabe / Rapini (feed in moderation: high in calcium, gassy)

29 Broccoli, Broccolini (feed in moderation: high in calcium, gassy)

30 Carrots (also tops / leaves ) (feed carrots in moderation, vitamin A in carrots can cause liver problems) Cauliflower / Broccoflower / purple cauliflowers (caution: gassy: leaves only)

31 Celery Cilantro / Chinese Parsley / Coriander greens

32 Collard greens Cress: watercress / garden cress

33 Currants - yellow, red or black (leaves also edible) Feijoa / Pineapple Guava

34 Gooseberries (caution mouth sores can develop) Grapefruit (caution mouth sores can develop) Grass - wheat, winter rye (grown in pots from seed)

35 Jicama

36 Kale - curly or plain (caution: gassy) Kiwi Fruit

37 Kohlrabi (leaves too) Mango Melons: Cantaloupe Melon / rock melon, Gallia, honeydew

38 Mustard greens / Leaf Mustard Orange (caution - sores around lips can develop) Papaya / Paw Paw / Tree Melon

39 Parsley - curly or plain cilantro (feed in moderation: high in calcium) Peas in pods, peas, pea Shoots (not dried): (fattening) Persimmon - american or oriental

40 Rosehip Spinach (feed in moderation: can cause kidney & bladder stones, slightly toxic too)

41 Strawberries Swiss Chard, Red Chard Tamarillo (leaves poisonous)

42 Tangerine / Mandarin (caution - sores around lips can develop) Tomato (sores around mouth can develop; leaves poisonous; artificially grown can be low in vitamin C)

43 LOW Level Vitamin C foods: Anise (not Japanese: toxic) Apple (avoid seeds; can cause sores around lips & mouth can develop) Apricot Artichoke

44 Arugula / Rocket / Roquette / Rucola Asparagus Banana (feed in great moderation - can cause constipation)

45 Basil

46 Bilberries Blackberries Blueberries

47 Celery Root / Celeriac Cherries (remove core)

48 Chicory / endive Corn on the cob (strings, leaves & stalks are edible too) Crabapple Cranberries (whole fruit, not concentrate or juice)

49 Cucumber (fresh only, not pickled, caution: can cause runny poo: feed in moderation) Dates (don t feed dried ones: high in sugar)

50 Dill Endive (Belgian, green, curled)

51 Fennel (excellent for bowel problems) Grapes (in moderation, high in sugar)

52 Lettuce (Frisee, Romaine, red, green, oak, butter, Boston, no iceburg lettuce)

53 Mint

54 Nectarine Paksoi Parsley root

55 Parsnip Peach (caution: gassy) Pear

56 Pineapple - fresh (sores around lips & mouth can develop) Plum, Prune (dried high in sugar - as treat only, caution: gassy) Pumpkin (no seeds) Radicchio / Italian Chicory / Treviso Radicchio

57 Radishes Raspberries

58 Red beets Rutabaga Squash - acorn, banana, butterhorn, spaghetti, and others (feed in moderation)

59 Sunroot, sunchoke, earth apple or topinambour Thyme Turnip

60 Watermelon (red and yellow, can cause diarrhea - high water content) Yam / Sweet Potato (high in vitamin A - leaves edible, avoid potato skin - fattening) Zucchini

61 Low calcium vegs and fruits (feed fruits as treats only, ordered from % calcium level): Sweet Potato Sunroot, sunchoke, earth apple or topinambour Green Beans Lettuce types (no iceberg) Parsnips Squash Turnip / Rutabaga Carrots (feed moderate, can cause liver issues) Kohlrabi Cauliflower Asparagus Pumpkin Peas Endive, Belgian Orange Blackberries Kiwi Papaya Raspberries Beets Cucumber Cherries Strawberries Tangerine Apricots (feed moderate, can cause bloat)

62 Grapefruit (feed moderate: acidic: can cause mouth sores) Pear Cantaloupe Grapes Mango Bell peppers Tomato Watermelon Persimmon Pineapple Apple Cranberries Banana Blueberries Melon all types Nectarine Peach Plum (feed moderate, can cause bloat) Jicama (contains 5% sodium, so feed in small amounts) Acerola (feed moderate: acidic: can cause mouth sores) Corn, White and the pale husk leaves % calcium celery paksoi Quinoa Ruccola Cabbage (Spitskool) Endive Swiss Chard Broccoli