All posts by Chris Perkins

Can guinea pigs go out in the rain?

Guinea pig charachteristics

In this post we look at the question ‘can guinea pigs go out in the rain?’

If you keep your guinea pigs outside then one of the elements that they will encounter is the rain.

It is inevitable that they will get wet from time to time if they stay outside.

But is it healthy for them to go out in the rain?

Many owners keep guinea pigs inside to keep them away from the elements such as this due to the effect it has on them, and its potential to make them unwell if they stay outside and get wet.

Can guinea pigs go out in the rain?

Generally it is not good for guinea pigs to go outside in the rain, however, they can go out in it and they will.

It is worse for them to experience the rain than it is for us.

They won’t be that bothered by light rain unless it gets heavier. In my experience, guinea pigs will go out in most weather especially if food is involved.

They may also go out to investigate something if that thing has sparked their interest.

They are very inquisitive creatures and won’t hesitate to go out whatever the weather.

If the rain is heavy, however, they will look to stay inside as it does affect them if the rain is heavy.

What happens if guinea pigs go out in the rain?

If a guinea pig goes out into the rain, they will obviously feel it on their fur and on their skin.

Despite not minding going out into the rain if they want to, they will find it unpleasant.

The fur of a guinea pig does not dry quickly and the only way of it drying is by letting the air around them dry it for them.

Their fur is there to protect their skin and keep them warm. If their fur gets wet they will get cold as it is no longer doing its job.

Their fur is vital for them.

If their skin gets cold then it opens them up to getting unwell.

Guinea pigs can suffer from hypothermia if they are left in a prolonged state of cold which they could well die from.

What can you do to help them?

One of the best things you can do if you keep your piggies outside is to put a cover your guinea pigs enclosure.

This can be a tarpaulin which is pegged down or held down by some other means so that it does not fly away.

You could also use a piece of plastic sheeting in the same way.

What this will do is to protect your piggies from the elements and keep them dry.

This will keep their fur and skin from getting cold and potentially getting sick.

So you will be doing them a favor by doing this.

 

Can guinea pigs go out in the snow

Can guinea pigs go out in the snow?

Guinea pig charachteristics

In many countries, snow is a prevalent issue during winter time. This can range from short snow showers resulting an in an inch or two of snow to several feet of snow which can majorly impact people in a big way.

Can guinea pigs go out in the snow

it is not good for them to do this. Guinea pigs do not do well with the wet fur that they get when they go out in the snow.

It is also too cold for them.

They are best kept in a dry place and undercover at the very minimum if it snows and away from the cold stuff. If they get into the snow they will get damp and guinea pigs are difficult to dry and have to rely on drying naturally. If their fur gets wet there is nothing to protect their skin from the cold and their health will be at risk.

So keep them out of the snow and indoors somewhere. if they can’t be in your home, which is the best place for them to be, then make sure you have an outhouse which keeps them out of the drafty cold and in the dry. They will benefit so much more from being in these environments.

can guinea pigs eat st augustine grass

Can Guinea Pigs eat St Augustine Grass?

Guinea pig foods, , , ,

St. Augustine grass is also known as Charleston grass in South Carolina and buffalo turf in Australia.

It is a warm-season lawn grass that is popular for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions.

It is a medium- to high-maintenance grass that forms a thick, carpetlike sod, crowding out most weeds and other grasses. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat St Augustine grass?

Yes, they can eat it and they will enjoy eating it as well. Just make sure it doesn’t have any pesticides on it which may make your piggie sick.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

can guinea pigs eat sweet gem lettuce

Can guinea pigs eat sweet gem lettuce?

Guinea pig foods

Sweet gem lettuce is a loose-forming compact head lettuce that has semi-savoyed leaves. It has a vibrant green color with small leaves and it is small enough to almost eat whole. It has a delicate flavor and is subtly sweet without any bitterness.

Sweet gem lettuce is available all year round and is sold in most supermarkets and grocery stores.

Can guinea pigs eat sweet gem lettuce?

Yes, they can in small amounts. It is high in water content so don’t feed them too much though.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

can guinea pigs eat sweet heart cabbage

Can guinea pigs eat sweet heart cabbage?

Guinea pig foods
Can guinea pigs eat sweet heart cabbage?

Yes, they can eat in small amounts, they will enjoy eating it though and will eat everything you give them to eat. Be careful with how much of it you feed them though as cabbage tends to be high in water, and too much may give them runny poop. A few leaves are normally quite sufficient for them. Make sure they are washed thoroughly before you feed them to your guinea pigs so as to rid them of pesticides and bugs which may be among them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Can guinea pigs eat sweet peppers?

Guinea pig foods

Characteristic traits of this product include its small size, that ranges from 1.5 inches up to 4.0 inches.

Each color is grown separately and consists of three separate variety of seeds that have very similar characteristics in size, flavor, shape, and use, allowing it to be marketed as a single item and used the same way in its kitchen use. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat sweet peppers?

They can eat them in small amounts, however, take care not to feed them the seeds or the stalk.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

can guinea pigs eat swede

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Swede?

Guinea pig foods, , , ,

Swede is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip.

The roots are prepared for human consumption in a variety of ways, and the leaves can be eaten as a leaf vegetable.

The roots and tops are also used as winter feed for livestock, when they may be fed directly, or by allowing the animals to forage the plants in the field.

Various European countries have a tradition of carving them into lanterns at Halloween. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat swede?

let’s take a look at its nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, its acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium, and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as guinea pigs are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 157 kJ (38 kcal)
Carbohydrates
8.62 g
Sugars 4.46 g
Dietary fiber 2.3 g
Fat
0.16 g
Protein
1.08 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (8%) 0.09 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (3%) 0.04 mg
Niacin (B3) (5%) 0.7 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (3%) 0.16 mg
Vitamin B6 (8%) 0.1 mg
Folate (B9) (5%) 21 μg
Vitamin C (30%) 25 mg
Minerals
Calcium (4%) 43 mg
Iron (3%) 0.44 mg
Magnesium (6%) 20 mg
Manganese (6%) 0.131 mg
Phosphorus (8%) 53 mg
Potassium (6%) 305 mg
Zinc (3%) 0.24 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see swede contains a large amount of phosphorus, acidic content, a little calcium and sugar and a hint of fat.

This means that they can eat it in small amounts, however they can’t eat too much of it due to its acidic and phosphorus content that it has.

Eating too much of it will cause a guinea pig problems because of its acidity and so they are better off just having a few small pieces at a time, in fact two or three at the most.

Cut it up into manageable pieces that they can eat easily.

Also make sure it is washed thoroughly before you feed it to them.

As with most veggies, some piggies will enjoy swede and some won’t so it is defiantely worth a try with them, but don’t be alarmed if they don’t like it.

It is a veggie that will go nicely as part of a balanced diet for your piggies.

Give them water, hay, guinea pig mix and some pieces of fruit along with these veggies and will enjoy having a diet that will benefit them from a nutritional point of view and be varied and flavorsome for a piggie.

Can guinea pigs eat cooked swede?

No they can’t unfortunately. Cooked food is not good for guinea pigs to eat and they are much better with raw food. This includes if the swede is fried, stewed, baked, boiled,  or sauteed.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

can guinea pigs eat sugar snaps

Can guinea pigs eat sugar snaps?

Guinea pig foods

Can guinea pigs eat sugar snaps? Snap peas, also known as sugar snap peas, are a cultivar group of edible-podded peas that differ from snow peas in that their pods are rounded as opposed to flat and thicker.

The name mangetout (French for “eat all”) can apply both to snap peas and snow peas.

Snap peas, like all other peas, are pod fruits. An edible-podded pea is similar to a garden, or English, pea, but the pod is less fibrous, and edible when young.  (source)

Can guinea pigs eat sugar snaps?

They can eat them in small amounts. They will enjoy them very much but just don’t give them too much.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

can guinea pigs eat sultanas

Can guinea pigs eat sultanas?

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Can guinea pigs eat sultanas?

Sultanas are a favorite snack of many that are eaten around the world. They are also eaten as a fruit and as part of culinary dishes.

Guinea pigs can eat one or two but not too many. Sultanas are high in sugar and so too many sultanas is not good for them at all.

They may make them unwell if they eat too many and so one or two will be sufficient for them. They will enjoy them as well.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.