Tag Archives: grass

can guinea pigs eat st augustine grass

Can Guinea Pigs eat St Augustine Grass?

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 dead grass

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dead Grass?

Dead grass is that kind of grass which has been cut off from its roots and then left to die.

It is often fed to many types of animals such as horses and rabbits. It is good for them to chew on.

Dead grass which is left to dry turns into hay, of which there are many types of hay that available for animals to eat.

Can guinea pigs eat dead grass?

Yes they can eat dead grass.

They love to eat dead grass as its great for them to chew on, however they love fresh grass more as it has more of the nutrients that they need.

So they can be fed either.

Just a side note, my piggies have never been as keen on dead grass.

They will tend to leave it until they have nothing left to chew on and then they go for it.

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

feeding grass to a guinea pig

A Brief Guide To Feeding Grass To A Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are herbivores which means they are used to eating plant life, insects, veggies, and fruit in the wild.

As natives of the Andes mountains, they are used to the rugged and varied landscape which includes glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes, and forest.

They are used to foraging for what they can get.

The need for plant material

As herbivores, they don’t eat meat and don’t tend to go near anything from animals including eating fish.

This means finding foods for them which suit them which they will enjoy and satisfy an insatiable need for plant material.

One of the easiest foods that you can feed them is grass.

Many owners have good access to grass whether it is in their own garden or land or someone else’s property whether public or private.

There are different types of grass, some is wild and unkempt other types of grass is short, manicured and then even sprayed with pesticides to keep moss or other unwanted items growing on it.

Why grass is good for them

There are several reasons why grass is good for guinea pigs.

Grass is good for them to chew.

Guinea pigs love to chew and need to chew.

It keeps their teeth from growing longer and stops them from getting into pain because of this.

Grass, whether fresh or dry, provides an ideal opportunity for them to chew and grind their teeth down

The digestive tracts of guinea pigs are designed to eat lots of forage.

Eating grass keeps their digestive system moving and means that other food can pass through without a problem.

It means that they will poop more easily as a result.

They draw water from it.

Guinea pigs are creatures who do not like going without water but are used to going long periods without it.

This means they have to draw it out of other plant material such as fresh grass which contains water in it.

The more water that they have, the better for them.

It provides good nutrition for them.

Forages such as grasses can provide good nutrients, minerals and vitamin c for guinea pigs.

This is incredibly beneficial for them especially as they do not naturally produce vitamin c.

So eating grass will give them a supplement which they are deficient but which they most definitely need.

 

The downsides of feeding grass to a guinea pig
It can be damp and wet.

Wet grass is not good for them.

In fact, it can make them sick.

If you give them grass make sure it is dry.

Leaving guinea pigs out on grass when it is raining or if it has rained is strongly discouraged as they will be sitting on the damp grass or soaking wet grass.

They are not good at getting themselves dry and so will suffer as a result.

Grass can contain parasites.

If a guinea pig eats grass that contains parasites then this can cause problems eventually for them.

It can cause worms to appear as a result of the parasites and they may need regular deworming since soil and grass can contain parasite eggs.

However, there is no way of stopping this from happening other than banning a guinea pig from eating grass which is unrealistic.

Too much too soon can cause tummy problems and soft poop.

If you put your guinea pig straight out onto grass when it hasn’t been part of their diet it will cause them to have a poorly tummy.

If they haven’t eaten grass as part of their diet give it to them in small amounts on a regular basis increasing it to daily after a week or two.

This means you wean them onto it and cause their stomach to be more settled.

Grass can contain pesticides.

Pesticides are not good for guinea pigs as you can imagine.

Eating anything with pesticides on it can cause a guinea pig problems making them sick and possibly causing much worse damage to them.

It is imperative that you know the grass you are feeding them that it hasn’t been sprayed with any kind of chemical.

Grass can often contain feces.

Grass is often frequented by dogs or cats or other animals can defecate on it.

If you feed guinea pigs grass that has been defecated on by another animal this will cause them to get sick.

This is why it is so important to know about the grass you are feeding them and is why feeding wild grass to them is a risk.

Grass that has mildew, mold or fungus on it.

This is easier to spot on the grass and can be identified by careful analysis.

This is why it’s important to pick grass and go through it before you feed it to your guinea pig. If you spot any that has mold, mildew or fungus on it then throw the bunch away.

If they eat it it will cause problems for them and again they may get sick as they will try and eat the grass no matter what it may have on it.

Grass that is beside a high traffic area.

Grass that is found by the side of roads can be polluted with fumes from cars and lorries.

Some of these fumes are poisonous for guinea pigs and if they are absorbed into the grass that is fed to them will cause problems for a guinea pig who eats it.

What type of grass should be fed to guinea pigs?
Fresh lawn grass

Fresh lawn grass is fine which has been picked for them.

If they can chew it directly from the ground whilst grazing.

Again make sure it is pesticide free and hasn’t been defecated on.

Long grass with no thistles in it.

Again make sure you know where what has been on it.

Feeding them grass from public meadows is a risk but can be done but it is fine at your own risk.

You get to know what types of grass are good for your guinea pig.

Whatever they don’t want they tend to leave anyway so it’s good to experiment.

Obviously, avoid anything which you know to be poisonous such as ivy that gets caught up in the grass.

What about dry grass?

Dry grass which can be purchased from let stores such as Timothy hay or meadow hay. Avoid Alfalfa hay in large amounts as it contains a lot of calcium.

Can I feed only grass to them?

It’s a good question.

But it the answer is no.

It should be part of a balanced diet with fruits and veggies and a good guinea pig mix to give them a balanced diet that nourishes them and gives them the nutrients that they need.

 

can guinea pigs walk on grass

Can Guinea Pigs Walk on Grass?

One thing that guinea pigs do love to eat is grass. They will eat it all day long and it is very good for them providing it hasn’t been contaminated with chemicals.

So can guinea pigs walk on grass?

Yes it’s absolutely fine for them to do so. However do be careful about letting them walk on wet grass. Dampness is not good for them and will make them I’ll eventually so the best thing is to wait until its dry before you let them walk on grass. Guinea pigs enjoy walking on dry grass as it is nice for them to walk on under-foot.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Moss?

Our front lawn has a big problem with moss, in fac, it’s an issue for a lot of gardens on our street.

The problem with this is that when we put our guinea pigs out to run about in the lawn. We know that they can eat the grass, but what about the moss?

image wikipedia

Is it ok for them to eat, and will it harm them?

Can guinea pigs eat moss?

Well, the good news is that moss won’t hurt them if they happen to eat it.

Experience says that they will probably turn their noses up at it and ignore it as it really isn’t to their taste buds.

But if they happen to eat it, it should be fine.

Also, if you give your guinea pigs grass and it happens to have moss in it then they will distinguish it from the grass and separate them out.

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

should guinea pigs eat grass

Should Guinea Pigs Eat Grass?

Guinea pigs are herbivores and do they will eat any kind of plant material. They are anatomically and physiologically adapted to doing so and need this type of food in their diets at all times.

Because of the way their teeth are they constantly need foliage to tiring their teeth on as is typical of a herbivorous animal. They love chewing and grinding hay, grass, tree bark, branches. Basically anything like that that is tough to break down. Their teeth grow constantly and this teeth grinding action helps to grind down their teeth.

This is why although guinea pigs should have hay as their first choice, grass is is very good for them. Not only does it help with the teeth grinding, it also contains many great nutrients that are of great benefit to them.

Grass contains high amounts of vitamins a, c and d as well as being high in fibre which is great for them and is best given to piggies when it is hand picked, fresh and dry.

But there are some things you need to be aware of before you feed your guinea pig grass

1. Know where you are getting it from?

Do you know what has gone on that grass before you picked it? Often grass picked from public places has had all matter of feet on it, animals doing their stuff on it, litter dropped on it. So be we are that the grass that you pick from an area may not be as pure as you think it is. If you are fortunate to have a lawn at your home, then that’s the best thing for your guinea pigs. Of course it’s your prerogative, but just take care when picking grass from public areas.

2. Beware of chemicals

However with having your lawn comes the whole thing of lawn mower oil or petrol dropping on your lawn if you have a petrol mower. Such chemicals are not good for your piggies at all so do be aware of this before you pick grass from your yard.

3. Also be aware of grass picked from the roadside which has been infected with exhaust fumes.

Grass from verges beside roads will have exhaust fumes in it which will also not be good for piggies at all.

4. Lawnmower clippings.

The RSPCA say not to feed your guinea pigs lawnmower clippings as they are likely to make your guinea pigs ill. The fermentation process that the clippings go through changes the nutrients in the grass and can cause bloat for guinea pigs.

5. Beware of barley grass

Has a lot of calcium in it, as well as a lot of vitamin c. So not too much of it.

6. It should be free of any kind of mould.

Mould can be extremely bad for guinea pigs if digested and if grass that is mouldy is given to them then it can cause all kinds of problems. If you are going to pick grass and then store it, it is best not to store damp grass or indeed keep it for too long as it can get mouldy if this is the case.

can guinea pigs eat grass

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Grass?

So ‘can guinea pigs eat grass?’

Grass is one of the first foods that guinea pigs usually go for as it is always available. It is great for them to graze on and nibble all day long. One of the first things that I noted when we first got our guinea pig was how much he loved eating it, and often preferred it to other foods that we gave him.

It is very good for them and helps them grind their teeth because of the abrasive nature of grass.

Can guinea pigs eat too much grass?

can guinea pigs eat grassThere is no problem with guinea pigs eating too much grass. It wont do them any harm, just make sure it hasn’t been treated with chemicals or pesticides.

What do I need to watch out for with when giving grass to my guinea pig?

  • Too much rich spring grass can cause a little trouble for their tummies if they are not used to it.
  • After winter time, ease them in to the spring grass gently. Don’t let them have too much too soon introducing a bit a day to them so they don’t consume too much too soon. A good article for reintroducing guinea pigs to grass is here.

Can I grow grass for my guinea pigs?

If you don’t have easy access to a garden with grass then this is definitely something that is possible. Get some trays and compost and plant some grass seeds ready for them to grow.
If you are looking for the best grasses to grow for your guinea pig, then wheat grass or catgrass is a good place to start. Wheat grass is a little healthier for your guinea pigs.
You can also buy grass from garden centres which has been ready grown that you can use. Or, you can always pick some up from public areas where you can.

Can guinea pigs eat wet grass?

If its in summer then there isn’t a problem at all. Do be careful though when putting your guiena pigs on wet grass as you don’t want your piggies to be damp.

Can guinea pigs eat grass clippings?

You need to watch out if you have a petrol mower for any chemicals that have leaked out onto it. But there is no harm in them eating freshly mown grass. My guinea pig doesn’t go for dried out grass though.

Can guinea pigs eat grass instead of hay?

Although there is no problem with guinea pigs eating grass, a guinea pig’s staple diet should include timothy hay, but if you only give them grass every so often there’s nothing wrong in that.

Can guinea pigs eat grass and clover?

Yes there is no problem with this. They should love grazing on grass and clover. Just make sure it isn’t on an area which has been fertilized.

Can guinea pigs eat grass and dandelions?

Yes that should be fine for them to eat. My guinea pig has a selective taste for weeds but your guinea pig may be different.

Can guinea pigs eat grass seed?

Grass seed is fine as a treat however don’t let them have too much of it.

can guinea pigs and rabbits live together

Can Guinea Pigs and Rabbits Live Together?

Can Guinea pigs and rabbits live together?

You would think that would work ok. I did!

Guinea pigs are very social animals and it is preferable that they have some company in their home.

Rabbits have a similar type of living space and they’re a similar size, you would think that they were a good fit to share a living space with a Guinea Pig.

But digging deeper I began to discover that having them both together sharing the same space is actually something to be avoided.

What I discovered was that it is not a great idea to put Guinea pigs and rabbits together and there are five reasons for this.

1. Rabbits and Guinea Pigs have different dietary requirements.

Although both species feed on copious amounts of hay and vegetables, they require different diets as the rabbit does not need a regular supplement of vitamin C and so the food it eats will be different.

However there are better reasons why its not a good idea as it doesn’t matter a great deal if they share the same food.

2. A Rabbit could very easily hurt a Guinea Pig

Because a rabbit tends to be bigger than your average guinea pig, it can easily hurt the cavy especially with its powerful hind legs.

This can especially happen if the rabbit is bouncing around the cage or is startled by something.

There are also types of rabbit that will try and bite a guinea pig such as a doe rabbit. Whether or not they mean to do it or not, this is something to definitely be avoided.

3. Rabbits can burrow out of a cage

Rabbits are very good at burrowing and will very easily burrow out of a grid or run that is placed on grass. The guinea pig, if it lives with the rabbit will easily follow.

This is a small risk but one that needs to be considered all the same.

4. Rabbit and Guinea Pig behaviour is very different

The behaviour of rabbits and guinea pigs are very different and they will communicate in different ways and not understand each other.

When this happens it causes a lot of stress for both creatures and potential conflict. 

5. There are diseases that Rabbits can carry that will affect Guinea Pigs

Rabbits can carry the disease Bordetella bronchiseptica which is the biggest cause of respiratory disease in guinea pigs. (source; RSPCA).

Some things to be aware of if you do have Rabbits and Guinea Pigs together.

  • If a guinea pig and rabbit are living together then do ensure that the guinea pig has access to a retreat where they can get away from the rabbit. This should be somewhere where the rabbit cannot access.
  • Make sure that the rabbit is neutered so the guinea pig is not mounted by the rabbit.
  • Make sure they are fed differently and in different areas.

 

In Summary

If you can help it and for the sake of both animals, it is usually better to keep them apart. However, there are always exceptions to this rule and if you feel that this could work then that is your discretion but the overwhelming evidence is that this is not a good mix.

Over to you

Have you had any experiences of having Rabbits and Guinea Pigs live together? Positive or Negative.

It would be great to hear from you.