Is it okay to give a bit of a grapple to a guinea pig?

no idea what a grapple is.


you can give guinea pigs grapes in moderation, but not too often as they contain a lot of sugar. you have to be careful with apples as some breeds of guinea pig have weak membranes in their lips, and the acid in the apple can make their lips get sore and scabby, and you would have to get some treatment from the vet. if their lips do not have weak membranes, you can feed them apple, just in small pieces, with the seeds removed, and in moderation.

Is it okay to give a bit of a grapple to a guinea pig?
what a grapple? i think both apples and grapes are ok
Reply:Hm, well, I'm really not sure what a grapple is. I'm assuming it's a grape apple hybrid...Is it a naturally grown fruit? If it's like a purreed apple grape treat, then no. You can occassionally give apples and grapes, but fruits are high in sugars and shouldn't be fed too often.


Check out this website, it should be very helpful.


http://www.guinealynx.com/diet.html
Reply:* Water. Obvious but important. If your piggies eat a lot of fresh vegies/Fruit, they will drink less, but if they only have dry pellets and hay, then fresh water is doubly important.


* Grass. If you have a lawn that you know does not have chemicals, get an outdoor run and put your piggies out to play * Guinea pigs don't just eat the fleshy parts of fruits/veggies like humans do; They'll eat the leaves, peel, pips, and so on. When you make dinner, give your guinea pigs the carrot peel and ends, the banana peel, the broccoli stalk, the cauliflower leaves, the pepper stalk %26amp; pips, and so on. Be sure you know which parts of the plant are safe and which are poisonous first!


* Feed fruit in small quantities. Not only does fruit have a high sugar content, but it may also have a low Ca:P ratio, which could lead to bladder problems.


* Some guinea pigs get tired of having the same fruit or vegetable day after day, so vary their diet. There are some things are always eaten with vigor, though.


* Guinea pigs are like people, and each have their own food preferences. If they consistently leave a certain food, they probably don't like it. However, don't be discouraged; Sometimes they need to figure out that it is tasty first, and it may take a few tries. This is especially true if they are young or if you have just acquired them from a laboratory or pet store; They may not have a diverse palate quite yet.








in the spring and summer months. Make sure it has a dark place for them to hide in from the sun, or if something scares them. Move this around from day-to-day. Guinea pigs will keep your lawn nice and short, and they fertilise it too!


* Hay. Piggies love hay: they eat it, play in it, and sleep in it. Don't give straw, as they don't seem to like to eat it, but they will be more than happy to eat hay. Alfalfa hay can be given to pigs 6 months or younger, but contains too much calcium for older pigs and can contribute to disease. Timothy hay is very good. Other types of hay include meadow hay, oat hay, and orchard grass. Alternating hays may help prevent boredom. Alfalfa hay may be given as a treat once a month for protein maintenance. They must have hay 24/7.


* Vitamin C. Guinea pigs are one of the very few mammals (along with humans) who can't make their own vitamin C, so they need to get it from their food. They need 20 MG or more of Vitamin C. Do not rely on the Vitamin C your guinea pig pellets supposedly contains. It often get evaporated and will often not be present. Water drops are not recommended. They do not work. As the Vitamin C gets to the metal part, it is instantly deteriorated. Vitamin C drops can also contain bad ingredients. Guinea pigs often do not like the taste of these and will stop drinking.


* Fruits and Vegetables Some are very high in vitamin C; Others are handy treats. Be sure not to give anything too cold to your guinea pig. Everything should be room temperature, including water and fresh produce. What to try:


o Carrots ( in small amounts)


o Celery (be sure to cut into small pieces; the strings in celery are difficult to digest)(celery also gives them a strong odor so feed sparingly unless you like the smell of celery)


o Cucumber (has little nutritional value but is a great summer treat)


o Lettuce (avoid iceberg lettuce- it is high in nitrates with little nutritional value)


o Tomatoes, seeds and all. Not too often as they can cause mouth sores.


o Broccoli (small quantities only, as this can make them gassy)


o Cauliflower and its leaves (small quantities only, as this can make them gassy)


o Cabbage (small quantities only, as this can make them gassy)


o Spinach (sparingly as the amount of calcium is too high)


o Green/Red/Yellow/Orange bell peppers (great amounts of Vitamin C [ this is good])


* Different types of lettuce include red leaf, green leaf, and romaine. Feed up to three times weekly as too much of any type of lettuce has been known to cause liver damage in some rodents.


o A variety of fruits including strawberries, oranges, seedless melon, apple, banana, peaches, etc. (feed citrus in low quantities, because the acid can lead to mouth sores)


* Pellets Pellets are highly recommend. They give guinea pigs a lot of nutrition IF you give them the right kind. Oxbow Pellets are highly recommended. They can be bought on-line or at some stores. They contain no bad ingredients. Another guinea pig pellet with great quality is Kleenmama's Hayloft. They also have a lot of nutrition and no bad ingredients. Both these places also sell hay, treats, and more. NEVER use pellets mixed with seeds, nuts, dried fruits and vegetables, etc. These are usually high in fat and / or the guinea pig could choke on them. Guinea pigs often live better on pellets without these.


* A few bad ingredients:


* Ethoxyquin


* Copper Sulfate


* Menadione


* magnesium oxide


* zinc oxide


* Anything that comes from an animal ( animal sterol, etc.)


* Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup ( HFCS)


* Sucrose


* propylene glycol


* Propyl gallate


* Potassium Sorbate


* Sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, or sodium metabisulfate


* BHA, BHT, etc. AKA Butylated hydroxyanisol and Butylated hydroxytoluene


* by-products


* Questionable Ingredients:


* corn


* artificial colors


* Water


* Most people like to keep their water in water bottles. Be careful, though. Water bottles often leak. It is important to replace any water bottle that leaks and replace any wet bedding. Wet bedding can easily make guinea pigs sick. Water bowls are a bad choice. This is because they often get contaminated with debris that can easily make them sick.


* Hay


* It is best to put hay in a hay rack. Wire hay racks are great, because the guinea pigs can get their hay out easier than a plastic one. Often, people do not protect their hay from the feces and urine covered bedding. This is why you must use a hay rack.


* Fruits and Veggies


* Fruits and vegetables can be put in a large plastic bowl. This way they will not get dirty, and you could easily dump anything they have not eaten. Often, guinea pigs carry off food from the bowl and not eat it, so it is important to check to see if they have done this.





Warnings





* Guinea pigs do like eating onions, but it makes them smell!


* Uneaten food should be removed promptly. It'll attract insects if not removed.


* Foods that guinea pigs should not be fed:


o Potatoes (skin is poisonous!)


o Mushrooms


o Avocado


o Iceberg Lettuce


o Rhubarb


o Potatoes


o Hot Peppers


o Mushrooms


o Jams and jellies


o Nuts


o Dairy


o Meat


o "junk food"





* Never put your guinea pigs out on the grass if you have used pesticides.


* Never give them free run of the garden without a cage. They'll run away or get killed.


* Never give them fruit/veggies that has been frozen, cooked, tinned, preserved, or otherwise altered. Only ever give fresh stuff (you can keep it in the fridge though). Organic is recommend.


* Be careful about the pesticides! The wind can blow them over from a neighbor's yard. This can kill them!
Reply:My guinea pig loves that stuff