Can Guinea Pigs Eat Grass?

If you’re wondering about feeding your guinea pig grass, look no further. Yes, guinea pigs can eat grass, and in fact, it’s good for them!

Read on to learn about grass nutritional value, exactly how and when to feed guinea pigs grass, and safe feeding tips.

Grass is a plant, so why don’t humans and many other animals eat it regularly? Doctors recommend we eat lots of plants and vegetables, so why exactly isn’t it a part of most of our diets?

In actuality, grass (especially wild grass) does have nutrients – it has vitamins A, C, and some B vitamins, as well as several minerals. However, it also contains something called lignin, and a lot of it. Humans can process lignin in small qualities, but grass contains so much that it usually passes through without giving any nutrients. Meanwhile, other animals like cows, with their famed multiple stomachs, are able to eat grass and thrive on it. 

Although many animals can thrive on diets consisting largely of grass (see a full list of animals that eat grass here), for many animals including hamsters and humans, grass isn’t a viable source of sustenance. 

So why can guinea pigs digest grass? This is just the genetics of the guinea pig’s unique and elaborate digestive system. They’re able to eat large quantities of grass and extract nutrients from it, while some other animals can not. 

However, their diet should not consist solely of grass. While some animals can live entirely on grass, pigs guinea need many other nutrients and sources of food to thrive.

Your guinea pig’s diet should be 80% hay, which is packed with nutrients and calories that they need to thrive. The other 20% can consist of snacks like fresh grass, as well as fresh vegetables and fruit. 

No – grass seeds actually have too much fat in it, and can cause guinea pig obesity. 

You can give your guinea pig fresh grass everyday, if they’re able to tolerate it and they enjoy it. Make sure to introduce it into their diet slowly to see if it upsets their stomach. 

Yes. If the grass or plants outside have been treated with chemical pesticides, or are contaminated with other animal’s feces, your guinea pig could get poisoned. Some signs to watch out for: 

• Seizures 
• Lack of appetite 
• Listless and lack of energy

If any of these symptoms occur after they’ve consumed wild grass, take your guinea pig to the vet immediately. They could have eaten a toxic amount of insecticides or something similarly harmful to their bodies. 

Yes! So long as the clippings are fresh. If the grass clippings in question have been out for longer than two days, they will start to decompose and ferment, a process that will continue in your guinea pig’s stomach and could cause stomach upset and digestive issues. 

• Yes, guinea pigs can eat grass!
• Make sure to avoid grass that’s been touched by insecticides 
• Avoid giving them grass clippings that have been out for over two days as this may cause an upset stomach 

What is the best grass for guinea pigs? 

I’ve found that the most popular grass for guinea pigs is timothy grass. This is because it has a sweet nutty taste that they enjoy, and it has a lot of fiber and health benefits. This is also a great grass choice given its dried grass and will last you a while. You can be sure that there are no insecticides or any contaminants when you buy timothy grass for your pet chinchilla. 

What are safe foods for guinea pigs?

Guinea Pigs can eat quite an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Below is a list of safe and popular foods for guinea pigs: 

• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Apples
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Cucumbers
• Arugula/Rocket 
• Bok Choy 
• Dill 
• Green beans
• Parsley 
• Peas
• Thyme
• Turnips
• Watercress
• Zucchini

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me!

Related articles: 

• Do Deer Eat Grass?
• Can Hamsters Eat Grass?
• Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grass?