Guinea pig diet can be confusing for new pet parents, especially when it comes to fresh vegetables. Your guinea pig needs around a cup of mixed vegetables a day, but there is no definite guide to which veggies to feed in which amounts.
However, we’re here to help provide guidelines and discuss which leafy greens are best for your guinea pigs to eat. We’ll also tell you how often each can be fed and their potential downsides.
Introducing New Foods to Your Guinea Pig’s Diet
Before we dive into the leafy greens you can feed your guinea pig, please remember to introduce new foods into your piggies’ diets slowly. While variety is important, fast diet changes can cause digestive problems and are best avoided.
If your guinea pig has previously eaten no or few veggies, try introducing one to two a week until you have a good variety and rotation set up. If you notice signs of stomach upset, move even more slowly–and if symptoms are severe or persistent, see a vet.
Leafy Greens That Are Safe For Guinea Pigs
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Leafy greens should make up approximately 85-90% of your guinea pigs’ daily vegetables. It’s best to feed a variety of vegetables, so here are some leafy greens to include in your guinea pigs’ salads!
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is one of the most popular dark leafy greens to feed your guinea pigs daily. It contains important vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, folate, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.
Red Leaf Lettuce
Another popular daily option, red leaf lettuces, are rich in vitamins B6 and C. They also contain iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Some people prefer red or green leaf lettuce to romaine lettuce since they’re lower in calcium, which can be especially helpful for piggies prone to bladder stones.
Green Leaf Lettuce
Green leaf lettuce is a good source of vitamin C and also contains potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. It can be fed to your guinea pigs daily.
Mustard Greens
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Mustard greens are chock-full of vitamin C. They also contain iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
Since mustard greens are high in calcium, it’s important to balance this out with an appropriate amount of phosphorus. We’ll talk more about the calcium-phosphorus ratio for guinea pigs below.
Turnip Greens
Turnip greens are another calcium-rich vegetable that should be fed mindfully. They’re an excellent source of vitamins C and K.
Guinea pigs can also eat turnip roots but in smaller amounts than the greens.
Parsley
Parsley is a source of vitamins A, C, and K. It also contains magnesium, potassium, iron, and calcium.
Due to its calcium content, there is some debate about how often to feed parsley to guinea pigs. However, most people seem to agree that it can be fed a few times a week. Remember that guinea pigs do need calcium in their diet, so avoiding it completely can do just as much harm as feeding too much.
Cilantro
Like Parsley, cilantro should be fed in moderation due to its high calcium content. However, it is a great source of vitamin C as well as vitamins C and A, folate, potassium, and manganese.
Dill
This herb can be fed to guinea pigs 1-2 times weekly, as it’s also high in calcium. It’s also a good source of vitamin C, iron, and magnesium.
Kale
Guinea pigs can eat kale occasionally, but it shouldn’t be fed daily due to its high calcium content. Kale provides other nutrients as well, including vitamin C and fiber.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a good source of vitamin C, but it’s also calcium-rich and can cause gas or bloating in guinea pigs. Some piggy parents avoid it altogether, but it can be fed in moderation so long as your guinea pig isn’t prone to stomach issues.
Arugula
Arugula contains vitamins A, C, K, and folate. It’s also a good source of potassium and magnesium. Due to its calcium content, it should not be fed daily.
Endive
Endive can be fed to guinea pigs up to a few times a week. It’s a good source of vitamins A and K, folate, and fiber.
Dandelion Greens
Here’s a fun one: Did you know that guinea pigs can eat dandelion greens? They’re full of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins A, B, C, K, and E. They also contain calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and fiber.
Make sure to harvest from an area that hasn’t been treated with pesticides or other chemicals. Wash them before serving as well to be safe (as with any vegetable you feed your guinea pigs!).
Guinea pigs can have all parts of the dandelion but only in moderation. Feed just a single flower and stem with 1-2 leaves a few times weekly at most.
Basil
Feed your piggies basil up to a few times a week. When fed in moderation, basil provides great nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and iron. However, it’s high in calcium, which is why it can only be fed in moderation.
Mint
Mint is high in potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C. It’s a great herb to feed your guinea pigs in moderation, though it should only be fed a few times a week due to its high calcium level.
Peppermint, lemon mint, and spearmint are all safe for guinea pigs to eat, though not all guinea pigs enjoy the taste of mint!
Spinach
Spinach is high in calcium and oxalates, so it should only be fed a couple of times a week. It offers a high amount of nutrients, including potassium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins B6, C, and D.
Celery
Guinea pigs can also eat celery, though it’s best to chop it into small pieces for them before serving. Celery can be stringy and difficult to eat, posing a potential choking hazard if fed whole.
While celery shouldn’t be fed daily, it can be fed up to a couple of times a week in small amounts. It provides guinea pigs with vitamins A, C, and K.
Being so watery, celery is fairly low in nutrients and high in oxalates, which is why daily feeding isn’t recommended.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a bit controversial for guinea pigs, but most people agree that it can be fed a couple of times a week. Broccoli is high in calcium and can also cause gas, so it shouldn’t be fed in large amounts.
Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio
It’s important to feed a good calcium: phosphorus ratio to prevent health problems such as bladder stones or poor bone health in guinea pigs. For guinea pigs, the calcium: phosphorus ratio should be around 1.5:1. While this doesn’t have to be exact, it’s good to keep in mind how much of each you’re feeding. I like this calcium: phosphorus chart and calculator from Guinea Lynx as it simplifies one of the more difficult aspects of guinea pig care!
