If you have a guinea pig, you want to care for it the best way possible. That includes feeding your pet the best guinea pig food.
Guinea pigs are herbivores and eat only fruits and vegetables as I told in previous posts. They need plenty of leafy veggies and hay in order to have a healthy diet. Fruits should be used sparingly for treats or training purposes.
Guinea pig nutrition must also include vitamin C (Guinea pigs food with high Vitamin c value on Amazon) because guinea pigs do not naturally formulate Vitamin C on their own.
When can cavies eat corn
In some cases, guinea pigs can eat corn. Just because they can, though, does not mean they want to. If you offer your guinea pig corn, you might be surprised when they prefer to eat the husks and corn silk.
Guinea pigs love eating corn silk and husks because it is better for them to chew on and provides more nutrients than the actual corn itself. Peel away the outside husk and let your guinea pigs eat the husk and silk closest to the corn.
Never give your guinea pigs cooked corn because they are not able to digest cooked foods, feeding them cooked corn can result in poor digestion and possibly death.
Cooked corn is dangerous
You want to love and care for your guinea pig, providing them the most nutritious food. Cooked corn is dangerous for guinea pigs and should never be used as food or treats.
Your safest option is to serve corn seeds directly from the cob and allow your pet to munch on the husks and silk if they prefer.
Corn should not be the main part of your guinea pig’s diet. Sweetcorn has a lot of calories and sugar, and your cavies do not need all of that in their regular diet.
While they can eat uncooked corn, husks, and silk, they should not eat it every day.
Also, if your guinea pig is overweight or has weight-related issues, it is best to steer away from corn. The sugar and calories will only worsen their problems.
Avoid canned corn!
If you choose to feed your guinea pigs corn husks and silk, you must wash them thoroughly.
This removes any chemicals or residue from the corn and ensures your guinea pig is safe while they eat.
Do not feed your pet canned corn. Canned corn is high in salt, which is bad for your guinea pig’s health.
Canned corn is also cooked sometimes, so you could accidentally feed your guinea pig something bad for them with canned corn.
Too much corn seeds, even if it is served on the cob, can cause gas bloating for your cavy.
Be mindful of how much corn you feed your pig so you can properly regulate their diet.
Can guinea pigs eat mini corn?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat mini corn. Feeding your pet mini corn is much the same as feeding them, regular sweetcorn. Never feed your cavies cooked mini corn, only raw. It is also best to moderate the amount of corn your guinea pig eats.
They cannot eat a lot of mini corn or eat mini corn on a daily basis. Mini corn can be served to your pig as a treat or incentive for training. Mini corn can be eaten whole, while pigs cannot eat the cob of regular sweetcorn.
Only feed your pet mini corn a couple of times a week to be safe!!!
Can guinea pigs eat cracked corn?
No, you should not give your guinea pig cracked corn. Cracked corn is dried and sold in dry food mixes. It is very hard and can cause damage to your guinea pig’s teeth.
Cracked corn can fracture your pet’s teeth and cause a range of issues when they try to eat in the future. It will also be painful for your animal.
It is best to stick to fresh corn. Your pig can eat fresh corn on the cob easily. If you have an older guinea pig or one with existing dental issues, you can cut the corn off of the cob to make it easier for them to eat.
Highly Nutritious
Related to Healthline, corn is high in carbs and packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also relatively low in protein and fat.
One cup (164 grams) of sweet yellow corn contains (5):
- Calories: 177 calories
- Carbs: 41 grams
- Protein: 5.4 grams
- Fat: 2.1 grams
- Fiber: 4.6 grams
- Vitamin C: 17% of the daily value (DV)
- Thiamine (vitamin B1): 24% of the DV
- Folate (vitamin B9): 19% of the DV
- Magnesium: 11% of the DV
- Potassium: 10% of the DV
Can cavies eat field corn?
No, do not give your guinea pig field corn. Field corn is different than sweetcorn because it is harvested later.
The corn starts to dry out in the field, and dried corn is not safe for your guinea pig’s teeth.
Field corn is not used the same as sweetcorn for pigs or humans. It is mainly used as cornmeal or cornflour.
Regular sweetcorn on the cob is high in moisture and much safer for your pet.
As an owner, you try to provide the best food and treats for your guinea pig. Fresh corn, including raw mini corn, is safe for pigs to eat. Never feed your guinea pig cooked corn because they cannot process it correctly.
Cracked corn or other dried corn is very dangerous for your pig because it will harm or fracture their teeth. Field corn is also unsafe for pigs because it is dried out and lacks the same nutrients as sweetcorn.
Guinea pigs love corn husks and silk
Your pig may prefer the husks and silk of the corn to the actual corn kernels, and this is okay. Husks and silk provide nutrients to your pigs and can be incorporated into their diet.
Moderate the amount of corn, husk, and silk you feed your guinea pig because it can cause digestion issues like gas bloating.
If you are ever unsure about what your pig can eat, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Do not feed your pet anything you think might be harmful to them.
Conclusion
Do some research to determine if the food is safe for your guinea pig to eat. Your pet can live a long and healthy life if you do your homework and feed it properly.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
