Editing Guinea pig (section)

=== Diet ===
{{Further|Cecotrope}}
[[File:Cavy eating grass.jpg|thumb|right|A silver [[Agouti (coloration)|agouti]] guinea pig eating grass, the staple of the diet, which is often replaced with [[hay]].|276x276px]]

The guinea pig's natural diet is [[grass]]; their [[Molar (tooth)|molars]] are particularly suited for grinding plant matter and grow continuously throughout their life.{{sfn|Wagner|Manning|1976|p=228}} Most mammals that graze are large and have a long digestive tract. Guinea pigs have much longer [[Colon (anatomy)|colons]] than most rodents.

Easily digestible food is processed in the gastrointestinal tract and expelled as regular feces. But to get nutrients out of hard-to-digest fiber, guinea pigs ferment fiber in the cecum (in the GI tract) and then expel the contents as [[cecotrope]]s, which are reingested ([[cecotrope|cecotrophy]]). The cecotropes are then absorbed in the small intestine to utilize the nutrients.{{sfn|Richardson|2000|pages=50–51}}{{sfn|Terril|Clemons|1998|p=41}}{{sfn|Wagner|Manning|1976|p=236}} The [[cecotrope]]s are eaten directly from the anus unless the guinea pig is pregnant or obese.{{sfn|Terril|Clemons|1998|p=41}} They share this behavior with [[lagomorpha|lagomorphs]] (rabbits, hares, pikas) and some other animals.

In geriatric boars or sows (rarely in young ones), the muscles which allow the cecotropes to be expelled from the anus can become weak. This creates a condition known as [[fecal impaction]], which prevents the animal from redigesting cecotropes even though harder pellets may pass through the impacted mass.{{sfn|Richardson|2000|page=52}} The condition may be temporarily alleviated by a human carefully removing the impacted feces from the anus.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Guinea pigs benefit from a diet of fresh [[grass hay]], such as [[Timothy-grass|timothy hay]], in addition to [[food pellets]], which are often based on timothy hay. [[Alfalfa]] hay is also a popular food choice, and most guinea pigs will eat large amounts of alfalfa when offered it,{{sfn|Morales|1995|page=8}}{{sfn|Wagner|Manning|1976|p=32}} though some controversy exists over offering alfalfa to adult guinea pigs. Some pet owners and veterinary organizations have advised that, as a [[legume]] rather than a grass hay, alfalfa consumed in large amounts may lead to [[obesity]], as well as [[bladder stone (animal)|bladder stones]] from the excess [[calcium]] in all animals except for pregnant and very young guinea pigs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guinea Pig Diet |url=http://mgpr.org/newsite/GP_Info/Guinea%20Pig%20Diet.htm |website=Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue |access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref> However, published scientific sources mention alfalfa as a food source that can replenish protein, [[amino acid]]s, and fiber.<ref>{{cite book|author = Institute for Laboratory Animal Research|title = Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals|edition = 4th|publisher = National Academies Press|year = 1995|page = 106|url = http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4758&page=106|isbn = 978-0-309-05126-2|author-link = Institute for Laboratory Animal Research}}</ref>{{sfn|Wagner|Manning|1976|p=236}}{{sfn|Terril|Clemons|1998|p=39}}

Like humans, but unlike most other [[mammal]]s, guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain this vital [[nutrient]] from food. If guinea pigs do not ingest enough vitamin C, they can suffer from potentially fatal [[scurvy]]. They require about 10&nbsp;mg of vitamin C daily (20&nbsp;mg if pregnant), which can be obtained through fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as broccoli, apple, cabbage, carrot, celery, and spinach) or dietary supplements or by eating fresh [[Animal feed#Fodder|pellets]] designed for guinea pigs, if they have been handled properly.{{sfn|Richardson|2000|page=92}} Healthy diets for guinea pigs require a complex balance of calcium, [[magnesium]], [[phosphorus]], [[potassium]], and [[hydrogen ion]]s; but adequate amounts of vitamins [[Vitamin A|A]], [[Vitamin D|D]], and [[Vitamin E|E]] are also necessary.{{sfn|Terril|Clemons|1998|p=40}}

Poor diets for guinea pigs have been associated with [[muscular dystrophy]], [[metastatic calcification]], difficulties with pregnancy, [[vitamin deficiencies]], and teeth problems.{{sfn|Wagner|Manning|1976|pp=237–257}}{{sfn|Richardson|2000|pages=89–91}} Guinea pigs tend to be fickle eaters when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables after having learned early in life what is and is not appropriate to consume. Their eating habits may be difficult to change after maturity.{{sfn|Wagner|Manning|1976|p=236}}{{sfn|Richardson|2000|pages=88–89}} They do not respond well to sudden changes in their diet, and they may stop eating and starve rather than accept new food types.<ref name="harkness" /> A constant supply of hay is generally recommended, as guinea pigs feed continuously and may develop bad habits if food is not present, such as chewing on their hair.{{sfn|Richardson|2000|page=89}} Being rodents, as their teeth grow constantly (as do their nails, like humans), they routinely [[wikt:gnaw|gnaw]] on things, lest their teeth become too large for their jaw (a common problem in [[rodent]]s).{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Guinea pigs chew on cloth, paper, plastic, and rubber if available. Guinea pig owners may "Guinea Pig proof" their household, especially if they are free to roam, to avoid any destruction or harm to the guinea pig itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How To Guinea Pig Proof Your Room {{!}} First Steps With A Guinea Pig |url=https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guinea_pigs/first_steps_with_a_guinea_pig/room_proofing/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=www.omlet.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>

Some plants are poisonous to guinea pigs, including [[bracken]], [[Bryonia|bryony]], [[ranunculus|buttercup]], [[sinapis arvensis|charlock]], [[atropa belladonna|deadly nightshade]], [[digitalis|foxglove]], [[hellebore]], [[conium|hemlock]], [[lily of the valley]], [[Anthemis cotula|mayweed]], [[aconitum|monkshood]], [[privet]], [[Senecio|ragwort]], [[rhubarb]], [[veronica arvensis|speedwell]], toadflax (both ''[[Linaria vulgaris]]'' and ''[[Linaria dalmatica]]''), and [[vallisneria americana|wild celery]].{{sfn|Richardson|2000|page=93}} Additionally, any plant which grows from a [[bulb]] (e.g., [[tulip]] or [[onion]]) is normally considered poisonous,{{sfn|Richardson|2000|page=3}} as well as ivy and oak tree leaves.

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