Guinea Pig Hotel Health & Hygiene Is Important
Your guinea pig’s health is very important to us. At the Guinea Pig Hotel we take the health & hygiene of your guinea pig very seriously.
In our care, your guinea pig will not mix with any other animals, except for their own hutch mate, should they have one. Hutches and (outside runs in summer) are cleaned daily.
The Guinea Pig Hotel Double room hutches are spacious and are suitable for more than one guinea pig. Each hutch can comfortably house three adult guinea pigs. Ideal if your pets usually live together.
- Our hutches and (outside runs in summer) are clean and cosy with lots of fresh hay and shavings. We use high quality, dust extracted wood shavings in the hutches and in the sleeping quarters guaranteeing a cosy warm stay.
- All our hutches, outside runs, bottles and food bowls are disinfected ready for each guinea pig guest.
- We clean and check daily:
- hutches throughout your guinea pigs stay with us.
- all water bottles and food bowls.
- all guineas for fly strike.
- Your pet will never be mixed with other animals staying with us.
- You can bring any of your own toys, bowls or bottles if you wish.
Guinea pigs boarding at The Guinea Pig Hotel will receive daily exercise in an outdoor run, subject to weather conditions.
Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Nutritional Guide
How to read the table
This is a very simple nutritional table designed to help you create your weekly menu at a glance. The menu should be varied and balanced according to the recommended frequency of feeding, marked with different colours in the table below.
For example, cabbage (spring greens) can be eaten up to 4 days a week. If cabbage (spring greens) are offered 4 days a week, you should not offer other vegetables also in this category. If you feed cabbage (spring greens) 2 days in a week, you could offer broccoli for 1 day and brussel sprouts another.
- Vitamin C: Guinea pigs do not produce their own Vitamin C, so they require a good amount of vegetables containing Vitamin C in their diet. Some vegetables high in Vitamin C can be given regularly throughout the week, however others will appear elsewhere in this section as being high in phosphorous or calcium, and therefore should be given in moderation.
- Calcium: Some calcium in the diet is essential for healthy bones and teeth, but too much calcium can cause problems. Bladder stones are calcium deposits that form when there is too much calcium present in the diet.
- Phosphorus: Too much phosphorous in the diet can cause guinea pigs to feel bloated and gassy.
What does “feed in moderation” mean?
When a fruit, vegetable or herb is listed as “feed in moderation” it means you need to give extra consideration to the quantity you feed it in. For example, vegetables also high in fat, sugar or that have a high water content should be balanced with others that don’t.
- Acid: A high acid content in the diet can cause mouth sores.
- Fat: Too much fat can cause unnecessary weight gain.
- Sugar: Too much sugar can upset the balance of flora in the gut, leading to the improper digestion of other foods.
- Water: A high water content in the diet can cause mouth sores and diarrhea.
| Up to 6 days a week | Up to 4 days a week | Up to 2 days a week | Rare treat |
| Vegetable/Fruit/Herb | Vitamin C | Calcium | Phosphorus |
Feeding Notes
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Apple (Granny Smith)
|
Low | Low | Low |
Remove the pips and stalk. Feed in moderation; acidic.
|
|
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Banana
|
Low | Low | Low |
Feed by the slice.
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Beans (runner)
|
Low | Low | Low |
The pod and beans can be eaten.
|
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Broccoli
|
High | Medium | Medium |
The entire vegetable can be eaten.
|
|
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Brussel Sprouts
|
High | Medium | Medium |
Cut into manageable pieces.
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|
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Cabbage (pak choi)
|
High | Medium | Medium |
Feed one/two small leaves.
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Cabbage (spring greens)
|
High | Medium | Medium |
Feed one small leaf or half of a large leaf.
|
|
|
Carrot
|
High | Low | Low |
The leaves can be eaten, but feed them in moderation (no more than twice per week); high in calcium.
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Cauliflower
|
Medium | Low | Medium |
The entire vegetable can be eaten.
|
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Celery
|
Low | Low | Low |
Cut into chunks and trim away stringy bits. The leaves can be eaten.
|
|
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Chard (swiss)
|
Medium | Medium | Medium | ||
|
Corn (on the cob, yellow)
|
High | Low | High |
The leaves, silks and corn can be eaten. Feed in moderation; high in fat.
|
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Corn (baby sweetcorn)
|
High | Low | High |
Feed in moderation; high in fat.
|
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Cress (garden)
|
Medium | High | High | ||
|
Cress (water)
|
Medium | High | Medium | ||
|
Cucumber
|
Low | Low | Low |
Feed by the slice. Feed in moderation; very watery.
|
|
|
Grapes (white seedless)
|
Low | Low | Low |
Feed in moderation; high in sugar.
|
|
|
Kale (curly leaf)
|
High | High | Medium |
Feed half a small leaf only.
|
|
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Lettuce (cos, romaine)
|
Low | Low | Low | ||
|
Lettuce (round)
|
Low | Low | Low | ||
|
Orange
|
High | Medium | Low |
Peel before feeding, offer occasional segments. Feed in moderation; acidic.
|
|
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Parsley (curly leaf)
|
Medium | High | Low |
The leaves and stalks can be eaten. Feed only a couple of sprigs at a time.
|
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Parsley (flat leaf)
|
Medium | High | Low |
The leaves and stalks can be eaten. Feed only a couple of sprigs at a time.
|
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Parsnip
|
High | Low | Low | ||
|
Pepper (bell)
|
High | Low | Low |
Remove the seeds and stalk.
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|
|
Pumpkin
|
Low | Low | Low |
Remove the seeds and trim away stringy bits.
|
|
|
Radishes
|
Low | Low | Low |
Trim off the root. The leaves can be eaten.
|
|
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Rocket
|
Low | High | Low |
The leaves and stalks can be eaten.
|
|
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Spinach
|
Low | High | Medium |
Feed half a small leaf only.
|
|
|
Strawberry
|
Low | Low | Low |
Remove the leaves before feeding. Feed in moderation; high in sugar.
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|
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Sweet Potato
|
Low | Low | Low |
Peel before feeding and feed raw. Feed in moderation; high in sugar.
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|
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Tomato (cherry)
|
Low | Low | Low |
Remove the vine and leaves, as the leaves are believed to be poisonous.
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Tomato (vine)
|
Low | Low | Low |
Remove the vine and leaves, as the leaves are believed to be poisonous.
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