Guinea Pigs Australia - Vitamin Lists

Vitamin A Vitamin A is fat-soluble, which means the body can store a supply of this vitamin. Vitamin A is stored via the liver. Vitamin A is obtained via Carotene a vitamin precursor in vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, spinach and sweet potatoes. These vegetables also contain Beta-cartotene. Fresh grass and Grass Hays also provide your cavy with an excellent source of vitamin A and should be a staple in any cavies diet. 12,000ui per kilo of pelleted feed is recommended for cavies. If fed in excess vitamin A has been known to cause liver damage. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Vitamin A List. Vitamin C Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. Unlike Vitamin A, K, D and E it cannot be stored within the body and is excreted through your cavies urine. Guinea pigs require 10-30 mg/kg of vitamin C daily to maintain optimum health and development. Pregnant, lactating and young cavies require a higher amount of this vitamin. Suggested amounts include 30-50mg/kg however always check with a qualified exotics veterinarian or nutritionist before increasing this amount vastly. Capsicum, grass and dark leafy green vegetables are excellent sources of absorbic Acid. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Vitamin C List.

Vitamin Lists

Vitamin A Benefits: Assists Immune System Helps Maintain: Teeth Bone Structure Skin Normal Cell Development Aids in Eyesight - Vision

Vitamin C Benefits: Prevents Scurvy Aids in normal Cell Function Absorbs excess Iron Absorbs excess Calcium Aids in uptake of Vitamin B Anti-Inflammatory Known Antioxidant

Vitamin B Vitamin B or Vitamin B complex is made up of a selection of nutrients which work in synergy to promote and assist in the normalcy of growth and development, enhance immune and nervous system functions and promote red blood cell growth. In guinea pigs vitamin B is obtained primarily via hay, grains (in the form of a plain pellet) and certain fruits and vegetables such as banana and sweet potato. A guinea pig will re-ingest vitamin B which is converted into “Cecotropes”. These are soft caecal pellets which are stored in the anus. Consumption of these pellets allows your guinea pig to effectively obtain extra nutrition and vitamin B which may not have been digested in the hind gut previously. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Vitamin B List. Vitamin E Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin and like vitamin A is stored in the liver. Vitamin E has been referred to in some studies as a potent antioxidant and it may assist in the reduction of inflammation, promote a healthy immune system, and protect cells within the body via strengthening capillary walls. Guinea pigs require 50mg per kg feed. Some excellent sources of vitamin E include mango, alfalfa and capsicum. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Vitamin E List.

Vitamin B Benefits: Promotes digestive health Protein Metabolism Stimulates Appetite Absorption of Nutrients

Vitamin E Benefits: Promotes cardiac health Protects Blood cells Supplies Oxygen to blood Cell Nourishment Strengthens Capillary walls Strengthens muscle

Oxalic Acid Oxalic Acid is a chemical compound primarily found in vegetables such as spinach, tomato,Swiss chard and parsley. When oxalic acid combines with calcium it forms Calcium Oxalate, an insoluble salt. If these vegetables are fed in excess high amounts of Calcium Oxalate can accumulate in the body which may lead to the formation of kidney stones in cavies. Always ensure your guinea pigs diet is not too high in oxalic acid content. Knowing which vegetables and fruits contain high amounts will assist to plan, recognise and offer a nutritionally effective diet. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Oxalic Acid List. Fibre Fibre is critically essential in your guinea pigs diet. Fibre is categorized into two separate components. Digestible fibre and indigestible fibre. Digestible fibre is broken down by enzymes and bacteria in the gut and provides energy and essential vitamins and minerals throughout the body. Indigestible fibre helps aid in proper digestive activity by keeping food and plant material constantly moving. Without a diet high in fibre a cavy will suffer from severe digestive upset which can vastly lead to other illnesses and lower the immune system. It will also slow down the gastrointestinal tract resulting in changes to the cecum pH. Cavies require a constant supply of fibre in the form of a good quality grass hay. Always ensure hay is available to your cavy 24/7. Fresh grass, forages and certain Vegetables and Fruits are also recommended as an inclusion in your guinea pigs diet to help promote a high fibre content. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Fibre List.

A small tomato can be offered to your cavy daily.

Fibre Benefits: Promotes correct digestion Prevents malocclusion Essential for correct GI Enables Gut Mobility Must be available 24/7

Protein Once consumed protein is broken down via hind gut fermentation which occurs in the caecum and colon or more commonly referred to as the large intestine. The caecum contains bacteria and protozoa which are essential for healthy gut mobility and correct digestion. The Fibre:Protein content in your cavies diet must be correct to ensure the delicate balance of this bacteria is not compromised due to a diet high in starch, sugars or excessive protein content. Once protein has been broken down it is converted into amino acids which are then used to repair and create body tissue. Excess protein is used as a source of energy. Always ensure your guinea pig’s fibre content is higher then the protein content. A good protein level is 15-16% crude protein. Fibre must always exceed 20%. You should always aim for the highest fibre content possible and avoid high carbohydrate, sugary foods as they can cause the bacteria within the hind gut to subsequently change. You do not want this. You want the digestive system working efficiently to avoid Gastrointestinal ileus (malfunction of the digestive tract due to gut slowdown). Grass hays contain approx. 19% crude protein and legume hays contain 22% crude protein. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Protein List. Calcium Calcium is responsible for the growth and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. It is also a key in maintaining delicate between phosphorus and magnesium. Without the combination of these vitamins essential nutrients cannot be sufficiently absorbs through the body. There needs to be a proper balance between the levels of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. If you observe any white substances being excreted out of your cavies system through its urine you know that there is an excess of calcium in the system and you must analyze your diet to ensure that you decrease that amount. In most cases feeding a lower calcium rich hay is sufficient. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Calcium List.

Protein Benefits: Provides Energy Creates and repairs Tissue

Calcium Benefits: Promotes healthy bones Key in vitamin absorbtion Essential for correct Ca:p

Calcium:Phosphorus The calcium:phosphorus ratio is extremely important in determining what you feed your cavy. For every gram of phosphorus ingested in the diet the body must be able to match the same amount of calcium. This is important for phosphorus absorption which occurs through the intestinal wall and then into the blood stream. Without the correct ratio calcium is absorbed from other sources i.e. storage deposits in bones. A good ratio is 1.5 : 1 Minerals are described as 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1. The numbers are the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the product. For example a 2:1 mineral could be 14% calcium and 7% phosphorus or 20% calcium and 10% phosphorus. In a cavies diet you need to have a higher calcium to phosphorus ratio. This is why certain foods are not fed on a regular basis as they have an inverse ratio which can contribute to bladder stone formation. Click here for our Fruits and Vegetables Ca:P List The total Ca:P in various Hay and Lucerne is listed below: Hay Type Calcium (%) Phosphorus (%) Alfalfa hay, midbloom 1.24 0.22 Oat hay 0.29 0.23 Orchardgrass hay, early bloom 0.24 0.30 Timothy hay, midbloom 0.43 0.20

Ca:P Benefits: Prevents bladder stones Absorption of Phosphorus

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