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can guinea pigs have tomatoes?

20 replies

misdee · 11/03/2006 18:08

i cant find my book to check Blush

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ScummyMummy · 11/03/2006 18:09

yes- apparently they are a good source of vit c for the wee blighters.:)

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misdee · 11/03/2006 18:10

thats what i thought, but didnt want to kill off the poor things. i have cherry tomatoes, so they will be ok?

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Kidstrack2 · 11/03/2006 18:11

i wouldn't unless it was in a dry food form as a lot of fresh vegetables can give them the runs, i have a rabbit and wouldn't give him tomato

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misdee · 11/03/2006 18:13

Rabbits dont need the Vit C as much tho. the guineas here are still underweight, so am giving them fresh food as well as dried.

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Kelly1978 · 11/03/2006 18:14

I don't think ours actually liked tomatos. Think they ok though.

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Kelly1978 · 11/03/2006 18:16

ours loved dandilion leaves - do you give them? They could eat loads, and that might help fattent hem up.

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misdee · 11/03/2006 18:18

dont have many dandelion leaves in the garden atm.


btw when will they learn they can leave their cage via the ramp into their run? they seem a bit thick lol.

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Kelly1978 · 11/03/2006 18:20

maybe not. put a trail of food - might encourage them.

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Kelly1978 · 11/03/2006 18:21

sorry i read that as 'will they learn' - ours never did!

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misdee · 11/03/2006 18:23

lol. i found them in the run once, but i think they fell through the hole rather than climbed down the ramp.

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Radley · 11/03/2006 18:26

hiya misdee, yes they can have tomatoes, they can eat most vegetables especially root veg as it helps keep their teeth from getting too long, ours go mad for celery, mango, kiwi, strawberries, tomato etc. \link{http://www.pimms-pages.co.uk/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=5934&PN=1\this} should help you.

As for going down the ramp, they will learn it very quickly, you need to get them used to your voices so talk to them all the time and give them snacks through the cage, as you've no dandelion leaves you can give them a handful of grass and they'll get used to the fact that your their feeder and it won't be long before they run out and squeak every time they see or hear you.

Make sure that they have an abundance of fresh hay at all times, which food are you giving them?

One of mine was underweight and we started them on \link{http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/erol.html#9614x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Fsearch%3Fsourceid%3Dnavclient%26ie%3DUTF-8%26rls%3DGGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-13%2CGGLD%3Aen%26q%3Dsupa+guinea+excel\this} and they have all changed dramatically, their coats are gorgeous, soft and shiny, you can get the excel from vets or pet shops and all vets recommend it.

If you need any more help just shout.

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Kelly1978 · 11/03/2006 18:27

well gunea pigs are a bit thick! Should have got a rabbit. Wink

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misdee · 11/03/2006 18:28

i got them that supa gineau food, but run out this week so ended up buying a normal bag from the supermarket. i need to go to the garden centre and stock up again on the supa guinea stuff.

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misdee · 11/03/2006 18:29

we are going through loads of hay as well. thats the kdis jobs. i do the food bowls, dd1 does the hay and dd2 fills the water bottles.

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Radley · 11/03/2006 18:30

That should do for now, but, i know its a pain but if it has seeds and nuts in and the green crushed pellets, try and get as many out as you can as these are bad for piggies/

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Pixel · 11/03/2006 18:31

The vet told me to give my guinea pig tomatoes when he had a sore mouth.

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Radley · 11/03/2006 18:32

Not heard that one, i do know that if you give them alot of citrus fruits it can cause them to get sores round their mouths.

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Pixel · 12/03/2006 01:29

sorry, don't mean to cure his sore mouth, but because they were soft and wouldn't hurt him. Just meant that they must be safe to eat or the vet wouldn't have said it.

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Piggiesmum · 12/03/2006 08:35

Don't assume that just because a vet says it's okay then it must be. Unfortunately alot of vets don't treat many gp's and don't always know what is or isn't good for them.

Not saying they are all wrong, just don't take what they say as gospel without researching first. There are alot of good (and some bad) forums on the internet for gp's.

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Gemtubbs · 01/07/2006 20:30

Hi there! Tomatoes are fine for guinea pigs to eat, but not all guinea pigs like them! Here's some feeding advice from a brilliant web site:

www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/feed.htm

Love Gem.xXx

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