What will happen if I don't feed a guinea pig hay?

Question

I have them on fleece, and they do have a really varied diet including hay every day.

They are all indoor pigs, and the hay makes such a mess, that's all.

Just wondered...

Answer 1

They can develop digestive tract issues, overgrown teeth and do not live as long.  

Answer 2

I don't like the hay being messy either so I used to feed it to them in their kitchen/toilet area, actually I still do, but when I'm home I like to watch them eat so I feed it to them in their pens but first I throw down an old towel and then put it on top of the that. They run around and eat and then when I'm done watching, I take whats left and throw it in their kitchens then I take the towel outside and shake it out. Oh, I guess I live in the country so I can do that, might not work to good if you live in the city but maybe you could shake it out over the outside trash can.

I used to try to keep them potty trained too but after the third pig it just wasn't working so I had to find a way to make the cleaning easiest for me and not stress about it, so thats my advice, let them be "pigs" and eat and make a mess and don't worry that its not clean, they don't care about it being clean as they care about getting proper food. You just need to let go of the idea that it so nice when its clean and enjoy it however it is.

Answer 3

Hay is VITAL for guinea pigs!

Guinea pigs are a grazing species, so they should be eating almost constantly.

If you stop giving hay the guinea pigs will try to eat something else all the time instead. If they have an unlimited supply of pellets they will eat more of those - and so probably end up obese (with all the health problems that go with it!)

If you only give limited pellets and daily bveggies, but remove the hay, your pigs won't be able to eat all the time as nature intended.

In this case they are more likely to suffer from boredom (you have removed their primary natural behaviour) and overgrown teeth (teeth are naturally kept trim by all that eating).

Either way, removing hay can also cause various digestive problems (eg by a lack of long fibre etc).

I also have my pigs on fleece - but I have found a way round it. I built them a box (about the size of an enclosed cat litter box) out of coroplast. (A cardboard box would do).

The doorway I cut is a couple of inches up from the bottom so hay doesn't get dragged out. I line the box with newspaper, then add hay (both in a hayrack attached to the back of the box, and on the floor). Every day I change the newspaper and top up or replace the hay.

By using the box (and having a raised dooway) most of the hay stays in there so there is very little on the fleece.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

You would run a higher risk of malocclusion and digestive problems.  The hay helps keep the teeth worn down correctly.  The high fiber content in the hay keeps the digestive tract working continually and more closely duplicates their natural diet.

For keeping things cleaner with hay you could try putting a litter box under the hay rack to catch some of the strays.  Or, you could build a little kitchen area with the hay and some other bedding like Carefresh.  Check out http://www.guineapigcages.com for some ideas.

Answer 5

he won't be as healthy as he would be if he ate hay

hay if good to help them with digestion, and to keep their teeth healthy

good luck [=

xx

Answer 6

they like hay and even if it means you have to hoover a little more - isnt it worth them being happy!! Itmeans they can much and eat it throughout the day and help grind their teeth so that they dont get too long.

Answer 7

I can't stress enough how important hay is to a guinea pig. Their digestive tracts, which are very delicate, need the hay to keep things moving along correctly. The chewing of the hay keeps their teeth from overgrowing.

I know some other posts suggested the cubed hay or pellets that include hay, but really, they're not the same thing. The long strands are what is needed to accomplish both objectives. In their natural habitat, piggies munch on wild grasses all day.

Try putting the hay in a box at the end of the cage or maybe order a hayrack. See this link for a great stainless steel hayrack that hangs on the side of the cage. I have 10 cages & each cage has one. This keeps the hay mess at a minimum.

http://www.piggiepals.com/

Good luck!

Answer 8

Like the first person said, hay aids in digestion, keeps them healthy, provides them with the fiber they need, and helps keep their teeth evenly worn... hay for guinea pigs is definitely not optional.

At the pet store I go to, they sell timothy hay in compacted little cubes.  They're a bit more expensive than loose hay, but they're definitely a little less messy, since you can give them a few cubes rather than a big messy pile of hay.  Plus, they will probably like them because they can chew on them.

Answer 9

Nothing, aslong as your supplementing it with other foods .. which have the proper nutrients. However, hay is a big part of a GP's diet, and they really are better off with it.

Also, they like to nest in it so please keep giving it some

Answer 10

Guinea pigs need hay/grass as already mentioned above - it's not an option, it's a necessity.

If you don't want to give them loose hay, buy them a guinea pig mix with grass in it (it's dried grass, very much like hay but only maybe an inch or two long).

Answer 11

Hi Delly.

They like nibbling on hay, but I don't think there would be any problems if they didn't get it as often.

Answer 12

nothing at all i think the hay is just to keep them happy

but if you give them other tasty treats that it would be fine !

hope this helps