Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food or is this a no no?
I mentioned wanting to get a few of them in another thread. We already have two rabbits. I am just wondering if I would have to monitor them and keep them completely separate when eating or if I have to worry about the guinea pigs getting into the rabbit food at all. Anyone know?
Rabbit food lacks vitamin C that guinea pigs need. If you are going to feed it only a few times, that should be fine but I would not do it more than a couple days. You will want to increase the fruit consumption while doing this as well so there is plenty of vitamin C.
A rabbit can eat guinea pig food but a guinea pig can't eat rabbit food. I would advise against it. Everyone I have known to talk about the topic say it is bad for their digestive system and overall health.
I mentioned this in the other thread. If the bag says it is for rabbits and rabbits only, then it is not for guinea pigs. It might not do any harm or it can make them very sick. I just wouldn't risk it myself!
It won't hurt them to eat it for a few days, assuming they do eat it. Mine is VERY picky and will only eat a particular brand of food. He wouldn't touch anything else so good luck!
Pulled this from an article:
"When it comes to pellets the situation is more different. As rabbits and guinea pig nutrition have a lot of similarities, bunnies will not suffer if they nibble once or twice from foods that are formulated for guinea pigs. However, on the long run, there are significant differences between the two types of food. The dietary requirements of rabbits are different from guinea pigs. Guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C on their own as rabbits do.
! Never give your guinea pig rabbit pellets. That’s because they will need Vitamin C supplement"
https://rabbits.life/guinea-pig-food/
I would not feed them rabbit food. They could end up vitamin c deficient.
I wouldn't do this just because these foods are formulated specifically for these rodents. It isn't like feeding a mouse or hamster gerbil food, they are closely related. Rabbits and guinea pigs are not.
sigmund: A rabbit can eat guinea pig food but a guinea pig can't eat rabbit food. I would advise against it. Everyone I have known to talk about the topic say it is bad for their digestive system and overall health.
@sigmund I have heard of rabbits eating all sorts. My friend has one and he is cute but the little devil will actually steal her dog's food! He will run up to the dog and start trying to fight it so he moves and then steal his food!
Rabbit food can have antibiotics that are harmful, and they don't have vitamin C in them because rabbits make their own.
In short, no.
No, rabbit food just won't cut it.
If you have a guinea pig and a rabbit, buy them each their own food. They can share vegetables though.