Vit.C
Guinea pigs require Vit C as they cannot produce this vitamin themselves, unlike most mammals. This fact makes it important to provide Vit C in the food we give them.

Most feeds made for guinea pigs have Vit C added. That's why it's so important to buy and feed your guinea pig with pellets made especially for guinea pigs, especailly if you are unable to provide them with fresh food that contains Vit C on a regular basis. These can usually be bought at any petshop and will have a note indicating that Vit C has been added on the packet.

However, the Vit. C content is lost to the atmosphere very fast, especially in our hot and humid climate. Therefore, the food must be stored in an airtight container in a cool place. It is also advisable not to buy too much food at one go.

A list of food items you can feed your guinea pig (the ones in red are especially high in Vit C content):

• carrots
• cauliflower leaves
• hay
• local green vegetables
• pears
• grapes
• tomatoes
• red and green Bell peppers
• parsley
• Oranges (take off the peel first)
• broccoli
• mustard greens
• brussel sprouts

These should be avoided if it can be helped as they are high in fat. What would be better for guinea pigs if you'd like to give him a treat would be fresh vegetables.

Water should be provided at all times as guinea pigs do take a lot of it -especially in our hot climate.

There are commercial treats sold in petshops for guinea pigs but, as mentioned before, you can give your guinea pigs fresh food as treats. These are given occasionnally. Some examples are as follows:
 

• apples
• pears
• cabbage
• lettuce
• spinach