Hay is the most important part of a guinea pig’s diet. They simply need to eat hay in order to stay healthy. Moreover, guinea pigs cannot survive without hay. So what happens if your Cavy won’t eat hay, naturally you are very concerned.
There is a number of reasons for Guinea Pigs not eating hay. Some guinea pigs eat too much dry food or fresh veggies while others simply don’t like the taste or the smell of that specific type of hay you have served them. Hay also might not be in the best shape, could be moldy or old.
Guinea pigs are also known as stubborn creatures ( not all of them but some ) so maybe you have one ”spoiled little pig” that won’t eat hay. It might also happen that your guinea pig has some health problems such as dental issues so he feels pain while chewing on hay.
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What Could Be Wrong With a Hay?
One of the reasons for not eating hay could be an actual problem with the hay.
Guinea pigs have far more sensitive palates comparing to humans when it comes to hay. We can try to determine if the hay is well based on what we see, smell, and touch but we miss the most important thing – the taste.
Imagine that you have bought the bag of hay, open it, it turns very nice, green, dry, soft, no dust, very clean. What is your conclusion? That you have purchased a great product and that your Cavy will love it.
What happens next? You place a good looking and smelling hay in a hay rack and your guinea pig just turns his nose off it. He is not interested in your good looking and possibly expensive hay. Why?
Let’s assume that something is wrong with the hay. The hay can have a very good appearance and smell but to have a bad taste or not to have taste at all.
Whose fault is that? It could be Mother Nature. She has full control over the taste of hay. The weather conditions have a big impact on hay’s taste and appearance.
However, Mother Nature can do her job very well but humans can make a mistake. For example, the hay was cut too soon or too late. Maybe something went wrong in the distribution or storage process.
What do you expect from good quality hay? It needs to be green, dry, soft, and non-dusty. If you see yellow or beige hay, skip it. If you find hay moldy or wet, don’t buy it. If you discover the hay smells that way ( moldy or musty ) don’t give it to your guinea pig. The perfect hay should smell like it has just come from a sunny meadow.
Guinea pigs shouldn’t eat crunchy versions of hay ( with stalks). This hay is favorite food to rabbits but not a good option for guinea pigs.
Crunchy hay may cause injuries in your Cavy’s mouth which can ( and will) lead to infections. These infections are not something you should take lightly as they usually require surgeries to clean up.
When you buy hay, search for labels that say ”second cut ” or ”third cut”. This hay is much softer than ”first cut” hay which is crunchier and more desirable for rabbits.
Tip – if you know someone who works horses, you can ask that person to help you with hay. Those people work a lot with hay and know how good or bad hay smell.
Mother Nature might turn out a good hay harvest, but all the variables that went into a harvest might have created a flavor your critters don’t like.
My guinea pigs have liked hay that the rescue pigs didn’t like and vice versa. Both groups of pigs have turned up their noses at hay that rabbits and chinchillas in area rescues loved. Go figure.
Where To Buy Hay and What If My Guinea Pig Doesn’t Like The Hay I’ve Bought?
Think first about the place where you buy the hay. You won’t find the best hay in big box stores.
I have noticed so many times yellow or even brow hay that should be pulled off the shelves, but these bags are still there, waiting for someone to buy them and bring home old and non-tasty hay.
Even if you find a green Timothy hay, you’ll discover that most probably is ”first cut” crunchy version, perfect for rabbit but not for your Cavy.
Look for good quality hay in some smaller, independent pet stores or pet supply shops where you will find hay brands diversity ( Oxbow, Sweet Meadow farm, Kaytee, Vitakraft …)
In these kinds of stores, you can order a larger amount of hay ( bulk-size ). If you live in a rural area, maybe you can find a locally produced second or third cut timothy hay at your neighbor’s farm.
Of course, if you find a reliable hay producer who has been consistent in quality year after year, I am sure you can order online.
Check their website, maybe you can find some nice options to add variety to your Cavy’s diet such as orchard hay grass, bluegrass hay, or mountain grass hay.
Even though you put a lot of effort to find the best possible hay your Cavy seems not thrilled with it. It’s OK, that can happen. If you try several different brands, maybe you will find the one which your guinea pig will like.
On the other hand, maybe the problem is not in hay itself. However, try not to throw away the whole bag of good hay. If you have a friend who has guinea pig ask him to switch your bags of hay.
Maybe his Cavy won’t have anything against it and yours would like a new taste. If there is some rescue center in your vicinity, maybe you can donate hay, they will be very happy to receive it.
What Are Other Reasons For My Guinea Pig Not Eating Hay?
Besides the hay itself, the problem can lie in many different things. You should consider how you serve hay to your Cavy.
If you have a hay rack, try something else, such as a ceramic bowl or place some hay in a toilet paper tube or somewhere else where the hay would be conveniently hidden and let your Cavy ”discover” it.
Also, make sure you put a fresh hay every day. Maybe your guinea pig won’t eat hay because it’s not fresh. When you put fresh hay, mix it well to intensify the smell which should attract your Cavy.
It’s important to check if your guinea pig doesn’t eat hay only or avoid food in general. If he has decreased appetite and you have noticed that he is having trouble to eat then you should check his teeth, maybe they are overgrown. Or your Cavy might have some mouth injury the stops him from eating.
Think about the other food you give to your guinea pig. If he has an unlimited amount of pellets at this disposal, try cutting back and not giving as much as pellets, greens, and treats and see if your Cavy tries to eat hay.
Does your Cavy live alone? He shouldn’t. Guinea pigs are very social creatures and they need company. Furthermore, if one guinea pig sees another one eating something, he wants to try that as well. It can be stimulating and very fun having two or more guinea pigs.
However, if your guinea pig generally eats very little or none rush to the vet as could be something seriously wrong with your Cavy’s health.
Can Guinea Pigs Live Without Hay?
Guinea pigs cannot live without hay, and there is no alternative for it.
Make sure your Cavy has a constant supply of fresh hay every day. Guinea pigs cannot survive without hay for more than 24 h. They will die without it.
Although hay is extremely important for well being of guinea pigs, it’s not their only source of nutrition. You should also provide fresh vegetables, fruits, and pellets.
Besides being an important source of nutrition, hay is crucial to keep your Cavy’s teeth short and healthy. Constant chewing on hay wears down guinea pig’s teeth to the right length.
If not reduced, overgrown teeth can make a huge problem to your Cavy, including decreased appetite and pain.
When you are trying to choose the right hay for your Cavy, bear in mind that Meadow hay and Timothy hay are the optimal hays for your pet ( the quality ones).
Not only that they are high in fibers but also rich in vitamin C which your pig needs every day but he is incapable to produce it by himself. Without enough vitamin C in his diet, guinea pigs develop scurvy and may die.
Good quality hay has another feature – dust-free. This one is very important as guinea pigs are prone to respiratory infections. So look for a bag of hay which label clearly says ”dust-free” or ”dust- extracted”.
I heard that some people try with Alfalfa hay when their pets won’t eat other sorts of hay. This could be a very short-term solution as alfalfa hay is rich in calcium and calcium build-up over time can lead to the formation of large and painful stones in your pet’s bladder.
Alfalfa hay is more appropriate food for pregnant and nursing guinea pigs as well as guinea pig babies under the age of 6 months. All of them need extra calcium and protein so this sort of hay is just perfect for them.
What Happens If Your Guinea Pig Doesn’t Eat Hay Every Day?
As we have already said, guinea pigs need an unlimited amount of fresh hay every day. Although it’s not the only food they should have, it’s crucial for their general well being and should be 70-80% of their diet.
The main reason why the hay is so important for guinea pigs is that provides very high fiber content. Your Cavy’s digestive tract cannot function without fibers.
Lack of fibers will also cause large stones to develop in your pet’s bladder which can be very painful and most likely surgery would be needed to remove them.
Even if your Cavy recover after one surgery, guinea pigs are are prone to developing recurring stones in their bladders. Your pet cannot deal with surgeries over and over again, so if he doesn’t recover after the first one, you should consider euthanasia or you will condemn your Cavy to a life in pain.
Can Grass Replace Hay For Guinea Pigs?
Fresh grass cannot be a complete replacement for hay although can play important role in guinea pigs’ diet.
Fresh grass contains a lot of vitamin C and guinea pigs generally loves it.
It is a great source of nutrition during the summer months but has very few nutritional elements in the wintertime. That is why consider it only as a seasonal treat.
If you don’t have grass in your own garden but plan to take it from some other’s meadow be careful and check if the grass has been treated with some dangerous herbicides.
Another thing you should know is that the grass cut with a lawnmower is not good for your Cavy, pick only the grass that is pulled out by hand.
If you would like to feed your guinea pig with fresh grass, ideally would be to have your own garden and let your pig run around and chew on grass.
If you give your guinea pig grass that you ( or somebody else ) pulled out by the hand, note that grass spoils very quickly. Remove any uneaten grass in an hour or two.
It is possible to buy a bale of dried grass. This grass is quite different from hay. The difference is in the way those two are dried. Dried grass still contains some vitamin C but that is nothing compared with fresh grass.
How Can I Get My Guinea Pig to Eat More Hay?
Some guinea pigs can be really tough when it comes to their food. Don’t be discouraged by their stubbornness or if it turns that you have a really picky eater. Here are some tips and tricks to encourage your pet to eat more of what is good for him:
- Decrease pellets, grains, and treats. Don’t expect that your pet will eat the food that is good for him. The same as humans, guinea pigs will also prefer ”junk” food ( rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat) if available.
- Offer unlimited amounts of hay. The average guinea pig will eat 1 OZ of hay every day.
- Place hay everywhere. Not only in a hay rack but also bedding, hidden in some toy, all over the hutch.
- Limit access to the area without hay. Don’t let your guinea pig wander around the room where there is no hay, at least until he begins to eat hay normally.
- Don’t remove hay unless it is soiled. But always add some fresh hay and mix it all up to intensify the smell of hay and possibly stimulate your pet to grab some.
- Fill boxes or a small kid’s pool with hay so your Cavy can play and eat at the same time. You can put in some bags, different boxes, or even in a miniature muffin tin. Put hay in some holes and then cover it with the same size matching ball. Teach your Cavy how to pick up the ball and find the surprise. In a short time, he will understand the game and will play it very gladly. Hopefully, he eats a surprise once he finds it.
- Enrich hay with some other food, fresh leafy vegetables, or pellets. Hide them in the hay and let your guinea pig try to get them. Hopefully, he will eat some hay as well.
- Enrich hay with few drops of fruit juice ( this is a very short-term method) just to make hay more appealing to your furry pal.
- You can also try hand feeding. Maybe your guinea pig will eat the hay from your hand.
Final Thought
A big part of the guinea pig’s diet is hay. This is an irreplaceable source of nutrition for your Cavy. Contains fibers and vitamin C, it’s a great tool to wear down your pet’s teeth, keeps his digestive tract healthy.
If your pet won’t eat hay, it is important to find the reason and solve the issue. Guinea pigs cannot live without hay and will die in 24-48 h if don’t consume it.
Of course, other things are important too, such as water, leafy green vegetables, and very limited amounts of pellets. Some piece of fruit is a great treat, although it is not recommended to much of it.
If your Cavy won’t eat hay, try with other types, brands. Add some other stuff such as vegetables or fresh grass or few pellets. Search for creative ways to offer hay to your furry pal. If nothing helps consult a vet. Maybe your pet is not stubborn, maybe something serious going on which requires the vet’s help and your attention.
Good luck!
