Alongside a daily supply of hay and veggies, guinea pigs need high-quality pellets to ensure they receive enough fiber and nutrients in their diet.
But not all pellets are healthy or suitable cavies – some can do more harm than good.
When I first started keeping piggies many years back, I was misinformed when it came to guinea pigs diet, which resulted in them becoming extremely overweight. My vet advised me to switch their pellet food to something more nutritious and nourishing.
In just a few short months of a balanced diet, my cavies were the picture of good health. Better yet, they were no longer overweight.
If you’re having some trouble picking the right food for your piggies (there are a lot of choices, I know, so I made a list for guinea pig owners), here are the best guinea pig pellets to keep your pet happy and healthy.
The Best From The Reviews
Top Pick
Oxbow Essentials Guinea Pig Food
Oxbow Essentials is suitable for guinea pigs of all ages, offering high fiber and vitamin C for healthy digestion, good immune system, and a shiny coat
Oxbow Essentials Guinea Pig Food
Out of all the guinea pig foods I’ve looked at, this one is my overall top pick.
Best Value
Kaytee Timothy Complete Guinea Pig Pet Food
Kaytee Timothy Complete Food includes probiotics and prebiotics to keep your guinea pig’s digestive tract functioning properly.
Kaytee Timothy Complete Guinea Pig Pet Food
If you need the best guinea pig food that’s also budget-friendly, this one is a solid choice.
Editor’s Choice
The Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food Pellets
Featuring a high fiber and vitamin content, this food from Small Pet Select offers a nutritious and healthy diet.
The Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food Pellets
If you can spend a bit extra on the best guinea pig food, this one is well worth the price tag due to its exceptional quality.
On To The Reviews…
Top Pick
Oxbow Essentials Guinea Pig Food
The Oxbow Essentials Food contains everything your guinea pig’s diet needs, including fiber, stabilized vitamin C, and plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Oxbow Essentials Guinea Pig Food
One of the best guinea pig pellets for guinea pigs of all ages is the Oxbow Essentials Food as it’s high in fiber and essential nutrients that your cavy needs for digestion, strong teeth, and coat and skin health.
Timothy Hay
The pellets are made from Timothy grass, which only the best guinea pig pellets are made from as it’s the healthiest and most nutritious type of hay for piggies.
It includes stabilized vitamin C and antioxidants to support your piggy’s immune system.
Pellet Properties
I like that these guinea pig pellets are fairly uniform in size and shape as this reduces the likelihood of selective feeding which is great for picky eaters.
The cavy food has also been formulated with the assistance and advice of veterinarians and cavy nutritionists, so you know it’s healthy and of exceptional quality.
The only fault I’ve found with this Timothy guinea pig food is its potential lack of flavor, which some fussy eaters might have an issue with.
Specs
- Bag Size: 10 lbs
- Brand: Oxbow
- First 5 Ingredients: Alfalfa Meal, Wheat, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Hulls, Soybean Meal
Pros
- Made from Timothy hay
- Contains vitamin C and other nutrients
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Uniform size and shape
Cons
- Potential lack of flavor
Best Value
Kaytee Timothy Complete Guinea Pig Pet Food
This food for adult guinea pigs from Kaytee contains probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamin C. It’s packed with flavor and nutrition.
Kaytee Timothy Complete Guinea Pig Pet Food
If you need an affordable complete guinea pig food, this one from Kaytee is a great option, boasting a tasty blend of all the ingredients most guinea pigs eat.
In fact, it’s so delicious, your cavy will have no trouble clearing their food bowl!
Healthy Ingredients
It contains Timothy hay pellets, dried fruits, and dried vegetables, which encourages your cavy to forage.
It has a hard and crunchy texture that helps keep your guinea pig’s teeth clean and healthy.
Nutritional Supplements
One of the best features of this adult guinea pig food is its stabilized vitamin C content, promoting good immunity and overall health.
It also features probiotics and prebiotics to support your guinea pig’s digestive system.
However, this food can be dusty as the pellets are rather fragile.
Specs
- Bag Size: 5 lbs
- Brand: Kaytee
- First 5 Ingredients: Sun-cured Timothy Grass Meal, Wheat Middlings, Ground Wheat, Oat Hulls, Dehydrated Soybean Meal
Pros
- Helps encourage natural foraging
- Contains stabilized vitamin C
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics
Cons
- Pellets are a bit dusty
Editor’s Choice
Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food
The Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food boasts a high fiber content thanks to its inclusion of Timothy hay. It also contains a range of vitamins and minerals to maintain healthy skin and immune system.
Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food
The Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food is an excellent choice if you can afford to spend a little more on the best guinea pig foods.
Premium Ingredients
It’s made primarily with Timothy hay to ensure its high fiber content, but this timothy hay based pellets also contains a variety of essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, D, and E to keep their immune system strong to help them fight off illnesses.
This timothy based guinea pig food is made in small batches to maintain consistent quality and freshness, which is great as your cavy deserves only the best guinea pig foods.
Pellet Size
However, the size of this pelleted food is a bit long, so you might need to break them up to make it easier for your piggy to consume.
Specs
- Bag Size: 10 lbs
- Brand: Small Pet Select
- First 5 Ingredients: Timothy Hay, Soybean Hulls, Soybean Meal, Sodium Bentonite, Wheat Middlings
Pros
- Contains Timothy hay for high fiber
- Includes a variety of minerals and vitamins
- Made in small batches
Cons
- Pellet size is a bit long
Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Guinea Pig Food
Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Food contains probiotic, prebiotics, and antioxidants to help your cavy live a healthy life.
Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Guinea Pig Food
Another good adult guinea pig food is the Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Food. It contains both prebiotics and probiotics to support your guinea pig’s digestive system, alongside natural antioxidants for healthy skin and immune system.
Natural Preservatives
The pellets are naturally preserved to retain their freshness, preventing them from losing nutritional content.
I like that the pellets are large and crunchy as this helps wear down your piggy’s teeth as they chew.
Alfalfa Hay
Unfortunately, these pellets are alfalfa hay based pellets, so they’re not the healthiest food to feed adult guinea pigs every day.
However, these alfalfa pellets are a good choice for guinea pigs who need some extra calories like nursing, sick, elderly, baby, and pregnant cavies.
Specs
- Bag Size: 5 lbs
- Brand: Kaytee
- First 5 Ingredients: Sun-cured Alfalfa, Ground Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Ground Oats, Ground Wheat
Pros
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics
- Large and crunchy pieces for healthy teeth
- Naturally preserved
- Contains antioxidants
Cons
- Alfalfa based pellets, which is not the best guinea pig food for daily consumption
Sherwood Pet Health Adult Guinea Pig Food Timothy Pellet
This adult guinea pig food from Sherwood contains a lot of Timothy hay to ensure its high fiber content. It also doesn’t contain any fillers or grain by-products.
Sherwood Pet Health Adult Guinea Pig Food Timothy Pellet
Next up is the Sherwood Pet Health Adult Timothy Pellet, another great complete food for an adult guinea pig.
Healthy Ingredients
It contains plenty of Timothy hay for healthy digestion, alongside safflower and flax seed to promote healthy skin.
It doesn’t contain any grain by-products or fillers to make it super nutritious, while also ensuring better energy levels and weight control.
The only downside of this food is that some cavies may not be fond of the flavor, especially if they are fussy,
Specs
- Bag Size: 4.5 lbs
- Brand: Sherwood Pet Health
- First 5 Ingredients: Timothy Hay, Safflower Meal, Flax Seed, Monodicalcium Phosphate, Salt
Pros
- Contains a lot of Timothy hay
- Doesn’t include any fillers or grain-by products
- Helps maintain healthy skin and coat due to flax seed and safflower
Cons
- Possible lack of flavor
Oxbow Organic Bounty Adult Guinea Pig Food
This food from Oxbow is made from mostly organic ingredients to keep your cavy in tip-top condition. It’s fortified with stabilized vitamin C and omega-3 and -6. Great for adult and young guinea pigs.
Oxbow Organic Bounty Adult Guinea Pig Food
This food for adult guinea pigs from Oxbow is a natural and healthy food for both adult and young guinea pigs, featuring mostly organic ingredients.
Healthy Ingredients and Supplements
It contains organic grass hay for high fiber, as well as essential omega-3 and -6 fatty acids for a velvety soft coat.
The food is fortified with stabilized vitamin C to keep your cavy healthy and is packed with antioxidants to ensure good overall health.
Pellet Properties
I like that the pellets are uniform in size and texture as this is palatable for most guinea pigs.
However, this food may be unappetizing to some cavies, possibly due to the organic ingredients it contains.
In addition, the food is relatively high in calcium, so it’s not ideal for everyday use.
Specs
- Bag Size: 3 lbs
- Brand: Oxbow
- First 5 Ingredients: Organic Grass Hay, Organic Canola Meal, Organic Wheat Straw, Organic Barley Meal, Organic Sunflower Meal,
Pros
- Made with mostly organic ingredients
- Fortified with vitamin C
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics
Cons
- Possible lack of flavor
- Unsuitable for everyday use
Vitakraft Guinea Pig Food
Featuring a blend of pellets, dried veggies, and fruits, this food from Vitakraft is delicious and nutritious.
Vitakraft Guinea Pig Food
Last but not least is this food from Vitakraft, consisting of a delicious mixture of pellets, dried, veggies, and dried fruits.
Great Supplement
It contains essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, E, and D to keep your pet in great shape and condition.
To improve brain and heart function, as well as promote healthy skin eyesight, the food contains DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) omega-3s.
It comes in a resealable bag to retain freshness and also features natural probiotics.
Unnecessary Inclusions
Unfortunately, this food contains a fair amount of fillers and dehydrated fruit pieces. The latter can be easily fixed as you can simply remove the pieces and use them as treats.
Specs
- Bag Size: 4.9 lbs
- Brand: Vitakraft
- First 5 Ingredients: Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Ground Corn
Pros
- Contains vitamins and minerals like vitamin A and C
- Contains natural probiotics
- Comes in a resealable bag
Cons
- Includes fillers and a lot of dried fruit
What Pellets Are Best for Guinea Pigs?
The best guinea pigs pellets are free of additives, artificial colorings and flavors, seeds, and nuts. Timothy hay pellets are an excellent choice as they are high in fiber, while also being low in protein, fat, and calcium.
Don’t use hamster food, dog food, rabbit food, or any other foods that aren’t designed for guinea pigs as they won’t contain the right nutrients or ingredients. Dog foods should especially be avoided as cavies are herbivores – meat and dairy products will make them very sick.
Healthy Guinea Pig Pellet Options
Timothy grass hay guinea pig foods are healthiest for guinea pigs as it’s high in fiber, low in fat, low in protein, and low in calcium.
Most guinea pig owners use this type of food (myself included) due to its health benefits.
Here’s a video on one of the products on the review covering the benefits of Timothy hay pellets.
Try to avoid food pellets that contain seeds, nuts, and an excessive number of dried fruit as these are usually high in fat and sugar, which can contribute to weight gain.
In addition, muesli guinea pig food brands should also be avoided as they usually contain an excessive amount of grains, seeds, and nuts, all which are foods guinea pigs don’t require in their diet.
Muesli-based guinea pig food can also cause selective feeding. Cavies that are picky eaters will often pick out the most tasty bits and leave behind the bits they don’t like (usually the healthiest parts!).
Can Guinea Pigs Live on Just Pellets?
Guinea pigs can’t live on pellets alone as they need variety in their diet to keep them healthy.
For a healthy guinea pig diet, they need to be provided with good-quality fresh hay and fresh vegetables/herbs like kale, cilantro, parsley, and romaine lettuce every day.
Hay is essential to keep your guinea pig’s teeth trimmed and their digestive system healthy.
Guinea pigs can’t live on pellets alone…
Fruits like apple, strawberry, blueberry, orange, and pear can also be given a couple of times a week as tasty treats.
Be careful not to feed fruits too often or in large portions as they contain a lot of sugar.
As guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C (like humans!) They need to get vitamin c from their food, including vegetables, herbs, and fruits.
That’s why it’s important you feed your pet guinea pig a variety of fruits and veggies to ensure they get enough vitamin C content.
A lack of vitamin c in guinea pigs can turn into a serious problem. So make sure to supplement their diet with enough vitamin c.
FACT
Did you know that a guinea pig’s natural diet in the wild includes grasses, plants, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and sometimes
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pellets Instead of Hay?
Guinea pigs cannot eat pellets instead of hay as they need the latter for digestion and grinding down their teeth. Pellets should only be a small component of your guinea pig’s daily diet, whereas hay should make up the majority of it (80%).
What Pellets Are Bad for Guinea Pigs?
Alfalfa hay based pellets are not ideal for guinea pigs on a daily basis, as they contain a lot of calcium and protein. Too much of the former can contribute to bladder stones or kidney stones.
However, alfalfa based guinea pig food can be beneficial to guinea pigs who need to put on weight or require extra calories, including those that are elderly, sick, pregnant, or nursing.
The Right Feeding Schedule
Aside from a healthy diet. You should feed your cavy every day and keep to a consistent schedule.
Recommended Feeding Amount
How much you feed your cavy depends on their age, sex, weight, and overall health.
However, most adult guinea pigs should be given around ⅛ cup of pellets (per 2 pound of body weight), 1 cup of fresh foods like vegetables/herbs, and an unlimited amount of hay.
TIP
Avoid feeding legume hay (like alfalfa hay) and grain hay (like oat hay) daily as both are overly high in protein and calcium.
Can You Overfeed Guinea Pigs?
You can overfeed guinea pigs if you give them too many pellets, fruits, vegetables, and treats.
Guinea pigs love food and will gorge themselves if given the opportunity, so you need to feed them the appropriate amounts to ensure they live a healthy life.
Overfeeding your cavy can lead to obesity and other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
The only food that guinea pigs can eat an unlimited supply of is hay as they need it for digestion and for wearing down their teeth.
Can Guinea Pigs Go Without Pellets for a Day?
Guinea pigs can go without pellet food for a day or two as it’s the least important component of their diet. As long as you offer your cavy hay and vegetables while they don’t have access to pellets, they should be fine.
NOTE
Going without hay for a day is dangerous for guinea pigs, however, as they need it to help them digest.
Storing Guinea Pig Pellets
Guinea pig pellets should be stored in a dry, cool, and dark place, such as inside a cupboard to keep them fresh. Ideally, transfer the pellets to an airtight container to ensure they don’t get wet, stale, and exposed to too much oxygen.
Sunlight can also reduce the vitamin C of cavy food, so make sure you don’t leave pellets out by a window.
Final Thoughts
I hope I helped you find the best guinea pig foods for your cavy.
Make sure your guinea pig’s food contains minimal artificial flavorings, colors, fillers, seeds, and nuts.
As a guinea pig owner, it’s your responsibility to feed your cavy the appropriate and healthiest pellets, such as any of the pet foods above.
If you’re still having some trouble deciding on a new food, here are my top 3 pellets for adult guinea pigs.
Top Pick
Oxbow Essentials food is a fantastic choice for adult and young guinea pigs as it’s high in fiber and vitamin C, contributing to a healthy digestive system, coat, and immune system. Its uniform sized pellets can help prevent selective feeding.
Best Value
Kaytee Complete Guinea Pig Pellets is an ideal option for cavies of all ages, containing probiotics and prebiotics for good digestion. It also includes vitamin C and other vitamins for healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Editor’s Choice
The Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Food is a high quality and nutritious pellet food for your guinea pigs. It contains only the finest ingredients like Timothy grass and has a great taste that guinea pigs adore.
Thanks for reading my guide on guinea pig pellet pet foods.
Feel Free To Share
If you have a spare minute, please share it with your friends and family, especially if they are also guinea pig owners or pet owners to help them find a new food for their furry friend.
Additionally, make sure to check out my other posts on cavies if you need some more advice on their care, such as this review of the best cavy beds.
(1) Spillproof by PINKE – licensed under CC BY 2.0
