Is a rabbit food-mix satisfactory for guinea-pigs?
There are two reasons why a rabbit food mix may not suit a guinea-pig. You must check it does not contain an additive used to prevent Coccidiosis in rabbits. Most rabbit mixes contain this, but they have a toxic effect on guinea-pigs’ liver and kidneys. Guinea pig pellets and other diets for them are fortified with the vitamin C that guinea pigs cannot manufacture for themselves. Rabbits and hamsters do not need this supplement as they create the vitamin themselves, and so their feed does not contain extra vitamin C. Fed rabbit, horse or hamster food as the staple part of his diet, a guinea pig would quickly become sick with scurvey, one of the leading causes of death in guinea pigs. If fed these other diets, it would be vital to supplement the guinea pig’s intake with vitamin C drops on his food or in his water (20-30 mg per day) and to offer him fresh food rich in vitamin C.
