Guinea Pig Fact Sheet
SUMMARY:
Guinea pigs are simple-stomached herbivores with nutritional considerations much like that of the rabbit and rat. They require adequate levels of vegetative matter in their diet to promote cecal fermentation and rely upon coprophragy to support some essential vitamins and amino acids. They are also unique in their requirement for elevated vitamin C levels. Genesis Extruded Guinea Pig Food is a complete food fortified based on fresh vegetative ingredients, fortified with essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamin C and other essential vitamins and minerals all in a convenient effective extruded croquette.
INTRODUCTION:
The “civilized” world got its first glimpse of the Andean cuy (Cavia porcellus) in the mid 16th century and the species name porcellus which means “little pig” was proffered by none other than Linnaeus in the mid 18th century. Where the common name “Guinea” comes from is lost to antiquity. Despite this, in the modern vernacular to be a “guinea pig” has become synonymous with research. The guinea pig was first enlisted in Lavoisier’s experiments on the essentiality of oxygen in the late 1700’s, and Koch’s “germ theory” in the late 1800’s (Endersby, 2007). So, it’s pretty ironic that with such a blue-ribbon pedigree in research the guinea pig’s nutritional requirements have yet to be fully determined. Today the nutrient requirements for many elements have been assumed to be similar to those of the rat, mouse, or rabbit (NRC 1995).
The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) has a long record of domestication where it was originally produced for food. While seldom used for these purposes today, these same friendly characteristics make them suitable as a family pet. The guinea pig is a fastidious eater, and will consume numerous small meals throughout the day. They are suspicious of dietary change (neophobic). Commercial diets in the form of a pellet or extruded croquette are preferred to that of powdered or gel diets in order to promote healthy teeth.
Guinea pigs are strict herbivores and thrive on vegetative matter. Anatomically, they have open-rooted incisors designed for cutting and tearing forage and molars adapted to grinding. The open rooted incisors grow continuously throughout life and must be worn constantly by chewing on course fibrous matter to keep them ground to a suitable length. The guinea pigs stomach is considered “simple” with a glandularepithelium running the length. This glandular stomach plays host to an indigenous population of gram-positive bacteria that are reputed to provide metabolites and microbial-cell bound nutrients to the host. The guinea pig has a large semi-circular cecum with lateral pouches – similar to a rabbit. Abundant fermentation occurs in the cecum and coupled with copraphgy (eating feces) supplies the guinea pig with a supply of B vitamins and essential amino acids.
As noted previously the dietary guidelines used for the rat, mouse, and rabbit are generally sufficient for guinea pig nutritional considerations. Protein nutrition is generally met by vegetative dietary ingredients and coprophagy. Of the amino acids arginine is thought to be the most limiting amino acid in the diet, followed by methionine, and tryptophan. Plant proteins contain generous proportions of arginine. Soybean protein containing diets may lack adequate methionine which can be readily remedied by supplement DL-methionine.
Fats and oils from plants and seeds are generally adequate in essential fatty acids. The omega 6 fatty acid Linoleic acid is required at 0.88 to 1.04% of calories to meet both proper growth and to avoid dermatitis and skin lesions. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids are not considered dietarily essential, but may be beneficial to eye (retinal) health. The guinea pig does have a unique need for elevated dietary Vitamin C levels to promote collagen synthesis, wound healing, and bone growth. The generally accepted minimum of 200 mg/kg diet is recommended, but higher levels may be beneficial and are commonly found in fortified foods. The guinea pig also has an elevated requirement for vitamin A which can in part be supported by B-carotene (conversion only 40%). Mineral nutrition is consistent with the other species with the balance between calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium of importance in order to prevent antagonisms in their individual absorption and utilization.
Genesis Extruded Guinea Pig Food:
The Genesis Extruded Guinea Pig Food is produced with special attention to supporting the nutritional requirements of the guinea pig throughout all life stages. As noted above, this diet possesses sufficient vegetative fiber sources, probiotics, and prebiotics to promote good cecal fermentation, and adequate vitamin C to meet the unique needs of the guinea pig. The extrusion process assures that the grains and proteins used in the formulation are properly cooked for complete digestion, and that heat labile anti-nutritional factors such as the trypsin inhibitor are neutralized. This method of food delivery also assures that the guinea pig has adequate hard-fibrous food to support healthy tooth wear, and to encapsulate all the essential nutrients in every morsel.
LITERATURE CITED:
• NRC 1995. Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals. National Academy Press, Washington DC.
• Endersby, J., 2007. A Guinea Pig’s History of Biology. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
