Do you answer questions about guinea pigs? If so, my guinea is about 2 yrs old and recently stopped eating his hay. He eats his pellets, carrots, lettuce and drinks just fine. I took him to a vet and they want to sedate him to look at his molars. I am uncomfortable with sedation for variety of reasons. Is it really a tooth problem if he is able to chew other hard things? Or could it be something else? Pet's info: Other | Unknown - Other | Male | unneutered | 2 lbs

It's probably not a tooth problem, especially if he is eating his pellets and veggies without any problems, some guinea pigs stop eating hay for no apparent reason, you can try to change the type of hay this might help.

Why won't my guinea pig eat hay but eats pellets & veggies?

Health & Wellbeing

So my boar guinea pig has barely eaten any hay in the last couple days. All he wants to eat is a little veggies given to him and his oxbow pellets. He is still happy and jumps around and has been acting just the way he usually does. What do you think

Hi there! Guinea pigs really like their veggies and pellets, so your guy may be starting to want those more often instead of hay. However, Guinea pigs really need to be eating hay as the main staple of their diet. This makes sure their gastrointestinal tract is always active and working. Try to continue to offer your pig hay and very small amounts of the other stuff. He also needs to have a vitamin C supplement in the diet. If your pig isn't eating much though in general, my biggest concern is always checking the teeth (which should be done a couple of times a year anyway by a veterinarian who is skilled at treating Guinea pigs), and also making sure the pig isn't bloated. Guinea pigs can also colic and have issues with the gastrointestinal tract not moving at an appropriate pace. I would monitor your pig for another 12 hours and if he is not improving, I'd take him in to see his veterinarian to insure nothing serious is going on.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My Guinea pig just stopped eating his pellet food, which is highly unlikely him. He usually finishes it in a matter of minutes but I notice yesterday that he barely ate any of it. He still eats his veggies and hay, he just doesn't seem like himself.

I would recommend taking Mr.Nibbles to the vet for a good oral exam. It is common for guinea pigs to have dental disease. Sometimes if the teeth are over grown it will cause them not to eat certain types or food and eventually become anorexic. If his teeth are normal I would not be very concerned at this time. I hope that helps

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My guinea pig has always eaten timothy hay like crazy but for the past couple months she has pretty much stopped eating it completely. She still eats her pellets like normal, eats her vitamin C tablet and eats any fresh fruits/veggies I give her but

Thanks for reaching out about Lucy. Dental disease (cheek teeth) are fairly common in guinea pigs, as their teeth grow throughout life. Infections, inflammation, scurvy, can all be causes. Dental disease can be infections or inflammation, and therefore painful. If it hurt to chew, and hay requires more chewing, then she might be shying away from hay. A veterinary visit is recommended to check, more important if you think she is loosing weight. Good luck.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Food & Nutrition

I just got a guinea pig about a week ago and she hasn't been eating her food pellets, only her hay, she eats a lot of the hay actually and I refill her hay everyday but she barely touches anything else I try to give to her, including treats or veggie

Hay is not a bad diet for guinea pigs but the do have an absolute requirement for vitamin C - this can be from vegetables/fruits (sych as peppers, dark leafy greens, brocolli or squashes), supplemented pellets or in Rose's case vitsamin C srops for her water may be helpful also

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My pig only eats pellets and not hay. We give her lots of hay but she just ignores it. What can we do?

It might not like that hay. If it comes from a pet store there is a chance it is old and dusty. Try finding someone with horses and ask if you can buy a slice of grass hay from them. Might cost you two or three dollars, but will be far nicer hay and your piggy will likely eat it.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Food & Nutrition

So a buy a female guinea pig but she only wants to eat hay, I'm trying to give her salad like carrots and other cainds or dried food but she don't want it, she is 2 month old that's what they told me on petco

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Keep in mind that she just may simply not like those. I would encourage you to try other vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers or celery and also other types of dry food until you find what she prefers. Best of luck!

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My daughters guinea pig stopped drinking water, I noticed the bottle was slimed and gross inside so I ran out and bought a new one. She's still not drinking and not really eating her pellets or hay but is eating her fresh veggies! She acting her norm

You may want to consider having her examined. Sometimes dental disease is really hard to identify without the special tools. Hopefully she will rebound quickly, but don’t hesitate to have her looked at if she isn’t 100% normal. Good luck to you and Maggie!

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

I just recently moved and my guinea pig will drink and eat her normal food but she won't eat the Timothy hay I've always bought her that she loves. I'm confused?

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! The new environment may have made Alexis not want to eat her hay. As long as she is eating and drinking normally, it is normal for her to eat less hay (or none) than usual. You can also try putting a small amount of water on her hay to see if she is more interested in it. You should change the moistened hay daily as it can promote mold growth. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

I have noticed that my guinea pig hasn't been eating his pellets or veggies. He also has been have some fur come off. I'm worried he is sick

If he will allow, check his teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. If his teeth are overgrown, they will need to be trimmed by your veterinary. If his teeth look normal, consider an exam with your veterinarian to diagnose and treat illness or injury. Maintain a clean and warm cage. There are special diets, such as the Oxbow line, that can be mixed with water to make eating easier until he is eating his normal diet.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Health & Wellbeing

My guinea pig has very tiny and dry poop and she suddenly eats only few strands of hay but she is eating all her veggies

It sounds like Kinako may not be getting enough fibre from her diet, so her poop is small and dry. Make sure you offer her fresh hay and pelleted food made for g.pigs that has a high fibre content. Raspberries are higher in fibre, so worth trying to offer her some. If this problem continues, your vet should examine her teeth to make sure there are no sharp spurs which may prevent her chewing properly. Change her water daily.

Updated on September 24th, 2025

Why won't my guinea pig eat hay but still eats pellets and veggies?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Why won't my guinea pig eat hay but still eats pellets and veggies?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Related Questions

So my boar guinea pig has barely eaten any hay in the last couple days. All he wants to eat is a little veggies given to him and his oxbow pellets. He is still happy and jumps around and has been acting just the way he usually does. What do you think

My Guinea pig just stopped eating his pellet food, which is highly unlikely him. He usually finishes it in a matter of minutes but I notice yesterday that he barely ate any of it. He still eats his veggies and hay, he just doesn't seem like himself.

My guinea pig has always eaten timothy hay like crazy but for the past couple months she has pretty much stopped eating it completely. She still eats her pellets like normal, eats her vitamin C tablet and eats any fresh fruits/veggies I give her but

I just got a guinea pig about a week ago and she hasn't been eating her food pellets, only her hay, she eats a lot of the hay actually and I refill her hay everyday but she barely touches anything else I try to give to her, including treats or veggie

My pig only eats pellets and not hay. We give her lots of hay but she just ignores it. What can we do?

So a buy a female guinea pig but she only wants to eat hay, I'm trying to give her salad like carrots and other cainds or dried food but she don't want it, she is 2 month old that's what they told me on petco

My daughters guinea pig stopped drinking water, I noticed the bottle was slimed and gross inside so I ran out and bought a new one. She's still not drinking and not really eating her pellets or hay but is eating her fresh veggies! She acting her norm

I just recently moved and my guinea pig will drink and eat her normal food but she won't eat the Timothy hay I've always bought her that she loves. I'm confused?

I have noticed that my guinea pig hasn't been eating his pellets or veggies. He also has been have some fur come off. I'm worried he is sick

My guinea pig has very tiny and dry poop and she suddenly eats only few strands of hay but she is eating all her veggies

Share