If you keep both rabbits and guinea pigs, you’ve probably wondered whether they can share the same food. The answer is no.
Rabbit pellets don’t contain vitamin C, and guinea pigs can’t produce this vitamin on their own. Without it, they develop scurvy.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Rabbit Food?
Guinea pigs and rabbits have different behaviors, dietary plans, and nutritional needs. Guinea pigs can’t eat rabbit food because rabbit food doesn’t contain sufficient vitamin C, which is a crucial component of a healthy guinea pig’s diet.
The same concern applies to hamster food, which also lacks the vitamin C guinea pigs need.
Rabbits vs. Guinea Pigs
Rabbits
The domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) is a small mammal from the family Leporidae. Rabbits are herbivores that need mainly hay, grass, and green vegetable leaves.
When we picture rabbits eating carrots, it creates misconceptions since carrots and other roots can actually be dangerous for rabbits in large amounts. Just like guinea pigs, rabbits can’t process foods high in sugar.
Unlike humans and guinea pigs, rabbits can’t consume vitamin C because it damages their kidneys. What rabbits always need is unlimited amounts of fresh water and hay.
Guinea Pigs
A guinea pig is a cavy belonging to the family Caviidae. Like rabbits, they’re herbivores whose diet should consist of high-quality hay and small amounts of fresh veggies and fruits.
Guinea pigs require unlimited amounts of hay to limit the growth of their teeth. Fresh water and foods are essential daily.
Without enough vitamin C, guinea pigs develop dangerous conditions. One such illness is scurvy, which is potentially fatal if left untreated.
Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs require more attention and care.
Can I Keep Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Together?
The usual advice isn’t to keep rabbits and guinea pigs together in one place. There are a few important reasons.
First, guinea pigs and rabbits aren’t good companions for each other. The best companion for a rabbit is another rabbit, and the same is true for guinea pigs.
Their behavior isn’t the same, and rabbits can’t communicate with guinea pigs.
Second, their diet is similar but not similar enough for them to safely consume each other’s food. Guinea pigs need high amounts of vitamin C, but vitamin C can hurt rabbits.
Third, rabbits are larger and can injure guinea pigs by intentionally or unintentionally kicking them. Keeping them in separate habitats lets you provide the best care for both.
Can Guinea Pigs and Rabbits Eat the Same Food?
Guinea pigs and rabbits have different dietary needs and different digestive systems. Rabbits can’t benefit from guinea pig food, and guinea pigs can’t eat rabbit food.
The only type of food they can share is hay.
Rabbit Food Diet
A rabbit requires a balanced diet of hay, fresh vegetables and fruits, and rabbit pellets. Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems, so any food changes should happen slowly.
The main diet consists of unlimited amounts of hay (timothy or meadow type), fresh water, and grass. Guinea pig pellets are usually fortified with vitamin C, while rabbit pellets don’t contain this vitamin.
Never give your guinea pig rabbit food and never give your rabbit guinea pig food.
Guinea Pig Food Diet
Similar to rabbits, guinea pigs require a balanced diet of hay, fresh vegetables and fruits, and guinea pig pellets. An unlimited supply of orchard grass hay or timothy hay, fresh water, guinea pig pellets, and a mixture of fruits and vegetables is what your guinea pig needs every day.
Foods for guinea pigs must contain a high amount of vitamin C, which can come from fresh veggies, fruits, commercial pellets, or chewable tablets. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide on what to feed your guinea pig daily.
Just like rabbits, guinea pigs can’t process food high in sugar. It leads to diabetes, obesity, and similar chronic conditions that can significantly reduce your pet’s lifespan.
Is Rabbit Food Safe for Guinea Pigs?
Rabbit food lacks vitamin C, which matters a lot in guinea pig health. Excess vitamin C can damage a rabbit’s kidneys, but a guinea pig’s body simply excretes any unused vitamin C through urine.
If guinea pigs eat rabbit food (such as rabbit pellets) consistently, it leads to sickness and serious disease from vitamin C deficiency.
Dietary Needs of Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs need pellets that contain high amounts of fiber, protein, and vitamins, including vitamin C. They also need unlimited timothy hay and fresh water.
You should feed guinea pigs fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C but low in sugar. For help choosing the right commercial food, check out our list of best guinea pig pellet brands and best guinea pig foods.
Rabbits also need unlimited hay, but they don’t need vitamin C because it can cause kidney disease. Rabbits can eat guinea pig pellets, but guinea pigs can’t eat rabbit pellets.
Will Eating Rabbit Food Make Guinea Pigs Sick?
Guinea pigs suffer if they live on rabbit food, not just from the lack of vitamin C but from other harmful effects too.
Choking Hazard
Rabbits eat seeds and nuts, which are a choking hazard for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can’t eat seeds of any kind.
Allergic Reactions
Guinea pigs are prone to allergic reactions because they don’t have a robust immune system. Compared to rabbits, they need more fresh water and vitamin C.
Guinea pigs can also be allergic to ingredients in rabbit food.
Too Much Fat and Protein
Rabbits need foods rich in calories, carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Excess fats and proteins can harm guinea pigs’ health and lessen their cardiovascular strength.
Illnesses and Defects
Rabbit food is low in vitamin C supplements and their pellets lack this vitamin entirely. Guinea pigs need vitamin C to enhance their immune system and avoid illness.
Scurvy is a common disease in guinea pigs that occurs because of vitamin C deficiency.
Presence of Antibiotics
Some rabbit foods contain antibiotics, including penicillin, that can harm guinea pigs.
Feeding Guidelines for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
These species are closely related and both are herbivores, but they don’t have the same dietary needs.
Fresh Water
Both rabbits and guinea pigs require fresh water, so ensure they have constant 24/7 access to it. Provide water in a heavy ceramic bowl or a drip-feed water bottle, and clean the container daily.
Unlimited Hay and Grass
Both species must have unlimited access to good quality timothy hay. Guinea pigs need unlimited orchard grass or timothy hay for their main diet, and it helps their digestive system function properly.
Fresh Green Vegetables Daily
Both rabbits and guinea pigs need veggies and fruits for nutritional requirements. Provide different types of vegetables including cabbage, kale, broccoli, parsley, and mint.
Guinea pigs specifically need vegetables and fruits high in vitamin C.
Feeding Guidelines for Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs shouldn’t overeat, but it’s important to maintain a healthy diet with hay, vegetables, and vitamin C supplements. Like other animals, guinea pigs can’t produce vitamin C and require it from different sources.
How to Feed Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are true herbivores and can eat unlimited amounts of low-calcium hay rich in fiber, such as timothy hay. It helps their digestion and limits tooth growth.
Don’t give them rabbit pellets because they lack vitamin C. Instead, provide good quality commercial food (pellets) that contains vitamin C.
Feed them a limited amount of leafy vegetables such as bell peppers, lettuce, carrot tops, and other leafy greens high in vitamin C. Provide only small amounts of fruits or root crops since they’re rich in sugar.
Foods with high sugar content can lead to an imbalance of intestinal bacteria and cause diarrhea. Long-term, excess sugar leads to diabetes.
Serving Size for Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs tend to overeat, so it’s important to provide proper quantities. On their daily diet, guinea pigs need unlimited access to:
- Timothy hay or orchard hay
- Fresh clean water
They also need limited access to:
- Guinea pig pellets (about 1/8 cup once a day)
- Approximately one cup of fresh vegetables, leafy greens, and fruits
The pellets and vegetables must contain vitamin C.
Commercial Food
Choose vitamin C-fortified guinea pig pellets without added content such as seeds or dried fruit. Although you can occasionally feed a rabbit with guinea pig pellets, you shouldn’t do it daily.
Never feed guinea pigs with rabbit pellets that are formulated for a different species.
Fruit and Vegetables
A cup of fresh vegetables per guinea pig can be offered daily. Fruits and root crops should be limited since they’re high in sugar.
Leafy greens like romaine lettuce, kale, cilantro, or parsley should make up the bulk of fresh produce. Vegetables like red or green pepper, broccoli, and tomatoes have high vitamin C levels.
Fruits can be served in limited amounts, once a day or several times a week. Provide carrots, zucchini, and sweet potato only once a week since they’re high in sugar.
Introduce different fruits and veggies gradually to avoid diarrhea.
Vitamin C Recommendation
Vitamin C is a big deal in guinea pig health. Your pet requires at least 90 mg each day.
Unhealthy guinea pigs require 150 mg or more daily to lessen sickness and avoid infections.
Why Vitamin C Matters for Guinea Pigs
A good selection of food provides proper levels of vitamin C. It helps protect against diseases, keeps guinea pigs healthy, helps wounds heal faster, and supports healthy bones and joints.
Lack of vitamin C leads to scurvy.
Sources of Vitamin C
Vitamin C can be found in many leafy and fresh vegetables, including:
- Citrus fruit
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Parsley
- Kale
Commercial guinea pig pellets also contain vitamin C, along with chewable tablets and supplements.
Vitamin C Supplementation
Guinea pigs need vitamin C supplements since they can’t produce their own. The average guinea pig needs about 10 to 30 mg/kg daily.
A guinea pig deficient in vitamin C can receive up to 50 mg/kg once a day.
Some guinea pigs develop vitamin C deficiency even though they receive it in their dietary plan. This is the core reason why guinea pigs can’t eat rabbit food, which lacks this essential vitamin.
Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C deficiency is common in guinea pigs and may lead to skin and joint problems. Symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty eating foods
- Diarrhea
- Slow wound healing
- Lameness
- Joint swellings
- Bacterial infection
Lack of vitamin C impedes the production of collagen and can cause blood clotting problems.
Cause of Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C deficiency occurs when guinea pigs aren’t given a proper diet. It can also develop due to other illnesses and physical problems.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your veterinarian will make an initial diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency after performing an examination, looking for symptoms like joint problems. Blood analysis will identify vitamin C levels.
Treatment typically includes daily vitamin C supplements for 1-2 weeks. Your pet guinea pig should be monitored every day, and you should consult the veterinarian for a dietary plan.
Prevention
Make sure your guinea pigs have vitamin C in their food. The diet should contain at least 10 milligrams of vitamin C.
Pregnant guinea pigs need at least 30 milligrams per day.
Worth knowing: too much vitamin C creates its own set of problems.
Healthy Treats for Guinea Pigs
Provide a proper dietary plan with the right balance of pellets, hay, vegetables, fruits, and vitamin C sources. Root crops and fruits with high sugar levels should be served in small amounts only.
Don’t give foods that can harm them, and consult a veterinarian for health concerns.
Tips for Guinea Pig Care
Guinea pigs need more care and attention compared to other pets. Following these tips will help you avoid health problems.
Vitamin C
Having a diet with proper vitamin C levels is crucial for your guinea pig since it’s the main source of energy and appetite. It boosts the immune system and lessens the risk of illness.
Vitamin C can be found in pellets, vegetables, and fruits.
Proper Dish
Use a ceramic food dish rather than plastic. Plastics can be chewed by your pet, while ceramic dishes are chew-resistant and difficult to overturn.
Provide a wide type of bowl since guinea pigs like to place their front paws on the rim of their food bowl.
Proper Foods
Always provide unlimited fresh water and unlimited hay. Give limited fresh fruits and vegetables, removing any perishable or spoiled foods.
Remove rotten parts of fruits or vegetables and uneaten portions. Give them fresh pellets, not leftover food.
Adjust their food according to their weight.
Young, pregnant, and sick guinea pigs have different dietary needs and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your vet can create a special dietary plan for your guinea pig.
Guinea pig teeth grow continuously, which is why unlimited hay is so important.
Final Thoughts
Rabbits and guinea pigs are both herbivores that require hay, fresh water, and limited amounts of veggies, fruits, and pellets. But their nutritional requirements are completely different.
Rabbit food contains less vitamin C because rabbits don’t need it, and too much can damage their kidneys. Guinea pigs, on the other hand, need plenty of vitamin C to avoid scurvy and other diseases.
Don’t feed guinea pigs rabbit food. It lacks vitamin C and can lead to serious problems for your pet.
References
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/company/rabbitsandguineapigs
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/guinea-pig-feeding
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/guinea-pigs-feeding
https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-should-i-feed-my-guinea-pigs/
https://www.mariposavet.com/guinea-pigs-vitamin-c-supplementation-know
Frequently Asked Questions
Guinea pigs can safely eat rabbit hay since both species thrive on timothy hay and orchard grass. Hay is the one food they can safely share. Just make sure it's fresh, clean, dry, and free from mold before offering it to either pet.
A one-time accidental nibble won't cause immediate harm, but rabbit pellets lack vitamin C that guinea pigs desperately need. If your guinea pig regularly eats rabbit food instead of its own pellets, it'll develop vitamin C deficiency and eventually scurvy.
Rabbits can eat guinea pig pellets occasionally without major issues, but it shouldn't become a habit. Guinea pig pellets contain added vitamin C, and too much of this vitamin over time can damage a rabbit's kidneys. Use species-specific pellets for daily feeding.
Healthy guinea pigs need about 10 to 30 mg per kilogram of body weight each day, which works out to roughly 90 mg total. Sick or pregnant guinea pigs may need 150 mg or more daily. Get this from vitamin C-fortified pellets, fresh vegetables, and supplements.
