Top o' the morning, friends!
Gizmo here.
Right now, I'm helping Big Momma’s plan my St. Patrick's Day guinea pigs party with lots o’ green decorations, cozy hideouts for my friends, and my favorite green snacks!
But before we start munching like a herd of happy cavies, Big Momma always reminds us of one important thing:
Not All Green Foods Are Lucky
Did you know cavies have to be picky about which veggies we nibble? Some guinea pig treats that seem festive aren’t safe for cavies like me.
The best veggie options are usually high in Vitamin C because piggies can only get this vitamin through the foods we eat. (That means we can’t make it ourselves like some animals can.)
Some great vitamin-C rich green veggies include:
- Bell Peppers
- Romaine Lettuce
- Kohlrabi
- Cilantro (I love it fresh, but it also it pairs well with pears in my favorite Healthy Snackers!)
Some other green veggies like spinach, broccoli, and parsley are high in vitamin C and are fine in small amounts. But guinea pigs can get a painful thing called a bladder stone with too much calcium, so we’ve got to be careful. Other green vegetables can give us upset tummies when we eat too much.
That's why these scrumptious green veggies should only be given in moderation:
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Broccoli
- Green Peas
- Arugula
- Dandelion Greens
- Turnip Greens
- Kale
- Dill
- Mustard Greens
- Cucumbers
And remember, NO iceberg lettuce, onions, or garlic! Those are definitely not lucky snacks for piggies.
Making Eating Fun
Now here’s my favorite part of the celebration.
Big Momma makes sure our party snacks aren’t just nummy, they’re also an adventure!
Guinea pigs naturally love to search for food, sniff around, and nibble on different textures. It keeps our brains busy and our bodies healthy. A good piggy party always includes a little exploring.
That’s why I get so excited when Big Momma brings out a Small Pet Select Herbal Forage Tray.
It’s packed with safe herbs and natural goodies that I can explore, dig through, and snack on at my own pace. It’s like a treasure hunt for piggies — only instead of gold, we find delicious herbs!
A piggy could spend a very long time investigating something like that.
(Trust me. I’ve done extensive piggy research.)
A Lucky Little Life
St. Paddy’s Day focuses a lot on luck. Humans talk about luck like it’s magic, with things like pots of gold and lucky charms
The truth is, being a lucky guinea pig isn’t about one big party, even when it's a St. Paddy’s Day piggy party! It's about the guinea pig care that is provided every single day.
For us piggies, “lucky” looks a little different:
• Fresh hay every single day
• A clean, cozy space to rest
• Gentle hands and kind voices
• Healthy snacks given with love
Those small routines help piggies like me feel safe, calm, and loved.
And thanks to Big Momma, I am, in fact, one very lucky piggy.
Wishing you a happy St. Patrick's Day!
Gizmo
The luckiest pig in the clover patch
We are not veterinarians, and none of our information should be construed as veterinary advice. If your animal is acting unwell or you have concerns for your animal's well being, please contact your veterinarian.
