Online Guinea Pig Care

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Useful links
  • Guinea Pig Rescue Shelters Throughout The World
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Useful links
  • Guinea Pig Rescue Shelters Throughout The World

Category Archives: Guinea pig foods

can guinea pigs eat limes Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Limes?

March 17, 2019Guinea pig foodsfoods, lime leaves, limesChris Perkins

In this updated post, we look at whether guinea pigs can eat limes and lime leaves.

Limes are a similar shape to lemons except they have bright green skin which is smooth.

They have a very distinct smell and flavor which means it is used in a large number of different culinary dishes and situations all around the world.

They are available all the year round as a fruit and are at their best when they are unblemished with a firm texture which means that they will feel heavy for their size.

The heavier they are, the juicier they are.

They measure between three to six centimeters in diameter.

Lime juice makes things taste fresher. I use it for drinks, salsas, relishes, soups and sauces. You want to give it to your limes – firmness means that the inside is dry – and they’ll stay softer for longer if you don’t refrigerate them.

Bobby Flay

So limes aren’t a fruit that I necessarily like but they look great and taste brilliant as an accompaniment in a soft or alcoholic drink.

I know there are a lot of people out there who love limes and have no qualms in eating them.

image wikipedia

So if humans can eat limes, can guinea pigs. If they can, how much can they eat?

Lets find out by taking a look at its nutritional data.

As per usual, take a look at its sugar, calcium, phosphorus, oxelate acid, and fat content to see whether it is any good for guinea pigs.

Energy 126 kJ (30 kcal)
Carbohydrates 10.5 g
– Sugars 1.7 g
– Dietary fiber 2.8 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 0.7 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.03 mg (3%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.02 mg (2%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.2 mg (1%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.217 mg (4%)
Vitamin B6 0.046 mg (4%)
Folate (vit. B9) 8 μg (2%)
Vitamin C 29.1 mg (35%)
Calcium 33 mg (3%)
Iron 0.6 mg (5%)
Magnesium 6 mg (2%)
Phosphorus 18 mg (3%)
Potassium 102 mg (2%)
Sodium 2 mg (0%)

source wikipedia

As you can contains a little phosphorus, calcium, and a little sugar. It also contains a very good amount of vitamin c which is fantastic for our guinea pigs.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Limes?

Because of this, guinea pigs can eat limes but not too regularly because of its phosphorus, sugar and calcium content. But the vitamin c content makes it worthwhile for guinea pigs.

However, do be careful with feeding them to your cavy.

Just like if we have too many of them, guinea pigs can also get tummy trouble from eating them.

So don’t feed them too much. One or two segments at the most twice a week should be sufficient.

Another hurdle to overcome is that they are of course very sour. So they may not take to them at all.

However, that doesn’t stop you from trying them with your guinea pigs

So we’ve looked at limes, what about lime leaves?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Lime Leaves?

Lime leaves are sometimes called kaffir lime leaves and are fragrant leaves of the wild lime tree.

They are used a lot in Thai and South East Asian cuisine much like bay leaves are.

Lime leaves are joined tip to end and create an unusual figure of eight shape.

They also have a spicy, lemony flavor. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat lime leaves?

Unfortunately, they cant’ eat them. Lime leaves are just too spicy and citrusy for piggies to eat and should be avoided as a food to them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list

Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat rye grass Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Rye Grass?

March 16, 2019Guinea pig foodsChris Perkins

Rye grass is a species of grass that is often used for lawns.

It is also used as pasture land for grazing and hay for livestock, and as a highly nutritious stock feed.

It is characterized as fast to establish and hardwearing.

Rye grass is also tolerant of cylinder and rotary mowers and grows well in cold or damp conditions.

It does not like shady or dry conditions.

It is often perceived as a weed-like plant and the term ryegrass free is often used to describe more ornamental grass. (source)

It is used widely throughout the United States but does differ depending on the region.

Because it grows quickly it is used widely in permanent and temporary lawns and helps form lush, fine-bladed lawns that maintain its color into winter. (source)

Long Italian rye grass tends to have an endophyte fungus to kill grass grubs and black beetles but is toxic for forage eating animals such as dairy cows.

Rye grass and tall fescue grass are both species which would not normally be eaten because of this. Rye grass does not tend to be eaten by humans as well

Also, Rye grass seed does have nutrients that we quote like but it, not something that humans would eat as such.

So what about if Guinea pigs were to eat Rye grass?

Especially if they were out in a lawn which contained Rye grass.



Yes, they can eat it, however, beware of them eating too much of it as they can get a tummy ache and their poop becomes more and more squiggy as a result.

Can guinea pigs eat rye grass?

Although this is something to be aware of, my experience is that Guinea pigs will stop eating when they just can’t eat anymore, just like us really.

However, because they love to eat it they will always try and eat as much as they possibly can.

So there is nothing wrong with them grazing on rye grass, just be aware that eating too much rich grass will give them squiggy poop

What’s the best grass for them to eat? 

Dry grass or hay is the best for them in this regard.

Timothy hat or meadow hay is a far better grass to give to them.

It has much more beneficial nutrients and does not have anything detrimental for them if they eat it.

It is great for them to eat to grind their teeth on and they will enjoy chewing away on it.

From my experience, they enjoy the greener hays rather than the browner hays which you sometimes find so it’s recommended that you go for greener varieties.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat toast Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can guinea pigs eat toast?

January 9, 2018Guinea pig foodsbread, brown, malted, toast, whiteChris Perkins

I don’t drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side …”

(Englishman in New York)
Sting

Nothing like kicking off a post with some random song lyrics about toast from Sting!

Toast is one of the most common breakfasts in the world and is eaten in more countries than I could possibly name here.

So it may occur that your kitty could take a slight fancy to a piece of toast if they see it sitting on a plate unattended.

Hence why I have written this post!

So what is toast?

Toast is sliced bread that has been browned by exposure to radiant heat.

This browning is the result of a Maillard reaction altering the flavor of the bread and making it firmer so that it is easier to spread toppings on it.

Toasting is a common method of making stale bread more palatable.

Bread is often toasted using a toaster, but toaster ovens are also used.

Toast is commonly eaten with butter or margarine and sweetened toppings, such as jam or jelly.

Regionally, savory spreads, such as peanut butter or yeast extracts, may also be popular.

When buttered, toast may also be served as an accompaniment to savory dishes, especially soups or stews, or topped with heartier ingredients like eggs or baked beans as a light meal. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat toast?

Yes, they can eat toast.

Whether or not they will it is another thing as its not really the sort of food that piggies normal eat, that’s not to say they wouldn’t try it and they would certainly give it a good sniff to check it out.

However, it holds no nutritional value for them and so it is not a food that they should eat often. If they do take to it and start eating it, then it should be just a treat for them only.

As it provides no nutritional value for them it eol just be fattening for them so just give it to them in small amounts.

It should be eaten dry and without any kind of spread on it.

However, they may not enjoy it very much as it is quite bland for them as a food.

What foods should Guinea pigs eat instead?

Instead of toast, they much prefer veggies, fruits and greens as food and they are nutritionally much better for them.

They will eat as much as you give them so take care what you feed them.

If in doubt check out the individual food on our site to check its suitability. 

As well as that they should have a regular supply of meadow or Timothy hay for them to chew on and grind their teeth.

Also, have their water topped up consistently so they always have something to drink from and keep refreshed. 

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat green tomatoes

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Tomatoes?

January 5, 2018Guinea pig foodssalad, tomatoes, unripe tomatoes, unripened tomato, veggiesChris Perkins

Green tomatoes are those tomatoes that have not ripened as yet and have not developed their color.

They grow a green color and then as they ripen and mature go yellow and then red.

They are much different from their red counterparts.

They are extremely firm and not welcoming to bite into because of their hardness. 

Often they are seen as untouchable as they are so sour when they are raw.

However, they are often used in recipes as they can be cooked and are well known for being coated in cornmeal or flour and then pan-fried to a crisp.

This makes them very edible and delicious for so many.

Indeed there are a great many recipes which use cooked green tomatoes including pickles and chutneys.

Their bright flavor contributes much to these culinary creations and gives an added zing. 

So let’s take a look at what tomatoes contain.

As far as Guinea pigs are concerned we are interested in their acidic water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium and phosphorus content.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)Energy74 kJ (18 kcal)

Carbohydrates 3.9 g
Sugars 2.6 g
Dietary fiber1.2 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 0.9 g
VitaminsQuantity%DV†Vitamin A equiv.
beta-Carotene
lutein zeaxanthin 5% 42 μg 4% 449 μg 123 μg
Thiamine (B1) 3% 0.037 mg
Niacin (B3) 4% 0.594 mg
Vitamin B6 6% 0.08 mg
Vitamin C 17% 14 mg
Vitamin E 4% 0.54 mg
Vitamin K 8% 7.9 μg
Minerals
Quantity%DV†
Magnesium 3% 11 mg
Manganese 5% 0.114 mg
Phosphorus 3% 24 mg
Potassium 5% 237 mg
Other constituents
Quantity
Water 94.5 g
Lycopene 2573 µg


Can guinea pigs eat green tomatoes?

Unfortunately, they are unable to eat any kind of tomato as they are too acidic for guinea pigs to eat. They should be avoided as food for them.

What about fried green tomatoes? 

Cooked foods are not good for Guinea pigs to eat and tend not to interest them.

They lose their nutrients and out fruit and veggie loving piggies will not get anything from them.

They still maintain some of their acidic nature though and so won’t benefit a piggie with that. A food to steer clear of feeding them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

To find out about other tomatoes and whether piggies can eat them, check out this post ‘can guinea pigs eat tomatoes?‘

Leave a comment
Causes of a loss of appetite in a guinea pig Pin it! Share on Facebook

3 Causes of a loss of appetite in a guinea pig

December 30, 2017Guinea pig foodsChris Perkins

Causes of a loss of appetite in a guinea pig. When a guinea pig loses its appetite it is a time to be concerned. One of the things that guinea pigs love to do is to eat. They always need to be chewing something, to help grind their teeth down. If they don’t grind down their teeth, their teeth start to hurt them. They also love to eat because they are big eaters. They will usually eat until they are full and enjoy hunting for food to eat.

So when a guinea pig isn’t eating, it is a serious cause for concern.

Why might this be?

There are three reasons why a guinea pig may not be eating and has a loss of appetite.

3 Causes of a loss of appetite in a guinea pig
  1. Teeth issues
  2. Pain they might be feeling.
  3. Bladder or Kidney Stones
Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat st augustine grass Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can Guinea Pigs eat St Augustine Grass?

December 30, 2017Guinea pig foodsgrass, grasses, green, lawn, turfChris Perkins

St. Augustine grass is also known as Charleston grass in South Carolina and buffalo turf in Australia.

It is a warm-season lawn grass that is popular for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions.

It is a medium- to high-maintenance grass that forms a thick, carpetlike sod, crowding out most weeds and other grasses. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat St Augustine grass?

Yes, they can eat it and they will enjoy eating it as well. Just make sure it doesn’t have any pesticides on it which may make your piggie sick.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat sweet gem lettuce Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can guinea pigs eat sweet gem lettuce?

December 30, 2017Guinea pig foodsChris Perkins

Sweet gem lettuce is a loose-forming compact head lettuce that has semi-savoyed leaves. It has a vibrant green color with small leaves and it is small enough to almost eat whole. It has a delicate flavor and is subtly sweet without any bitterness.

Sweet gem lettuce is available all year round and is sold in most supermarkets and grocery stores.

Can guinea pigs eat sweet gem lettuce?

Yes, they can in small amounts. It is high in water content so don’t feed them too much though.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat sweet heart cabbage Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can guinea pigs eat sweet heart cabbage?

December 30, 2017Guinea pig foodsChris Perkins
Can guinea pigs eat sweet heart cabbage?

Yes, they can eat in small amounts, they will enjoy eating it though and will eat everything you give them to eat. Be careful with how much of it you feed them though as cabbage tends to be high in water, and too much may give them runny poop. A few leaves are normally quite sufficient for them. Make sure they are washed thoroughly before you feed them to your guinea pigs so as to rid them of pesticides and bugs which may be among them.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment
Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can guinea pigs eat sweet peppers?

December 30, 2017Guinea pig foodsChris Perkins

Characteristic traits of this product include its small size, that ranges from 1.5 inches up to 4.0 inches.

Each color is grown separately and consists of three separate variety of seeds that have very similar characteristics in size, flavor, shape, and use, allowing it to be marketed as a single item and used the same way in its kitchen use. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat sweet peppers?

They can eat them in small amounts, however, take care not to feed them the seeds or the stalk.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment
can guinea pigs eat swede Pin it! Share on Facebook

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Swede?

December 30, 2017Guinea pig foodsvegetable, vegetables, vegetables that guinea pigs eat, veggie, veggiesChris Perkins

Swede is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip.

The roots are prepared for human consumption in a variety of ways, and the leaves can be eaten as a leaf vegetable.

The roots and tops are also used as winter feed for livestock, when they may be fed directly, or by allowing the animals to forage the plants in the field.

Various European countries have a tradition of carving them into lanterns at Halloween. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat swede?

let’s take a look at its nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, its acidic, water, sugar, fat, salt, calcium, and phosphorus content is of most interest as far as guinea pigs are concerned.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 157 kJ (38 kcal)
Carbohydrates
8.62 g
Sugars 4.46 g
Dietary fiber 2.3 g
Fat
0.16 g
Protein
1.08 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (8%) 0.09 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (3%) 0.04 mg
Niacin (B3) (5%) 0.7 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (3%) 0.16 mg
Vitamin B6 (8%) 0.1 mg
Folate (B9) (5%) 21 μg
Vitamin C (30%) 25 mg
Minerals
Calcium (4%) 43 mg
Iron (3%) 0.44 mg
Magnesium (6%) 20 mg
Manganese (6%) 0.131 mg
Phosphorus (8%) 53 mg
Potassium (6%) 305 mg
Zinc (3%) 0.24 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see swede contains a large amount of phosphorus, acidic content, a little calcium and sugar and a hint of fat.

This means that they can eat it in small amounts, however they can’t eat too much of it due to its acidic and phosphorus content that it has.

Eating too much of it will cause a guinea pig problems because of its acidity and so they are better off just having a few small pieces at a time, in fact two or three at the most.

Cut it up into manageable pieces that they can eat easily.

Also make sure it is washed thoroughly before you feed it to them.

As with most veggies, some piggies will enjoy swede and some won’t so it is defiantely worth a try with them, but don’t be alarmed if they don’t like it.

It is a veggie that will go nicely as part of a balanced diet for your piggies.

Give them water, hay, guinea pig mix and some pieces of fruit along with these veggies and will enjoy having a diet that will benefit them from a nutritional point of view and be varied and flavorsome for a piggie.

Can guinea pigs eat cooked swede?

No they can’t unfortunately. Cooked food is not good for guinea pigs to eat and they are much better with raw food. This includes if the swede is fried, stewed, baked, boiled, or sauteed.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat, check out our guinea pig food list.

Leave a comment

Posts navigation

← Older posts
Proudly powered by WordPress

  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Search website

SHARE

ADDITIONAL INFO

Onl Guinea Pig CareFollow


Onl Guinea Pig Care
onlineguineapigOnl Guinea Pig Care@onlineguineapig·
1h

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honeydew? https://t.co/1529AyaD4L

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on TwitterTwitter
onlineguineapigOnl Guinea Pig Care@onlineguineapig·
9h

can guinea pigs eat salad cress? https://t.co/ZHamGclhSn

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on TwitterTwitter
onlineguineapigOnl Guinea Pig Care@onlineguineapig·
17h

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Jerusalem Artichokes? https://t.co/twzz1THU7n

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on TwitterTwitter
onlineguineapigOnl Guinea Pig Care@onlineguineapig·
17 Mar

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Blackcurrants? https://t.co/0dltRwILy5

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on TwitterTwitter
onlineguineapigOnl Guinea Pig Care@onlineguineapig·
16 Mar

Can guinea pigs eat garden weeds? https://t.co/IvLTP8uut4

Reply on TwitterRetweet on TwitterLike on TwitterTwitter
Load More...

Categories

  • Breeds of Guinea Pig
  • Choosing a guinea pig
  • Guinea pig charachteristics
  • Guinea pig foods
  • Guinea pig health problems
  • Guinea pigs and other animals
  • Guinea pigs and special occasions
  • How to care for your guinea pig
  • How to feed your guinea pig
  • Looking after a guinea pig
  • Making a home for your guinea pig
  • Nature & character of guinea pigs
  • Nature and character of guinea pigs
  • Uncategorized
  • Where do guinea pigs come from?

Our Most Popular Posts

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pumpkin?

50 Fun Facts About Guinea Pigs For Kids

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Avocados?

All About The Himalayan Guinea Pig

Sheltie Guinea Pigs: A Brief Guide

Recent Posts

  • Can Guinea Pigs Eat Limes?
  • Can Guinea Pigs Eat Rye Grass?
  • Can guinea pigs eat toast?
  • Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Tomatoes?
  • Can guinea pigs and hamsters live together?