Tag Archives: foods

can guinea pigs drink chocolate milk

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Chocolate Milk?

Chocolate milk is a great drink for humans to drink. My kids love it and have it often.

Chocolate milk is sweetened chocolateflavored milk.

It can be created by mixing chocolate syrup (or chocolate powder) with milk (from cows, goats, soy, rice, etc.).

It can be purchased pre-mixed with milk or made at home by blending milk with cocoa powder and a sweetener (such as sugar or a sugar substitute), melted chocolate, chocolate syrup, or a powdered chocolate milk mix.

Other ingredients, such as starch, salt, carrageenan, vanilla, or artificial flavoring are sometimes added. (source)

So can guinea pigs drink chocolate milk at all?

Unfortunately they can’t. Its just too sweet for them to drink, but also it will hurt their tummies as well.

So it is best to steer clear of giving it to them.

Stick to water instead, and keep the chocolate milk to yourself 🙂

can guinea pigs drink prune juice

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Prune Juice?

We’ve already looked at prunes and whether they are good for guinea pigs, but what of the juice that comes from them?

Prune juice is often used by humans to ease constipation, but is it any good for guinea pigs?

Can guinea pigs drink prune juice?

Unfortunately, it isn’t at all. It is just far too sweet for them just like prunes themselves.

So definitely a drink to steer clear of as far as guinea pigs are concerned.

Stick to giving them water, unless your vet prescribes it for them.

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

can guinea pigs drink cold water

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Cold Water?

Guinea pigs need water to drink and a regular supply of it.

But what type of water should be given to them.

So can guinea pigs drink cold water at all?

The good news is that cold tap water is the best type of water for them.

It can be put into their water bottle’s for them to drink out of.

It doesn’t even matter if its ice cold, they can deal with it.

Just as long as they have cold water available for them to drink, they don’t mind and will still drink it if it is icey cold water.

What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Not Eat

What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Not Eat?

We’ve seen that fruits are great additions to a guinea pig’s diet. The vitamin c content that most fruits have to bring a much-needed supplement to their nutritional intake.

However, there are some fruits that they can’t eat as often as others.

What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Not Eat?

Here is a list of those that they shouldn’t eat. Well, not regularly anyway. If they have a nibble at them, they won’t hurt them but nothing more than once or twice a month at the most, if that.

The thing is that some of them actually have a very good amount of vitamin c, but their other content is just not good for them.

So here you go;

Currants – The fresh fruit of currants are very small and sweet, with quite an intense flavor. However, they contain too much acid, calcium and sugar for guinea pigs.

Coconuts – The various parts of the coconut have a number of culinary uses and make a great snack, however, they have too much acidic, sugar and phosphorus content for piggies

Damsons – They are most often used for cooking, and are commercially grown for preparation in jam and other fruit preserves. It as too much water content for guinea pigs though.

Dates –  Dry or soft dates are eaten out-of-hand or may be pitted and stuffed with fillings. However, they are just too sweet for piggies.

Grapefruit – Grapefruit are a popular citrus fruit that are often eaten for breakfast or snacks. They are also used in for the flavorings. However, they are very high in sugar for guinea pigs to eat.

Jackfruit – Jackfruit is commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines, however, it has too much sugar for piggies.

Kumquats – They resemble the orange, but it is much smaller, being approximately the size and shape of a large olive. Kumquat is a fairly cold-hardy citrus. They are too acidic and sugary for guinea pigs.

Lemons – This yellow fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world, primarily for its juice, which has both culinary and cleaning uses. It is too sweet and acidic though for piggies.

Olives – It is of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region as the source of olive oil; it is one of the core ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine.  It is too high in fat and salt for guinea pigs.

Passionfruit – Passion fruits are round or oval. They can be yellow, red, purple, and green. They are very acidic and sweet for piggies though.

Prunes – A prune is a dried plum of any cultivar. They are too much acid and phosphorus for guinea pigs, however.

 

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

can guinea pigs eat tissues

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tissue Paper?

If you are tempted to find something for your piggies to chew on, or want to give them some more bedding you may be tempted to lay down some tissue paper.

Tissue paper or simply tissue is a lightweight paper or, light crêpe paper.

Tissue can be made from recycled paper pulp.

Key properties are absorbency, basis weight, thickness, bulk (specific volume), brightness, stretch, appearance, and comfort.

Tissue paper is produced on a paper machine that has a single large steam heated drying cylinder fitted with a hot air hood.

The raw material is paper pulp.

The Yankee cylinder is sprayed with adhesives to make the paper stick.

Can guinea pigs eat tissue paper?

This is fine for them to use.

Most tissue paper these days is free of any kind of materials which they may be sensitive to.

If they do chew it, they won’t do for too long once they realize it isn’t to their taste.

If they happen to swallow some, they will find a way of digesting it.

Its the same as laying down a newspaper for them.

So it is fine for them to chew on, just make sure it isn’t fragranced and us just plain tissue paper.

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

can guinea pigs eat toilet paper

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Toilet Paper?

Toilet paper is sold as a long strip of perforated paper wrapped around a paperboard core.

Most modern toilet paper in the developed world is designed to decompose in septic tanks.

Whereas some other bathroom and facial tissues are not.

Toilet paper comes in various plies or layers of thickness.

This can be from one-ply all the way up to six-ply.

This means that it is either a single sheet or multiple sheets placed back-to-back to make it thicker, stronger and more absorbent. (source)

If you are looking for something for your guinea pigs to chew or something for bedding that you haven’t used before.

You may be thinking of using toilet paper?

So can guinea pigs eat toilet paper?

You know the soft tissue type.

image wikipedia

This is absolutely fine to use.

If they chew it, it wont harm them although they probably wont chew it for long once they realise it doesn’t taste so good. So they wont eat it usually only merely chew it.

can guinea pigs eat star fruit

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Star Fruit?

Also known as Carambola, Star Fruit are native to Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and are popular throughout Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and parts of East Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States.

image wikipedia

It has ridges down its sides, and if you cut it across its width it looks like a star.

It can be either eaten raw or be used in cooking in relishes, preserves, and juice drinks.

So can guinea pigs eat star fruit, and if they can how much of it can be eaten?

Lets take a look at its nutritional data and find out more about it.

As per usual, their acidic, calcium, sugar, fat and phosphorus content are of particular interest as far as guinea pigs are concerned.

Energy 128 kJ (31 kcal)
Carbohydrates 6.73 g
– Sugars 3.98 g
– Dietary fiber 2.8 g
Fat 0.33 g
Protein 1.04 g
– lutein and zeaxanthin 66 μg
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.014 mg (1%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.016 mg (1%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.367 mg (2%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.391 mg (8%)
Vitamin B6 0.017 mg (1%)
Folate (vit. B9) 12 μg (3%)
Choline 7.6 mg (2%)
Vitamin C 34.4 mg (41%)
Vitamin E 0.15 mg (1%)
Calcium 3 mg (0%)
Iron 0.08 mg (1%)
Magnesium 10 mg (3%)
Manganese 0.037 mg (2%)
Phosphorus 12 mg (2%)
Potassium 133 mg (3%)
Sodium 2 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.12 mg (1%)

source wikipedia

As you can see star fruit have a hint of phosphorus and fat, are quite acidic, and some sugar content.

They also have a very good amount of vitamin c in them.

With this in mind, they can be eaten by guinea pigs but only 2-3 times a week because they are quite acidic. In small amounts as well!

can guinea pigs eat satsumas

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Satsumas?

A satsuma is quite like an orange, tangerine or mandarin but it has loose skin and its flavour is less intense.

It is an easier fruit to peel and is less juicy as well. It is a great orange to eat on the go.

image wikipedia

So can guinea pigs eat satsumas, and if they can, how much can they eat of them?

lets take a look at their nutritional data and find out more

In particular, their phosphorus, acidic, sugar, fat and calcium content are of particular interest.

% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.24g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.03g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 10.1g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1.4g 6%
Sugar 8g ~
Protein 0.6g ~
Vitamin A 10% • Vitamin C 34%
Calcium 3% • Iron 1%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Vitamins %DV
Vitamin A 517.56IU 10%
Retinol equivalents 25.84μg ~
Retinol 0μg ~
Alpha-carotene 76.76μg ~
Beta-carotene 117.8μg ~
Beta-cryptoxanthin 309.32μg ~
Vitamin C 20.29mg 34%
Vitamin E 0.15mg 1%
Vitamin K 0μg 0%
Vitamin B12 0μg 0%
Thiamin 0.044mg 3%
Riboflavin 0.027mg 2%
Niacin 0.286mg 1%
Pantothenic acid 0.164mg 2%
Vitamin B6 0.059mg 3%
Folate 12.16μg 3%
Folic Acid 0μg ~
Food Folate 12.16μg ~
Dietary Folate Equivalents 12.16μg ~
Choline 7.75mg ~
Lycopene 0μg ~
Lutein+zeazanthin 104.88μg ~
Minerals %DV
Calcium 28.12mg 3%
Iron 0.11mg 1%
Magnesium 9.12mg 2%
Phosphorus 15.2mg 2%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Potassium 126.16mg 4%
Zinc 0.05mg 0%
Copper 0.032mg 2%
Manganese 0.03mg 2%
Selenium 0.08μg 0%
Water 64.73g ~
Ash 0.29g ~

Read more at http://www.healthaliciousness.com/nutritionfacts/nutrition-comparison.php?o=9218&t=&h=&s=76.00&e=&r=#dj2Q3HgExGjcxeiT.99

As you can see satsumas have a hint of fat, calcium and phosphorus, and they are also quite sweet and acidic.

But as with other types of orange, they also contain a good amount of vitamin c as well.

So guinea pigs can eat satsumas, but only once or twice a week because of their sugar and acidic content.

But they are a nice addition to their diets all the same because of the vitamin c content.

However do take out the pips first before feeding them.

what fruits can guinea pigs eat

What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat?

Fruits are great addition to a guinea pig’s diet. They may not be able to be eaten as regularly as vegetables on the whole, but their vitamin c content is a welcome addition to their diet.

So what fruits can guinea pigs eat?

What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat?

We’ve reviewed pretty much all of them that we can and so here is a list of all the fruits that guinea pigs can eat and how often they can be eaten.

Not all fruits are the same and so require discretion as to how often you feed it to them.

Fruits by their nature are quite sweet and acidic, so you may find me repeating myself a lot. But their vitamin c content does vary from fruit to fruit.

So here goes;

Apple – They can be eaten 1-2 times a week in small pieces. Quite acidic and sugary. Low vitamin c.

Apricot – They can be eaten 1-2 times a week in small pieces. Quite acidic though.

Avocado – They can be eaten once a week due to their acidic content. Low in vitamin c.

Banana – Once a week in small amounts, high in sugar and acids. Moderate vitamin c.

Breadfruit – Once a week in small amounts, high in sugar and acids. Very good amounts of vitamin c.

Bilberry – Small amounts once a week due to sugar and acidic content. High vitamin c content.

Blackberry – Two to three times a week in small amounts. Very good amounts of vitamin c.

Blackcurrant – Can be eaten once a week in small amounts but have an extraordinary amount of vitamin c in them.

Blood Orange – One to two times a week at the most.

Blueberry – Can be eaten twice a week in small amounts. Very good amounts of vitamin c.

Boysenberry – Can be eaten two to three times a week in small amounts. Good amounts of vitamin c.

Cantaloupe – Once a week in small amounts, due to sweetness. Nice amounts of vitamin c.

Clementine – Once or twice a week as they are quite sweet and acidic. Lots of vitamin c

Currant – Not good at all. A few times a month at most.

Cherry – Twice to three times a week.

Cherimoya – Once to twice a week due to sweetness. Contains a healthy amount of vitamin c.

Cloudberry – Three to four times a week. A ton of vitamin c in them.

Coconut – One to avoid

Cranberry – Two to three times a week, and a nice amount of vitamin c in them.

Cucumber – One to two times a week, low in vitamin c and high in water.

Damson – One to avoid.

Date – One to avoid

Dragonfruit – Once a week, in small amounts. Have a huge amount of vitamin c.

Durian – Once a week, but quite acidic. Lots of vitamin c.

Elderberry – Two to three times a week. Contain a lot of good vitamin c.

Feijoa – Every three to four days, have a good amount of vitamin c.

Fig – Once a week. Pretty high in sugar, not much vitamin c.

Goji berry – Once or twice a week, contain a nice amount of vitamin c.

Gooseberry – Only once a week as they’re quite acidic. But have a good amount of vitamin c in them.

Grape – Two to three times a week.

Grapefruit – One to avoid

Guava – One to two times a week. Have a huge amount of vitamin c in them.

Huckleberry – Two to three times a week will suffice.

Honeydew – Once a week as too much bad stuff for piggies.

Jackfruit – One to avoid

Jujube – Two to three times a week. A nice amount of vitamin c in them.

Kiwi fruit – Once a week as really sweet, but have a ton of vitamin c in them.

Kumquat – One to avoid

Lemon – One to avoid.

Lime – Once a week at the most, but very acidic.

Loquat – Once a week in small amounts. Have a nice amount of vitamin c in them.

Lychee – Once a week in small amounts as they are very sweet. Lots of vitamin c in them though.

Mandarin – Once or twice a week at the most.

Mango – Once a week in small amounts as they are sweet and acidic. Nice amount of vitamin c in them.

Melon – Once a week at the most as they are quite sweet. Nice amount of vitamin c.

Mulberry – Two to three times a week, and have a nice amount of vitamin c in them.

Nectarine – Once or twice a week at the most.

Olive – One to avoid

Orange – Once a week because of their sweetness and acidity.

Papaya – Quite sugary, but can be eaten twice to three times a week.

Passionfruit – One to avoid

Peach – Once a week at the most.

Pear – Once a week due to sweetness and acidity

Persimmon – Three to four times  a week and they have a huge amount of vitamin c.

Physalis – Once or twice a week due to acidic content.

Plum – Once or twice a week due their acidic content.

Prune (dried plum) – One to avoid.

Pineapple – Once a week due to their sweetness and acidity.

Pomegranate – Once a week at the most.

Pomelo – One to two times a week.

Quince – Can be eaten twice a week

Raisin – A few once a week as they are high in sugar.

Raspberry – Can be eaten three to four times a week, and has a nice amount of vitamin c.

Rambutan – Twice to three times a week in small amounts.

Red Currant – Once or twice a week at the most.

Satsuma – Once or twice a week as with other types of oranges.

Star fruit – Two to three times a week at the most.

Strawberry – Three to four to five times a week. They are great for piggies

Tangerine – Once or twice a week.

Watermelon – Once a week because of their sweetness.

If you are looking for a resource to print out, guinea pig cages forum has this brilliant pdf that you can pin up on your fridge here

can guinea pigs eat red currants

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Red Currants?

Red Currants are grown in different parts of western Europe such as Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, northern Italy, northern Spain, Portugal and Poland.

They are cultivated for for jams and often served raw or as a simple accompaniment in salads, garnishes, or drinks.

So if we can eat them, can guinea pigs eat red currants, and if they can how much of them can be eaten?

Lets take a look at their nutritional data and find out more. In particular, their acidic, phosphorus, sugar, fat, and calcium content.

image wikipedia

Energy 234 kJ (56 kcal)
Carbohydrates 13.8 g
– Sugars 7.37 g
– Dietary fiber 4.3 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 1.4 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.04 mg (3%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.05 mg (4%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.1 mg (1%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.064 mg (1%)
Vitamin B6 0.07 mg (5%)
Folate (vit. B9) 8 μg (2%)
Choline 7.6 mg (2%)
Vitamin C 41 mg (49%)
Vitamin E 0.1 mg (1%)
Vitamin K 11 μg (10%)
Calcium 33 mg (3%)
Iron 1 mg (8%)
Magnesium 13 mg (4%)
Manganese 0.186 mg (9%)
Phosphorus 44 mg (6%)
Potassium 275 mg (6%)
Sodium 1 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.23 mg (2%)

source wikipedia

As you can see red currants contain a little phosphorus, a hint of fat and calcium, and are a little acidic, however they are quite sweet.

They also contain a very good amount of vitamin c.

With this in mind, guinea pigs can eat red currants, but only once or twice a week due their sugar content. But they are quite a nice fruit for guinea pigs to have as part of their diet.