Tag Archives: foods that guinea pigs eat

can guinea pigs eat blueberries

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Blueberries?

Updated 25th August 2016. So blueberries….I love them on desserts and yes, in muffins as well 🙂

They are a great delicacy and are enjoyed the world over.

So can guinea pigs eat them and if they can, how many can they eat?

Lets have a look as usual at their nutritional data and find out more about them.

I’m particularly looking for their phosphorus, fats, sugar, Oxelate acid, and calcium levels. Not to mention a healthy amount of vitamin a and c.

Energy 240 kJ (57 kcal)
Carbohydrates 14.49 g
– Sugars 9.96 g
– Dietary fiber 2.4 g
Fat 0.33 g
Protein 0.74 g
Vitamin A 54 IU
– beta-carotene 32 μg (0%)
– lutein and zeaxanthin 80 μg
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.037 mg (3%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.041 mg (3%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.418 mg (3%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.124 mg (2%)
Vitamin B6 0.052 mg (4%)
Folate (vit. B9) 6 μg (2%)
Vitamin C 9.7 mg (12%)
Vitamin E 0.57 mg (4%)
Vitamin K 19.3 μg (18%)
Calcium 6 mg (1%)
Iron 0.28 mg (2%)
Magnesium 6 mg (2%)
Manganese 0.336 mg (16%)
Phosphorus 12 mg (2%)
Potassium 77 mg (2%)
Sodium 1 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.16 mg (2%)

source: wikipedia

can guinea pigs eat blueberriesSo taking into account all the data here, it contains small amounts of phosphorus and fats, but not a trace of oxelate acid. But it does contain quite a lot of sugar.

However, there are very good amounts of vitamin c.

With that in mind, Guinea pigs can eat blueberries, but only one, twice a week at most because of their sugar content. If they have too many they will get tummy problems, so do take care.

image flickr

Can guinea pigs eat dried blueberries?

Yes they can but it does still contain high amounts of sugar so only in small amounts.

Can guinea pigs eat frozen blueberries?

Unfortunately, they can’t eat any frozen foods.

can guinea pigs eat brussel sprouts

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Brussel Sprouts?

So Brussel Sprouts…Love em or hate em, they’re still a veggie that is popular the world over.

It is a cultivar in the Gemmifera group of cabbages (Brassica oleracea), grown for its edible buds. The leafy green vegetables are typically 2.5–4 cm (0.98–1.6 in) in diameter and look like miniature cabbages. (source wikipedia)

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

What we are looking at particularly is the amounts of phosphorus, oxelate acid, sugar, fats and calcium. We are also interested in the amount of vitamin a and c.

Lets take a look at its nutritional data to find this out.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 179 kJ (43 kcal)
Carbohydrates 8.95 g
– Sugars 2.2 g
– Dietary fibre 3.8 g
Fat 0.3 g
Protein 3.38 g
Vitamin A equiv. 38 μg (5%)
– beta-carotene 450 μg (4%)
– lutein and zeaxanthin 1590 μg
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.139 mg (12%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.09 mg (8%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.745 mg (5%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.309 mg (6%)
Vitamin B6 0.219 mg (17%)
Folate (vit. B9) 61 μg (15%)
Choline 19.1 mg (4%)
Vitamin C 85 mg (102%)
Vitamin E 0.88 mg (6%)
Vitamin K 177 μg (169%)
Calcium 42 mg (4%)
Iron 1.4 mg (11%)
Magnesium 23 mg (6%)
Manganese 0.337 mg (16%)
Phosphorus 69 mg (10%)
Potassium 389 mg (8%)
Sodium 25 mg (2%)
Zinc 0.42 mg (4%)
Oxelate acid 360 mg

source wikipedia

can guinea pigs eat brussel sproutsAs you can see, brussel sprouts contain large amounts of phosphorus, oxelate acid, and small amounts of sugar. However, they do contain a huge amount of Vitamin C (Just look at that percentage!).

Guinea pigs can eat brussel sprouts, but because of the phosphorus and oxelate acid content, only in very small amounts. The suggest amount is 1-2 times a week.

image flickr

Can guinea pigs eat brussel sprouts stalks?

As long as they are green and fresh, they can eat the stalks

Can guinea pigs eat cooked brussel sprouts?

No they can’t unfortunately, they are unable to eat any cooked foods.

 

can guinea pigs eat peaches

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peaches?

Peaches are a fantastic fruit which are juicy and sweet. They tend to be more of a summer fruit rather than one that is bought in winter.

There are different types of peaches from red-blushed, golden yellow skin, and white peaches that have pink blushed skin.

As you may know they come in clingstone or freestone varieties

So can guinea pigs eat peaches, and if they can now much they can they eat?

Lets have a look at its nutritional data to find out a bit more about them

What I am interested in is their phosphorus, calcium, fat, sugar and oxelate acid content as all of these really affect piggies.

I am also looking for good levels of Vitamin A and C.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 165 kJ (39 kcal)
Carbohydrates 9.54 g
– Sugars 8.39 g
– Dietary fiber 1.5 g
Fat 0.25 g
Protein 0.91 g
Vitamin A equiv. 16 μg (2%)
– beta-carotene 162 μg (2%)
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.024 mg (2%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.031 mg (3%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.806 mg (5%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.153 mg (3%)
Vitamin B6 0.025 mg (2%)
Folate (vit. B9) 4 μg (1%)
Choline 6.1 mg (1%)
Vitamin C 6.6 mg (8%)
Vitamin E 0.73 mg (5%)
Vitamin K 2.6 μg (2%)
Calcium 6 mg (1%)
Iron 0.25 mg (2%)
Magnesium 9 mg (3%)
Manganese 0.061 mg (3%)
Phosphorus 20 mg (3%)
Potassium 190 mg (4%)
Sodium 0 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.17 mg (2%)
Fluoride 4 µg

Source Wikipedia

can guinea pigs eat peachesAs you can see they are quite high in sugar, however they are low in phosphorus, fat, and have no calcium and oxelate

So they are good for guinea pigs to eat but not too often, they can be eaten once a week in small amounts at the most.

image flickr

Can guinea pigs eat dried peaches?

If you buy them dried then they are too high in sugar to be fed to guinea pigs. If you dehydrate them yourself, then you could get away with feeding them to them sparingly.

Can guinea pigs eat peaches with skin?

Yes guinea pigs can eat the skin from peaches.

Can guinea pigs eat white peaches?

The difference between white and yellow peaches are that white peaches are lower in acid and taste sweet whether firm or soft. So guinea pigs can eat them, and in just the same way as yellow peaches on a weekly basis and in small amounts.

Can guinea pigs eat tinned peaches?

No, unfortunately guinea pigs can’t eat these as they are just too sugary for them and will really hurt their tummies.

Verdict

So guinea pigs can eat peaches, just don’t feed them too much and only on a once a week basis to ensure you protect their little tummies.

can guinea pigs eat green beans

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Beans?

Green beans are grown all around the world.

Also known as the string bean, snap bean or ejotes in Mexico, they are well known as being a vegatable that can be grown with a little skill and care.

You can purchase them canned, frozen or just fresh.

They can be cooked in many different ways, such as steamed, boiled, baked, and stir-fried.

 

So can guinea pigs eat green beans and if so how much can they eat?

Lets dig a little deeper and take a look at its nutritional content.

Beans, snap, green, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 131 kJ (31 kcal)
Carbohydrates 6.97 g
– Dietary fiber 2.7 g
Fat 0.22 g
Protein 1.83 g
Vitamin A equiv. 35 μg (4%)
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.082 mg (7%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.104 mg (9%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.734 mg (5%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.225 mg (5%)
Vitamin B6 0.141 mg (11%)
Folate (vit. B9) 33 μg (8%)
Vitamin C 12.2 mg (15%)
Vitamin K 14.4 μg (14%)
Calcium 37 mg (4%)
Iron 1.03 mg (8%)
Magnesium 25 mg (7%)
Manganese 0.216 mg (10%)
Phosphorus 38 mg (5%)
Potassium 211 mg (4%)
Zinc 0.24 mg (3%)
Fluoride 19 µg

source wikipedia

can guinea pigs eat green beansWhat we are looking for is veggies that are low in calcium, sugar, fats, phosphorus and oxelate acid.

A good amount of vitamin c and vitamin a would also be helpful.

So looking at the above….

Yes, guinea pigs can eat green beans. However, they do contain amounts of phosphorus and calcium. But they do contain a healthy amount of vitamin c.

So just feed them once a week in their raw state.

image flickr

Can guinea pigs eat cooked green beans?

No unfortunately, guinea pigs can’t eat any cooked foods.

Can guinea pigs eat green bean leaves?

Yes they can. They are absolutely fine for guinea pigs to eat.

Can guinea pigs eat fine green beans?

Yes they can. But only on a weekly basis. These are another name for green beans.

Verdict

So guinea pigs can eat green beans, but only on  weekly basis in their raw, fresh state. Do not attempt to feed them cooked though.

 

can guinea pigs eat aspargus

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus?

Asparagus is quite a refined veggie as it is often expensive to buy, mainly because it is very labour intensive to grow.

They have a distinct intense flavour which is loved my many.

They have different colours for example French asparagus is purple, the British and American varieties are green, Spanish and much Dutch asparagus is white, as it’s grown beneath the soil and cut just as the tips emerge. (Source bbc good food)

So if we can eat it can guinea pigs eat asparagus as well, and how much can they eat?

Lets have a look at its nutritional data to get a further idea about it.

Energy 85 kJ (20 kcal)
Carbohydrates 3.88 g
– Sugars 1.88 g
– Dietary fibre 2.1 g
Fat 0.12 g
Protein 2.2 g
Vitamin A equiv. 38 μg (5%)
– beta-carotene 449 μg (4%)
– lutein and zeaxanthin 710 μg
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.143 mg (12%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.141 mg (12%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.978 mg (7%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.274 mg (5%)
Vitamin B6 0.091 mg (7%)
Folate (vit. B9) 52 μg (13%)
Choline 16 mg (3%)
Vitamin C 5.6 mg (7%)
Vitamin E 1.1 mg (7%)
Vitamin K 41.6 μg (40%)
Calcium 24 mg (2%)
Iron 2.14 mg (16%)
Magnesium 14 mg (4%)
Manganese 0.158 mg (8%)
Phosphorus 52 mg (7%)
Potassium 202 mg (4%)
Sodium 2 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.54 mg (6%)
Oxelate 130 mg

Source Wikipedia

can guinea pigs eat aspargusWhat we are looking for is a low amount of phosphorus, calcium, sugar, fat, and oxelate acid. A healthy amount of vitamin a and c is also a bonus.

As you can see it does contain some phosphorus and oxelate, a hint of calcium, fat and sugar.

But it is high in nutrients and has reasonable levels of vitamin a and c, so guinea pigs can eat asparagus, but refrain from feeding daily. These include the asparagus stalks and tips. Once a week should suffice.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cooked Asparagus?

Unfortunately, cooked asparagus is not good for piggies. They cannot eat any cooked food at all, no matter how good it is for them in its raw state.

 

can guinea pigs eat cranberries

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cranberries?

Around October to December is the time of year when everyone starts to remember Cranberries and start to use them again.

Cranberries are red-ruby coloured berries that grow wild on shrubs throughout Europe and north america.

can guinea pigs eat cranberriesCranberries come into their own around Christmas but are good for much more than accompanying the turkey. Their sour flavour lends itself well to both sweet and savoury dishes, as well as drinks.

With the thanksgiving festivities almost upon us and Christmas looming in the distance, its a good time to look at whether guinea pigs can eat cranberries as well.

image flickr

So lets take a look further at its nutritional data to find out more about it.

Cranberries, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 46 kcal (190 kJ)
Carbohydrates 12.2 g
– Sugars 4.04 g
– Dietary fiber 4.6 g
Fat 0.13 g
Protein 0.39 g
Water 87.13 g
Vitamin A equiv. 3 μg (0%)
– beta-carotene 36 μg (0%)
– lutein and zeaxanthin 91 μg
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.012 mg (1%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.02 mg (2%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.101 mg (1%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.295 mg (6%)
Vitamin B6 0.057 mg (4%)
Folate (vit. B9) 1 μg (0%)
Vitamin C 13.3 mg (16%)
Vitamin E 1.2 mg (8%)
Vitamin K 5.1 μg (5%)
Calcium 8 mg (1%)
Iron 0.25 mg (2%)
Magnesium 6 mg (2%)
Manganese 0.36 mg (17%)
Phosphorus 13 mg (2%)
Potassium 85 mg (2%)
Sodium 2 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.1 mg (1%)

source: wikipedia

So what we’re looking for is a minimal amount of calcium, phosphorus, oxelate acid and sugar, plus a  nice bonus of  vitamin c and vitamin a.

Looking at the data above, it seems to tick all the boxes but with it having some of the above, I wouldn’t feed it to them daily. 2-3 times a week should do nicely!

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Cranberries?

They do contain quite a bit of sugar, so feed them to your piggies sparingly, but yes they can eat them.

Can Guinea Pigs have Cranberry Juice?

Yes they can. Some piggie owners have diluted it in water. This thread on the guinea lynx forum is helpful about it, here. Just be careful about how much sugar it contains.

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

can guinea pigs eat butternut squash

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Butternut Squash?

Butternut squash is a winter squash with a particularly sweet, nutty taste.

Also known as butternut pumpkin in Australia and New Zealand, It can be roasted, toasted, puréed for soups, mashed, used in breads, muffins and casseroles.

We love having home made butternut squash soup in this season as its the perfect ‘fall weather’ food. With some warm cheese bread, it is absolutely amazing!

But I digress!!

With fall season upon us it is a very popular fruit, so it seems to be an ideal time to see if guinea pigs can eat it.

Lets dig a little deeper and see if they can eat butternut squash by having a look at its nutritional data.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 188 kJ (45 kcal)
Carbohydrates 11.69 g
– Dietary fiber 2 g
Fat 0.1 g
Protein 1 g
Vitamin A equiv. 532 μg (67%)
– beta-carotene 4226 μg (39%)
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.1 mg (9%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.02 mg (2%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 1.2 mg (8%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.4 mg (8%)
Vitamin B6 0.154 mg (12%)
Folate (vit. B9) 27 μg (7%)
Vitamin C 21 mg (25%)
Vitamin E 1.44 mg (10%)
Calcium 48 mg (5%)
Iron 0.7 mg (5%)
Magnesium 34 mg (10%)
Manganese 0.202 mg (10%)
Phosphorus 33 mg (5%)
Potassium 352 mg (7%)
Zinc
source: usda
 
can guinea pigs eat butternut squashLooking at butternut squash it It is a good source of fibre, a ery high amount of vitamin C, and vitamin A.
However it does contains small amounts of phosphorus and calcium.

Because of this, don’t feed on a daily basis.

A few times a week should suffice in small amounts.

image; wikipedia

 Can guinea pigs eat butternut squash skin?

Just as humans can eat it, guinea pigs can too and they may well enjoy it as well.
It is quite nutritious for them and contains a good amount of vitamin c. Just not too much of it to save any tummy trouble.

Can guinea pigs eat butternut squash seeds?

Some guinea pig owners say that guinea pigs can eat butter squash seeds as they do contain vitamin c,  but personally I would avoid them because of  potential chokage.

 Can guinea pigs eat butternut squash peel?

 This is another word for the ‘skin’. So, yes they can eat butternut squash peel.
can guinea pigs eat pumpkin

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pumpkin?

This time of year pumpkin is a pretty popular food, what with Halloween and thanksgiving and all the festivities around them.

Families throughout the world will be stocking up on their pumpkins for the festivities this season and making various foods out of their pumpkins and carving them up into amazing sculptures.

So can guinea pigs join in the fun and enjoy pumpkin as well?

For the sake of good guinea pig care and consideration, It would be good to see if guinea pigs can eat it at all.

Lets find out by checking out its nutritional data first.

Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin
Amount Per 100 grams
Calories 26
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.1 g 0%
Saturated fat 0.1 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 1 mg 0%
Potassium 340 mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 6 g 2%
Dietary fiber 0.5 g 2%
Sugar 2.8 g
Protein 1 g 2%
Vitamin A 170%
Vitamin C 15%
Calcium 2%
Iron 4%
Vitamin D 0%
Vitamin B-6 5%
Vitamin B-12 0%
Magnesium 3%
Phosphorus 44mg

Source: USDA 

can guinea pigs eat pumpkinWhat we are looking for is reasonably low amounts of sugar, phosphorus, oxalic acid and then good amounts of vitamin a and c for the perfect veggie for guinea pigs.

As you can see its low phosphorus and has no oxalic acid. But has a reasonable amount of sugar in it.

However it has high in vitamin a, and a smallish amount of vitamin c.

With the above data in mind, Guinea pigs can eat pumpkin, but it should really be fed in small chunks to guinea pigs in its raw state twice a week at a maximum.

Just don’t give them too much of it 🙂

 

What about other parts of the pumpkin?

Can guinea pigs eat pumpkin leaves?

They are ok to nibble on, but they are not a food to purposely feed guinea pigs as they are high in calcium.

Can guinea pigs eat pumpkin seeds?

Unfortunately they are not good for guinea pigs to eat as they can get stuck in teeth and lodged in their thoats.

Can guinea pigs eat pumpkin skin?

Yes it is fine for them to eat, they will find them quite nutritious.

Can guinea pigs eat pumpkin rind?

Another name for pumpkin skin. It is pretty good for guinea pigs to eat.

Can guinea pigs eat pumpkin pie?

Unfortunately they can’t eat it at all.

Pumpkin pie is full of preservatives and sugars and so is not good for guinea pigs to eat.

Can guinea pigs eat butternut pumpkin

This is another name for butternut squash, check out the post here

 

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

can guinea pigs eat belgium endive

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Belgian Endive?

So if a Belgiun endive is different from a regular endive, then what is a Belgium endive?

It is Known as witloof or witlof (“white leaf”), endive or (very rarely) witloof in the United States, indivia in Italy, chicory in the UK, as witlof in Australia, endive in France, and chicon in parts of northern France and in Wallonia.

It has a small head of cream-coloured, bitter leaves.

can guinea pigs eat belgium endiveIt is grown completely underground or indoors in the absence of sunlight in order to prevent the leaves from turning green and opening up (etiolation).

The tender leaves are slightly bitter; the whiter the leaf, the less bitter the taste.

The harder inner part of the stem at the bottom of the head should be cut out before cooking to prevent bitterness.

(Source. Wikipedia)  imge flickr

So can guinea pigs eat Belgiun endive, and if they can how much can they have?

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

Belgian endive (witloof), raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 71 kJ (17 kcal)
Carbohydrates 4 g
– Dietary fiber 3.1 g
Fat 0.1 g
Protein 0.9 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.062 mg (5%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.027 mg (2%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.16 mg (1%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.145 mg (3%)
Vitamin B6 0.042 mg (3%)
Folate (vit. B9) 37 μg (9%)
Vitamin C 2.8 mg (3%)
Calcium 19 mg (2%)
Iron 0.24 mg (2%)
Magnesium 10 mg (3%)
Manganese 0.1 mg (5%)
Phosphorus 26 mg (4%)
Potassium 211 mg (4%)
Sodium 2 mg (0%)
Zinc 0.16 mg (2%)

Source: USDA Nutrient Database

As you’ll see Belgiun Endive is low in Phosphorus, Calcium and Sugar, and so….

The good news is that Belgiun endive is fine for guinea pigs to eat.

Although do bear in mind it gives low vitamin c input to the guinea pig.

But they can eat it pretty much on an almost daily basis just like regular endive, every other day in fact is perfect.

 

Find out more about other foods guinea pigs can and can’t eat in our guinea pig foods section.

can guinea pigs eat endives?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Endive?

What is an endive?

Endive is a member of the chicory family, which includes radicchio, escarole, frisee and curly endive. It has a crisp texture and a sweet, nutty flavor with a pleasantly mild bitterness — great served raw or cooked. (source endive.com)

For this post we’re going to look at Curly endive, or frisée (var crispum). This type has narrow, green, curly outer leaves. It is sometimes called chicory in the United States and is called chicorée frisée in French.

can guinea pigs eat endives?

It does have a name sake which is the Belgium endive which is a totally different plant altogether, which we have reviewed here.

image flickr

So can guinea pigs eat endive and if so, how much can they eat?

 

For the sake of good guinea pig care, let’s look at its nutritional data and find out a bit more about it.

Endive, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 71 kJ (17 kcal)
Carbohydrates 3.35 g
– Dietary fiber 3.1 g
Fat 0.2 g
Protein 1.25 g
Vitamin A equiv. 108 μg (14%)
– beta-carotene 1300 μg (12%)
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.08 mg (7%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.075 mg (6%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.4 mg (3%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.9 mg (18%)
Folate (vit. B9) 142 μg (36%)
Vitamin C 6.5 mg (8%)
Vitamin E 0.44 mg (3%)
Vitamin K 231 μg (220%)
Calcium 52 mg (5%)
Iron 0.83 mg (6%)
Magnesium 15 mg (4%)
Manganese 0.42 mg (20%)
Phosphorus 28 mg (4%)
Potassium 314 mg (7%)
Zinc 0.79 mg (8%)
Link to USDA Database entry
Percentages are roughly approximated
using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database

It’s looking pretty good as far as piggies are concerned. It is low in phosphorus, calcium and sugar.

Endive is also rich in many vitamins and minerals, especially in folate and vitamins A and K, and is high in fiber. It doesn’t have a great deal of vitamin c, but that doesn’t matter so much.

It is still good for piggies and can be fed to them almost on a daily basis. In fact, every other day is a perfect time frame.

Can guinea pigs eat curly endive?

Yes curly endive is great for guinea pigs to eat and can be fed to them very regularly.

Can guinea pigs eat endive lettuce?

Endive lettuce is another name for curly endive, yes they can eat it. It is often called baby endive.

For more foods that you can and can’t feed to guinea pigs, check out our guinea pig foods section.