Tag Archives: guinea pig foods

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 sweet potato

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Sweet Potato?

Sweet potatoes are a different type of potato that has a sweet and spicy flavour and a creamy texture.

They are also known as kumara, orange sweet potato or gold sweet potato.

They are great for savoury dishes but are usually baked, roasted or mashed, and added also to risotto, pasta or curry.

There are two types of sweet potato that you can get, one with bright orange flesh, the other with pale cream flesh.

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

Lets dig a little deeper and look at its nutritional data.

Energy 359 kJ (86 kcal)
Carbohydrates 20.1 g
– Starch 12.7 g
– Sugars 4.2 g
– Dietary fibre 3 g
Fat 0.1 g
Protein 1.6 g
Vitamin A equiv. 709 μg (89%)
– beta-carotene 8509 μg (79%)
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.078 mg (7%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.061 mg (5%)
Niacin (vit. B3) 0.557 mg (4%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.8 mg (16%)
Vitamin B6 0.209 mg (16%)
Folate (vit. B9) 11 μg (3%)
Vitamin C 2.4 mg (3%)
Vitamin E 0.26 mg (2%)
Calcium 30 mg (3%)
Iron 0.61 mg (5%)
Magnesium 25 mg (7%)
Manganese 0.258 mg (12%)
Phosphorus 47 mg (7%)
Potassium 337 mg (7%)
Sodium 55 mg (4%)
Zinc 0.3 mg (3%)

Oxelate acid 240mg

Source Wikipedia

can guinea pigs eat sweet potatoWhat we are looking for are foods that are low in phosphorus, calcium, starch,  fat, oxelate acid and sugar. Good amounts of vitamin a and c are a good bonus as well.

As you can see it has has a small amount of phosphorus, fat but has noticeable amounts of oxelate acids and starch.

Because of that they should only be fed to piggies sparingly, although they can eat them.

Once or twice a month would suffice in small amounts because of their content.

image wikipedia

Can guinea pigs eat sweet potato skin?

No they can’t unfortunately. It is worth getting rid of it before serving sweet potato to your piggie.

Can guinea pigs eat cooked sweet potato?

No they can’t. Guinea pigs can only eat raw sweet potato. They can’t eat cooked foods at all.

Verdict

Guinea pigs can eat sweet potato, but only in its raw state and in small amounts on a monthly basis. So they can nibble at it, but don’t make it a regular feature of their diet as it is high in oxelates and starch. However, it is the only potato they can eat.

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 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 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.

can guinea pigs eat potatoes

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Potatoes?

Potatoes are one of those vegetables that are cooked in so many different ways.

It is very hard to keep track of how many different ways you can cook them, from baked potatoes, sautéed, fried, chips, roasted, boiled, mashed potato to name but a few and they are such a popular vegetable the world over.

We have them most days in our home and they’re a big favourite with all our family.

So if our guinea pigs could eat them, it would be pretty good!

So can guinea pigs eat potatoes?

The straight answer is no they can’t unfortunately

 

So why can’t guinea pigs eat potato?

can guinea pigs eat potatoesUnfortunately, potatoes contain harmful toxins which could be poisonous to guinea pigs.

If they do eat them there is a danger that they could become quite ill.

A secondary issue is that potatoes are very high in carbohydrates and are not very nutrient rich, so providing them as a food for guinea pigs will not benefit them in any way.

If they do happen to nibble on them, then your piggie should be fine but do monitor them for any after-effects.

image flickr

Can guinea pigs eat potato peel?

No they can’t eat potato peel as its also toxic for them to eat. This also includes any kind of potato skin.

Can guinea pigs eat mashed potato?

Unfortunately for the same reason they can’t eat proper potatoes. They are very toxic for them. They also can’t eat cooked food.

Can guinea pigs eat baked potato?

Unfortunately this refers to any baked or cooked potato. It is better to steer clear of giving any kind of potato to guinea pigs.

 

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

can guinea pigs eat ham

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Ham?

With thanksgiving approaching, there may be those wondering if guinea pigs can eat ham?

Cooked Ham is one of those foods that is especially popular around fall and winter time especially in the festive seasons.

 

So if we can eat it….

Can guinea pigs eat ham?

 

Unfortunately guinea pigs can’t eat ham.

This is because guinea pigs can’t eat meats at all. This includes cold and processed meats.

They also can’t eat cooked foods which are also bad for them

can guinea pigs eat hamSo why can’t guinea pigs eat meat?

The reason is that guinea pigs are herbivores and therefore can’t digest meat at all.

image flickr

What would happen if I gave my guinea pig ham?

If they are presented with it they may have a nibble at it but will quickly turn off it.

Guinea pigs are naturally quite curious and love to sniff out new foods. Even when I present my finger to my piggies they have a nibble at it 🙂

 

So it isn’t worth attempting to feed your piggies ham at all.

If you do want your guinea pigs thanksgiving or Christmas foods, give them raw veggies which haven’t been cooked yet.

 

Check out other foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat in our guinea pig foods section