Tag Archives: seeds

can guinea pigs eat pomegranate

Can guinea pigs eat pomegranate?

Pomegranates are red-purple in color and are a fruit grown in the northern and southern hemispheres in different seasons.

They have a huge number of seeds in them which can vary from 200 to about 1400.

Botanically, the edible fruit is a berry with seeds and pulp produced from the ovary of a single flower.

The fruit is intermediate in size between a lemon and a grapefruit, 5–12 cm (2.0–4.7 in) in diameter with a rounded shape and thick, reddish husk. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat pomegranate?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

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

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 346 kJ (83 kcal)
Carbohydrates
18.7 g
Sugars 13.67 g
Dietary fiber 4 g
Fat
1.17 g
Protein
1.67 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (6%) 0.067 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (4%) 0.053 mg
Niacin (B3) (2%) 0.293 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (8%) 0.377 mg
Vitamin B6 (6%) 0.075 mg
Folate (B9) (10%) 38 μg
Choline (2%) 7.6 mg
Vitamin C (12%) 10.2 mg
Vit E (4%) 0.6 mg
Vitamin K (16%) 16.4 μg
Minerals
Calcium (1%) 10 mg
Iron (2%) 0.3 mg
Magnesium (3%) 12 mg
Manganese (6%) 0.119 mg
Phosphorus (5%) 36 mg
Potassium (5%) 236 mg
Sodium (0%) 3 mg
Zinc (4%) 0.35 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see, pomegranates contain a hint of salt and fat, a little phosphorus, a hint of calcium, a lot of acidic content and sugar.

This means that unfortunately, guinea pigs cannot eat pomegranate.

It is just too acidic and sweet for guinea pigs to handle and will make them unwell if they eat it.

It is definately a fruit to be avoided as a food for your piggies. If there were to have a nibble of it by accident, then they should be fine but they shouldn’t be fed it purposely.

What fruits can guinea pigs have instead of pomegranate?

There are much better fruits that can be fed to a guinea pig such as apples, strawberries, and melon which are much better for them and will add to a balanced diet for a guinea pig.

Becuase of the sweet nature of fruit, it should be fed in small amounts for piggies and is best served in addition to the main staples of their diet which would be hay, guinea pig mix and water. Added along with a few vegetables, a small amount of select fruit gives will nutritional balance to a guinea pig’s diet.

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

can guinea pigs eat millet

Can Guinea Pigs eat Millet?

Millets are major food sources in arid and semiarid regions of the world and feature in the traditional cuisine of many others.

Millet porridge is a traditional food in RussianGerman, and Chinese сuisines.

In Russia, it is eaten sweet (with milk and sugar added at the end of the cooking process) or savory with meat or vegetable stews.

The Chinese eat it without milk or sugar, frequently with beans, sweet potato, and/or various types of squash.

In Germany, it is also eaten sweet, boiled in water with apples added during the boiling process and honey added during the cooling process.

Can Guinea Pigs eat Millet?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional data and find out more.

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

Energy 1,582 kJ (378 kcal)
Carbohydrates
72.8 g
Dietary fiber 8.5 g
Fat
4.2 g
Saturated 0.7 g
Monounsaturated 0.8 g
Polyunsaturated
omega‑3
omega‑6
2.1 g
0.1 g
2.0 g
Protein
11.0 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (37%) 0.42 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (24%) 0.29 mg
Niacin (B3) (31%) 4.72 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (17%) 0.85 mg
Vitamin B6 (29%) 0.38 mg
Folate (B9) (21%) 85 μg
Vitamin C (0%) 0 mg
Vitamin K (1%) 0.9 μg
Minerals
Calcium (1%) 8 mg
Iron (23%) 3.0 mg
Magnesium (32%) 114 mg
Manganese (76%) 1.6 mg
Phosphorus (41%) 285 mg
Potassium (4%) 195 mg
Sodium (0%) 5 mg
Zinc (18%) 1.7 mg
Other constituents
Water 8.7 g
Copper 0.8 mg
Selenium 2.7 µg

source wikipedia

As you can see, millet contains quite a bit of water, a hint of sodium, a huge amount of acidic content and phophorus plus a little fat.

This means that millet is not a good food for them to eat.

If they were to eat one or two millet pellets, then they would be fine, but it is not something that should be fed to a guinea pig puposely.

Its acidic and phosphorus content may make a guinea pig unwell if they eat it.

Seeds are not great for guinea pigs

Seeds are never good for guinea pigs to eat due to their high acidic content.

They also usually have a high fat content, but on this occasion millet doesn’t.

So in general, seeds are a food to avoid feeding guinea pigs.

What should they eat instead?

Instead, stick to feeding guinea pigs a good diet of guinea pig mix, a good hay such as meadow or timothy, backed up by regular portions of suitable veggies and fruit.

They will enjoy it a whole lot more.

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

can guinea pigs eat fuji apples

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Fuji Apples?

The Fuji apple is an apple hybrid developed by growers at Tohoku Research Station in Fujisaki, Aomori, Japan, in the late 1930s, and brought to market in 1962.

It originated as a cross between two American apple varieties — the Red Delicious and old Virginia Ralls Genet (sometimes cited as “Rawls Jennet”) apples.

According to the US Apple Association website it is one of the fifteen most popular apple cultivars in the United States.

Its name is derived from the first part of the town where it was developed: Fujisaki.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Fuji Apples?

Let’s take a look at their nutritional information and find out more.

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

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 218 kJ (52 kcal)
Carbohydrates
13.81 g
Sugars 10.39
Dietary fiber 2.4 g
Fat
0.17 g
Protein
0.26 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
beta-Carotene
lutein zeaxanthin
(0%) 3 μg
(0%) 27 μg
29 μg
Thiamine (B1) (1%) 0.017 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (2%) 0.026 mg
Niacin (B3) (1%) 0.091 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (1%) 0.061 mg
Vitamin B6 (3%) 0.041 mg
Folate (B9) (1%) 3 μg
Vitamin C (6%) 4.6 mg
Vit E (1%) 0.18 mg
Vitamin K (2%) 2.2 μg
Minerals
Calcium (1%) 6 mg
Iron (1%) 0.12 mg
Magnesium (1%) 5 mg
Manganese (2%) 0.035 mg
Phosphorus (2%) 11 mg
Potassium (2%) 107 mg
Sodium (0%) 1 mg
Zinc (0%) 0.04 mg
Other constituents
Water 85.56 g
Fluoride 3.3 µg

source wikipedia

Summary

As you can see fuji apples, contain a huge amount of water, a hint of salt, phosphorus acidic content and calcium, a little phosphorus, plus a lot of sugar.

This means that guinea pigs can have a few pieces. But it isn’t recommended that they eat more than that.

Apples have much sugar and water content and so eating fuji apple too much may cause them problems.

Two or three slices will be more than sufficient on a weekly basis. They will enjoy it as it provides a good deal of nutritional content for them.

Why is fruit good for guinea pigs?

Fruit is good for guinea pigs to eat, but don’t feed them too much as it will hurt their stomach’s.

Feeding guinea pigs fruit is great for a well-balanced diet for piggies and fed on a regular basis with vegetables, hay and guinea pig pellets provide them with the nutritional goodness that they need.

Most fruit can be eaten by guinea pigs, however, there are many types of fruits such as citrus fruit which is too sweet or acidic for piggies. Do check their nutritional data before feeding to them.

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

can guinea pigs eat avocados

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Avocados?

So, ‘can guinea pigs eat avocados?’

Avocados are one of those fruits that we have as part of a salad or a cooked meal or even on occasion, on its own.

They are quite exotic fruits, as they are found in central mexico and often grown in tropical and Mediterranean climates.

We always have an avocado around as there may be a time when we use it. So can guinea pigs eat avocados?

can guinea pigs eat avocados

image: flickr masejose

My gut feeling is that it was a fruit that I should steer clear of for my guinea pig, but what did others say?

Researching the subject seemed to conclude the same thing.

In fact there was a pretty unanimous reaction!.

Can guinea pigs eat avocados?

All books, forums and sites that I looked at recommended that guinea pigs should stay well away from avocados.

Why avocados are not good for guinea pigs

What isn’t good for the guinea pig, is the light green cream which is found in the avocado which causes  the intestines to slow down because it is high in fat.

If they do have  a small amount, then it is not going to do them any harm. But a large amount may harm them.

If they do eat too much of it, then do seek the advice of a veterinarian.

Can guinea pigs eat avocado seeds?

Avocado seeds are not safe for guinea pigs to eat either as they are full of harmful toxins for the guinea pigs.

Can guinea pigs eat avocado skin?

Unfortunately, avocado skin is poisonous and not safe for them.  Stay well away from it as a food for guinea pigs.

In summary

I didn’t  even attempt to give ‘Rocket’ any avocado and will steer clear of it. With it appearing on many lists for foods that guinea pigs shouldn’t eat¸ it is not even worth risking it.

A food for your guinea pig to say away from!