Tag Archives: vegetable

can guinea pigs eat swede

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Swede?

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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.

can guinea pigs eat spring cabbage

Can guinea pigs eat spring cabbage?

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Can guinea pigs eat spring cabbage? Spring cabbage is tender but delicious veggies which is one of the first crops of spring. It tends to be planted the previous autumn to overwinter and then produces heads the following year.

It is classed as a heavy feeding plant so need plenty of garden compost or well-rotted farmyard manure before it is planted out. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat spring cabbage?

They can eat it in small amounts. It’s not great to feed them lots of it because of the amount of water content it contains.

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

can guinea pigs eat rhubarb

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Rhubarb?

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Rhubarb is a herbaceous perennial which is used widely around the world in culinary dishes of different varieties.

Their fresh raw leaf stalks (petioles) are crisp with a strong, tart taste.

Although rhubarb is not a true fruit, in the kitchen it is usually prepared as if it were.

Most commonly, the stalks are cooked with sugar and used in pies, crumbles, and other desserts.

A number of varieties have been domesticated for human consumption, most of which are recognized as Rheum x hybridum by the Royal Horticultural Society. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat rhubarb?

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 88 kJ (21 kcal)
Carbohydrates
4.54 g
Sugars 1.1 g
Dietary fiber 1.8 g
Fat
0.3 g
Protein
0.8 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (2%) 0.02 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (3%) 0.03 mg
Niacin (B3) (2%) 0.3 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (2%) 0.085 mg
Vitamin B6 (2%) 0.024 mg
Folate (B9) (2%) 7 μg
Choline (1%) 6.1 mg
Vitamin C (10%) 8 mg
Vit E (2%) 0.27 mg
Vitamin K (28%) 29.3 μg
Minerals
Calcium (9%) 86 mg
Iron (2%) 0.22 mg
Magnesium (3%) 12 mg
Manganese (9%) 0.196 mg
Phosphorus (2%) 14 mg
Potassium (6%) 288 mg
Sodium (0%) 4 mg
Zinc (1%) 0.1 mg

source wikipedia

As you can see, rhubarb contains a hint of salt and fat, a little phosphorus and sugar, quite a lot of calcium and a lot of acidic content.

Rhubarb leaves are said to contain oxalic acid which is nephrotoxic and corrosive acid. Human beings are said to have been poisoned by eating the leaves. The oxalic acid can also be found in the stalks of the rhubarb stick.

This means that guinea pigs cannot eat rhubarb. It is very poisonous to them and will make the unwell if not kill them.

There are guinea pig owners who have professed to their piggies, unfortunately, dying because of eating rhubarb.

It is definitely a food to steer clear of feeding them as it will harm them severely.

This means any kind of rhubarb whether cooked or raw as both forms will have the same effect.

Unfortunately, not all veggies are the same in terms of their content. Some are good for piggies to eat and some should be avoided and rhubarb comes into the latter category.

Guinea pigs are great fans of veggies and will look to eat if you give it to them so do avoid even having it near them.

What can guinea pigs eat instead?

There are much better vegetables that you can feed your guinea pigs to eat.

Bell peppers, kale, green beans, cabbage, and carrots, for instance, can be fed in small amounts and will give a healthy balance to a guinea pig’s diet of guinea pig mix, hay, water and a little bit of fruit.

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

can guinea pigs eat pak choi

Can guinea pigs eat pak choi?

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Pak Choi is also called Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa, subspecies pekinensis and chinensis) and can refer to two groups of Chinese leaf vegetables often used in Chinese cuisine: the Pekinensis Group (napa cabbage) and the Chinensis Group (bok choy).

These vegetables are both variant cultivars or subspecies of the turnip and belong to the same genus as such Western staples as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Both have many variations in name, spelling, and scientific classification, especially bok choy cultivars. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat pak choi?

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.

% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.2 g 0%
Saturated fat 0 g 0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 65 mg 2%
Potassium 252 mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 2.2 g 0%
Dietary fiber 1 g 4%
Sugar 1.2 g
Protein 1.5 g 3%
Vitamin A 89%
Vitamin C 75%
Calcium 10%
Iron 4%
Vitamin D 0%
Vit B-6 10%
Vitamin B-12 0%
Magnesium 4%

source google

As you can see pak choi contains a lot of calcium, a little sugar, a hint of salt, and a hint of fat. It will also contain a large amount of water content which hasn’t been disclosed above.

This means that they can eat pak choi in small amounts on an occasional basis.

It is not a food to be fed to them regularly because of the large amount of calcium content it has.

It should be eaten raw only and not cooked at all. They much prefer raw veggies only.

Just cut it up into small pieces for them and don’t feed them too much as they will eat everything you give them.

They will be great fans of pak choi as it is a green vegetable, which always goes down well with piggies not matter what it is.

Its place in their regular diet

Pak choi is a good back up food for them. Although it has a high amount of calcium and should only be fed occasionally to them, it will provide a good amount of nutrients for them as part of their diet.

Fed to them occasionally alongside their regular diet of hay, guinea pig mix, other veggies, fruit, and water, it will help provide a good balance to a guinea pig’s diet.

There are better veggies for them to eat such as bell peppers, but pak choi is a nice occasional vegetable.

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

can guinea pigs eat parsnips

Can guinea pigs eat parsnips?

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The parsnip is a root vegetable closely related to the carrot and parsley.

It is a biennial plant usually grown as an annual. Its long, tuberous root has cream-colored skin and flesh; and left in the ground to mature, it becomes sweeter in flavor after winter frosts.

In its first growing season, the plant has a rosette of pinnate, mid-green leaves. If unharvested, it produces its flowering stem, topped by an umbel of small yellow flowers, in its second growing season.

By this time, the stem is woody and the tuber is inedible.

The seeds are pale brown, flat, and winged.

Can guinea pigs eat parsnips?

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

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

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 314 kJ (75 kcal)
Carbohydrates
18 g
Sugars 4.8
Dietary fiber 4.9 g
Fat
0.2 g
Protein
1.2 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (8%) 0.09 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (4%) 0.05 mg
Niacin (B3) (5%) 0.7 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (12%) 0.6 mg
Vitamin B6 (7%) 0.09 mg
Folate (B9) (17%) 67 μg
Vitamin C (20%) 17 mg
Vit E (10%) 1.49 mg
Vitamin K (21%) 22.5 μg
Minerals
Calcium (4%) 36 mg
Iron (5%) 0.59 mg
Magnesium (8%) 29 mg
Manganese (27%) 0.56 mg
Phosphorus (10%) 71 mg
Potassium (8%) 375 mg
Sodium (1%) 10 mg
Zinc (6%) 0.59 mg
Other constituents
Water 79.53 g

source Wikipedia

As you can see, parsnips contain a huge amount of water, a lot of phosphorus and acidic content, a little calcium and sugar, and a hint of fat.

This means that parsnips are not a good food for guinea pigs to eat, unfortunately.

The huge amount of water that they contain is not good for them, not to mention the phosphorus and acidic content that they have is not good for their stomachs.

If they were to eat a little of it they would be fine, but it isn’t a food that is particularly good for them and isn’t a veggie to fed to them as part of their regular diet.

This means parsnips in any form or in any cooked state.

What other vegetables can guinea pigs eat instead?

There are better veggies for them to eat. Bell peppers, sugar snaps, kale are some of the veggies which are good for them to eat and will provide a better nutritional input for them.

Veggies are a vital part of a guinea pig’s diet as they provide them some of the nutritional benefits that other foods such as guinea pig pellets and mix don’t provide.

They also love them and will consume as much as you give them.

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

 

 

can guinea pigs eat leeks

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Leeks?

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The leek is a vegetable, a cultivar of Allium ampeloprasum, the broadleaf wild leek.

The edible part of the plant is a bundle of leaf sheaths that is sometimes erroneously called a stem or stalk.

The genus Allium also contains the onion, garlic, shallot, scallion, chive, and Chinese onion

Historically, many scientific names were used for leeks, but they are now all treated as cultivars of A. ampeloprasum.

The name ‘leek’ developed from the Anglo-Saxon word leac.

Two closely related vegetables, elephant garlic and kurrat, are also cultivars of A. ampeloprasum, although different in their uses as food.

Can guinea pigs eat leeks?

Let’s check out their nutritional data and find out more.

In particular, their 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 255 kJ (61 kcal)
Carbohydrates
14.15 g
Sugars 3.9 g
Dietary fiber 1.8 g
Fat
0.3 g
Protein
1.5 g
Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv.
beta-Carotene
lutein zeaxanthin
(10%) 83 μg
(9%) 1000 μg
1900 μg
Thiamine (B1) (5%) 0.06 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (3%) 0.03 mg
Niacin (B3) (3%) 0.4 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (3%) 0.14 mg
Vitamin B6 (18%) 0.233 mg
Folate (B9) (16%) 64 μg
Vitamin C (14%) 12 mg
Vit E (6%) 0.92 mg
Vitamin K (45%) 47 μg
Minerals
Calcium (6%) 59 mg
Iron (16%) 2.1 mg
Magnesium (8%) 28 mg
Manganese (23%) 0.481 mg
Phosphorus (5%) 35 mg
Potassium (4%) 180 mg
Other constituents
Water 83 g

source wikipedia

Analysis

As you can see, leeks contain a huge amount of water, quite a bit of phosphorus, calcium, a lot of acidic content, a hint of fat, and a little sugar.

This means that leeks are not a good food for them to have as part of their regular diet.

They are too full of water and acidic content. This means that if they have too much of it, eating leeks may hurt them.

If they nibble at one, they should be fine. But a little nibble should be as much as they should have.

What can they have instead of leeks?

There are many other greens that guinea pigs can have instead if you are looking for vegetables to feed them.

Green bell peppers are a great example of a vegetable that they will really enjoy and provides a good nutritious food for them.

Feeding a veggie like this, along with a little fruit, a lot of hay and some guinea pig mix will provide your guiena pigs with the nutirtional intake they need as part of a balanced diet.

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

can guinea pigs eat daikon radish

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Daikon Radish?

Guinea pig foods, , , , ,

Daikon is also known by many other names depending on context.

It is a mild-flavored winter radish (Raphanus sativus) usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, napiform root.

Originally native to Southeast or continental East Asia, daikon is harvested and consumed throughout the region, as well as in South Asia. (source)

Can guinea pigs eat Daikon Radish?

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

In particular, their acidic, water, sugar, water, 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 76 kJ (18 kcal)
Carbohydrates
4.1 g
Sugars 2.5
Dietary fiber 1.6 g
Fat
0.1 g
Protein
0.6 g
Vitamins
Thiamine (B1) (2%) 0.02 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (2%) 0.02 mg
Niacin (B3) (1%) 0.2 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5) (3%) 0.138 mg
Vitamin B6 (4%) 0.046 mg
Folate (B9) (7%) 28 μg
Vitamin C (27%) 22 mg
Minerals
Calcium (3%) 27 mg
Iron (3%) 0.4 mg
Magnesium (5%) 16 mg
Manganese (2%) 0.038 mg
Phosphorus (3%) 23 mg
Potassium (5%) 227 mg
Sodium (1%) 21 mg
Zinc (2%)u

As you can see daikon contains a hint of salt, a little phosphorus, sugar and calcium, quite a bit of acidic content.

This means that they can have a small amount of it. Two or three small pieces at a time will suffice for them. Its acidic content means they shouldn’t eat too much of it.

Because it is much milder than other radishes, it is better for them to eat than radish.

Don’t feed them the tap root though.

Make sure it is washed thoroughly before feeding to a guinea pig.

Also, don’t feed it to them cooked. They should only eat it raw which they will enjoy 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 defrosted veg

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Defrosted Veg?

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Frozen veg or vegetables are those vegetables that have been placed in the freezer in order to elongate their life.

Vegetables only have a certain lifespan and can go rotten quickly when they are exposed to the air.

So freezing them for a certain time and then defrosting them means you get to keep them for that bit longer.

Can guinea pigs eat defrosted veg?

 

Yes, they can eat defrosted veg but it isn’t as good for them as fresh veg.

It loses its nutrients when it is frozen and isn’t as good for them as fresh veg.

It’s far better to feed them fresh veg even when you think it may be going off a little.

For more foods that guinea pigs can and can eat check out our guinea pig food list

can guinea pigs eat vegetable oil

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Vegetable Oil?

Guinea pig foods, , ,

Vegetable oil is used to fry food in various different culinary dishes and is popularly used around the world.

The term “vegetable oil” can be narrowly defined as referring only to plant oils that are liquid at room temperature, or broadly defined without regard to a substance’s state of matter at a given temperature. (source)

So can guinea pigs eat vegetable oil at all?

Unfortunately, they can’t at all. It is incredibly bad for them and so is a food that needs to be kept away from them.

It will give them stomach pains if they drink it because they just can’t cope with it.

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