Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cucumbers: Health Benefits, Risks, and More (2023)

FAQs

Are cucumbers bad for guinea pigs? ›

Cucumbers are low in sugar which is good but they are also high in water and quite low in vitamin C and fibre so although it is fine to feed a few times a week to your guinea pigs, don't give them large quantities. A half inch chunk is plenty as part of their daily veggie portion.

Are Cucumbers Bad For Guinea Pigs? As mentioned above, cucumbers have a very high water content. Because of this, excessive consumption of cucumbers can cause diarrhea and vomiting in guinea pigs. Eating too much can make your little friend feel bloated, which can cause digestive problems and stomach upset.

Guinea pigs can eat cucumbers regularly, a few times a week. Offer a couple of thin slices or one thicker half-inch slice per serving. Since it's so high in water, you shouldn't feed several slices all at once. You can feed cucumber every day, as long as you only feed a thin slice daily.

Leafy greens like romaine lettuce, red and green leaf lettuces, kale, cilantro and parsley should comprise the bulk of your pig's fresh produce. It's best to provide variety by feeding different greens each day.

Ever heard of the saying 'too much of anything is bad'? Unfortunately, that applies to cucumbers for guinea pigs. Consuming too much of it can upset a piggy's stomach and lead to diarrhea, which can cause dehydration!

Make sure you do not feed your guinea pigs the following foods (this is not an exhaustive list): cereals; grains; nuts; seeds; dried beans, corn, and peas; buttercups; garden shrubs (such as hemlock or privet); lilies of any kind; sweet peas; nightshade; oak; avocado; onion grass; onions; potato tops; mushrooms; ...

Vegetables. Your guinea pigs should have fresh, washed leafy greens or weeds each day, such as kale or broccoli, which are excellent sources of Vitamin C. Guinea pigs don't naturally eat fruit or root vegetables, but you can give them in small amounts as treats, such as small pieces of carrot or an apple quarter.

Tomatoes are safe for guinea pigs to eat. Tomatoes have many beneficial dietary benefits including: Great source of fibre - necessary for correct digestive health. High in Vitamin C - A necessary vitamin in their diet.

Symptoms. A pig suffering from vitamin C deficiency may appear weak and lethargic, have difficulty moving, lose weight and stop eating, display a rough coat, or have diarrhea. Some pigs might have internal bleeding. You may also notice a small exterior wound bleeding excessively or not healing correctly.

Dr Moyes says: “Guinea pigs don't naturally eat fruit or root vegetables, but you can give them in small amounts as treats.” This could be small pieces of carrot or celery, a cherry tomato, a little bit of banana or an apple quarter.

Can guinea pigs eat the green part of a cucumber? ›

Cucumber: Guinea Pigs can eat both the flesh, seeds (not too much) and the skin. Green beans:These contain vitamin C, and can be fed in a raw state.

The preferred basic diet for guinea pigs is unlimited amounts of Timothy or other low-calcium hay, supplemented with smaller amounts of a commercial, high-fiber, Timothy-hay based guinea pig pellets. Vitamin C (see below) should be given each day. Hay should be offered free-choice throughout the day.

Fruit You Should NOT Feed Your Guinea Pig

Tomato stems and leaves – always remove greenery before feeding – also, never feed unripe tomatoes! Apple seeds – the seeds contain amygdalin, which produces cyanide when chewed – this is very poisonous to guinea pigs! Always remove apple seeds before feeding.

How should you go about feeding your guinea pig celery? The first thing you should know is that all parts, from the celery roots and stalks to its leaves, all are safe for piggy consumption. However, you should limit the consumption of celery to only a few times per week, and treat it as a snack.

A guinea pig's diet should be equivalent to 80% hay, 15% fresh vegetables and herbs, and 5% of commercial pellets. Overfeeding can be damaging to your guinea pig's digestion tract, and cause obesity.

Dairy, including yogurt, cheese, kefir, sour cream, cream cheese, and cottage cheese. Again, the guinea pig GI tract is not meant for anything but plants. They simply don't have the enzymes and other things they'd need to digest dairy products.

Carrots have a high sugar content, which isn't good for your guinea pig because they increase the risk of obesity and diabetes. The sugar can also be a cause of tooth decay, which can be hard to treat.

Aside from this, peanut butter also contains a lot of sodium, sugar and too many calories. Peanut butter also has a dangerous mechanical effect, it is a choking hazard for them! They have a small esophagus and can get stuck. Some of the symptoms of peanut butter toxicity are constipation and an upset stomach.

Fresh, clean water with nothing added is the best drink for guinea pigs. But why can't guinea pigs have other drinks? It's unhealthy for guinea pigs to ingest high sugar, high salt, or high fat drinks. That eliminates soda, juice, dairy, sport drinks, and others.

They are shy animals – and not without reason, as they have many natural enemies, including wild cats, coyotes, wolves, snakes, hawks, owls and humans. In some cultures, these cute little mammals are seen as a source of food or an ingredient in traditional medicines.

What foods have vitamin C for guinea pigs? ›

Fresh greens/vegetables

Guinea pigs' need fresh greens and vegetables every day to help them get enough vitamin C (they can't produce it themselves). Our vets' advise one teacup of greens and veg, per guinea pig, per day, which can be split into morning and evening feeds.

Can guinea pigs eat banana peel? We are so used to discarding our banana peel that you may not even have thought of feeding this part of the fruit to your guinea pig. In fact, the skin is very rich in nutrients and guinea pigs can eat the banana skin as well as the fruit.

They should also only be given apples once or twice a week as a treat. Guinea pigs should only be eating raw fruits and vegetables, so yes, guinea pigs can eat raw apple, and they can eat the skin—just make sure to wash it properly beforehand.

Guinea pigs are very food-orientated, meaning they are more likely to interact and play with toys that reward them with treats, such as treat balls, hay stuffers, grass tunnels, or hanging vegetable toys. Consider buying nibblers and chew toys. These toys are usually made of a sturdy natural material, such as wood.

Guinea Pigs Can Eat Grapes as an Occasional Treat

Grapes are also rich in antioxidants, which balance free radicals, and resveratrol, a plant compound that has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks to a high level of fructose (sugar), grapes are also very sweet and a favorite treat for most guinea pigs.

When taking into consideration all the nutrition factors, green bell peppers are the best for your guinea pig to eat, because of their lower sugar content. It has almost 2 g less than the other colors. However, all colors of bell peppers can be safely consumed by piggies.

Overall, it is OK to feed your guinea pigs corn!

However, just remember that it should be regarded as a once-in-a-while treat! The starch can be harmful to your guinea pig, and it's important that we keep them safe and healthy.

Fortunately, guinea pigs can eat both the rind and the flesh of the pumpkin! You just have to make sure that you thoroughly clean the outside to rid the rind of any dirt and germs that may be there. We've mentioned time and time again that pumpkin is fine as long as it is served in moderation.

For these reasons, adding vitamin C to guinea pig's drinking water is not recommended. The best way to supplement vitamin C is either through vitamin C tablets or liquids given directly to the guinea pig or through the fresh foods they eat. Abbott and Proctor and Gamble make flavored vitamin C liquids for children.

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in guinea pigs? ›

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in guinea pigs & rabbits include fatigue, depression, muscle weakness/aches/cramps, bone pain and dental issues. You can provide more vitamin D via certain foods and supplements.

Overall, it is OK to feed your guinea pigs watermelon!

Just make sure that you're only feeding it to them once in a while—this can prevent any health issues associated with consuming watermelon too much! It's the best way to keep them happy and healthy.

Guinea pigs can eat oranges in moderate amounts. This fruit is pretty sugary, and it's important to be careful with how much you feed it to your piggy—make sure to know all the information that you need in order to decide whether or not you want to include this juicy fruit in their diet!

The simple answer is yes! Guinea pigs can eat cabbage, and there are so many health benefits for them when they do. There are four main kinds of cabbage, and all are edible to your guinea pig. These varieties include green, napa, red/purple, and savoy!

It is usually not necessary to peel a cucumber or remove the seeds if you plan to eat it raw. If the cucumber skin has been waxed (to make it look shiny) or if you plan to cook the cucumber, remove the skin with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife. Some large cucumbers have hard seeds.

You should not give pickles to your Guinea pigs, because that will increase their solidium content. And this is not good for the Guinea pigs because they can only proceed with fresh grass and veggies. If you try to feed your Guinea pig with pickles, it can lead to digestive problems which can be fatal for the pet.

Guinea pigs can eat zucchini, but do they like it? They do, in fact, enjoy zucchini! However, you might notice that they don't like the skin or the rind. The best way to ensure their 100% satisfaction is to remove the skin before you serve it to them.

Guinea pigs are constantly munching away and it's important they always have access to food. We recommend they have unlimited access to timothy hay (or orchard grass) and about one cup of vegetables per day. Variety is amazing for their diets, and lots of different colors and types of vegetables are good for them.

Each guinea pig is different, and most will have a specific favourite food or foods. Good bets are carrots and carrot tops, cucumber and dandelion leaves. If your guinea pigs don't have regular access to grass then a big juicy handful will elicit excited squeaks from most guinea pigs, young or old.

Most of them love carrots and broccoli, and some love nothing better than fresh grass nibbled from a lawn. Some owners swear by shop-bought treats, but these are not essential, and you should check the ingredients to make sure you're not feeding th GPs sugar and colorings!

Can guinea pigs eat eggs? ›

At the most basic level, guinea pigs are herbivores. That means that they just eat fruits and veggies—no dairy, eggs, meat, or insects for these little guys. Fresh hay and fresh leafy vegetables should make up the bulk of your guinea pig's diet.

Generally many guinea pigs dislike being touched anywhere that isn't their head, shoulders, or their upper back. Everywhere else is a no-go zone, especially when it comes to their butt. In order to try to keep your piggies comfortable, keep your petting in the areas that they're OK with.

Cooked chicken can look more like plant matter than flesh. Even so, it's no good for them; guinea-pigs don't have the equipment for digesting meat and meat carries all sorts of bacteria that they shouldn't be exposed to.

Guinea pigs can eat the any parts of the broccoli! The stem, florets, and the stalk are enjoyed by guinea pigs and will also help to maintain their dental health by helping them keep their teeth at a healthy length.

Guinea pigs can eat green beans, but do they like it? They do! So not only is it good for your little piggies, but they'll enjoy eating it too.

To sum things up, small portions of strawberries can be a treat for your guinea pig once or twice a week. Strawberries, because of their sugar content, are not fit to be included in your pig's diet every day. The stems and leaves are healthy for your pig, perhaps even better than the fruit itself.

It is safe to feed your guinea pig carrots along with the green leafy tops. Feed in moderation due to the high levels of Vitamin A and sugar content.

Tomatoes are safe for guinea pigs to eat. Tomatoes have many beneficial dietary benefits including: Great source of fibre - necessary for correct digestive health. High in Vitamin C - A necessary vitamin in their diet.

Cucumber is also low in calcium. It's very high in water content, which can help flush out the bladder and get more water in your guinea pig's system. However, don't go overboard, as too many watery veggies can cause diarrhea.

Guinea pigs can eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs with some of their most popular foods being lettuce, kale, parsley, coriander, cucumber, carrot, sweet bell peppers, tomato and apple.

Is celery bad for guinea pigs? ›

How should you go about feeding your guinea pig celery? The first thing you should know is that all parts, from the celery roots and stalks to its leaves, all are safe for piggy consumption. However, you should limit the consumption of celery to only a few times per week, and treat it as a snack.

Dairy products – dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt etc are derived from animals and should not be fed to your Guinea Pig.

When it comes to feeding your guinea pigs daily, the only two vegetables they can be given daily are green bell peppers and romaine butterhead, or bib lettuce. Yellow and red bell peppers have too much vitamin C to be given daily and other types of lettuce don't have enough nutritional value.

Recurrence is common. Diet: Because most urinary stones contain calcium, your guinea pig's diet should have just the right amount of calcium: enough, but not too much. You can get this balance by avoiding high-calcium foods, such as alfalfa hay, kale, dandelion greens, and spinach.

The preferred basic diet for guinea pigs is unlimited amounts of Timothy or other low-calcium hay, supplemented with smaller amounts of a commercial, high-fiber, Timothy-hay based guinea pig pellets. Vitamin C (see below) should be given each day. Hay should be offered free-choice throughout the day.

The short and sweet answer is yes! Guinea pigs can eat pineapple, but in moderation. There are several different health benefits that this fruit can offer to your piggy, but there are a few drawbacks that you need to be aware of before you decide to include it into their diet.