Many people around the world love to bring little guinea pigs into their homes. It’s always entertaining to see them run around in a ball, or on a wheel.
While they may seem chubby, they are actually very active. With the exercise, they need to have the proper nutrients to keep them going. Feeding the right foods and giving the right drinks can be very crucial. Also, it can save you from a lot of rides to the local vet.
Apples are one of the most common fruits in a household, and you may love to eat them. But can guinea pigs eat apples? Yes, they can. But an apple a day might result in going to the vet every day. You see, these tiny animals can only eat foods in moderation. You can read more about this and other concerning things below.
Test Them Out
Just because these fruits are very nutritious and tasty doesn’t mean that you should force-feed them to your guinea pig. They are very picky animals, and you need to test out the fruit in advance to see if they take a liking to it.
You can start by cutting up small slices of the fruit and leaving it in their cages. If your guinea pigs are very comfortable with you, then they may even take a bite of it from your hands.
If your guinea pig munches on it quickly or nibbles and takes it away to finish in private, then it is very possible that your cavy friend likes the fruit. On the other hand, your pet may not like it if it nibbles and leaves.
There is another reason why your little friend may only nibble on the apple a little bit, which could be that it is shy. You need to give your guinea pig more time to get used to its surroundings.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Applesauce?
This is another very common question that people often wonder. The answer to it, however, is not quite simple.
If you are talking about commercial applesauce, then it is a big no. You should never feed your guinea pig commercial applesauce because it has incredibly high sugar content. This can be very risky for the little animal, might even be toxic.
On the other hand, you could make some apple sauce at home and feed them. However, you should be very careful when picking your ingredients.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Granny Smith Apples?
If you are unaware, granny smith apples were the first of the green apples to hit the markets in the US. They are the most popular ones. They have a really great taste and are very common. That is why it only makes sense to clear it up.
Can guinea pigs eat granny smith apples? It highly depends on the apple. You can feed your guinea pig a ripe granny smith apple that is slightly sweet. However, you should never feed them the sour ones. These should only be an occasional treat, as too much can cause mouth sores.
You should make sure that your pet doesn’t eat the apple seeds, as they are poisonous and can kill your guinea pig.
How Many Apples Can You Give Your Guinea Pig?
Apples are very nutritious and great fruits for everyone. But overeating is never a good idea. While you might be able to eat a couple apples a day without experiencing anything, your guinea pig can’t handle it.
That is why you need to keep their serving size very restricted. You should stick to giving your pet half a cup of apples per serving. However, you can’t feed them every day. It might be useful to stick at one or two times a week.
What Happens If Your Guinea Pig Overeats?
If you mistakenly give your guinea pig too much at a time, then they might start to feel bloated or have diarrhea. This should be over quickly. If it doesn’t, then you need to take your pet and run over to the nearest vet for help.
To help your pet, feed it hay pellets until the issue fades away. Another great thing that you can do is give it some water to neutralize the acidity. With this experience, you probably have learned how much is too much and will be able to make appropriate proportions next time.
What Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
Guinea pigs are herbivorous animals. That means they love to eat fruits and vegetables, not animals nor their products.
You can feed your little buddies fresh hay and leafy vegetables. When you are choosing foods for your guinea pig, then you need to keep these two things in mind:
- Guinea pigs can’t prepare their own vitamin C, which means that they are very vulnerable to vitamin C related deficiencies. That is why their regular meals should include some vitamin C, among other nutrients.
- Guinea pigs are always growing teeth, which is why they need plenty of fibrous foods to chew on. While an apple is very fibrous, you should stick to feeding them hay regularly.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples? Final Ruling
You learned various things above that should have given you in-depth knowledge about the relationship between guinea pigs and apples. These fruits are incredibly healthy and give your pet many nutrients if you stick to the limits.
To sum up the whole discussion, apples are extremely good for your guinea pig. The fruit is high in vitamin C, as well as fibers and antioxidants. All three of these substances contribute positively to your pet’s health. However, the fruit has a high sugar content as well. That is why you need to feed the apples moderately. Your guinea pig can face many difficulties if it consumes too much sugar. You might have to take it to the nearest vet. You should always make sure the fruit is ripe and sweet, as sour is not suitable for guinea pigs.
Recent Comments