If you are a new guinea pig owner, or you’re looking to change up your pet’s diet, it can be hard to determine what to feed them. There are foods that can harm guinea pigs, so it is important to research every type of food before feeding it to your pet.
Can guinea pigs eat strawberries?
Yes, but there is a lot to consider when giving your pet strawberries. Guinea pigs are herbivores, meaning their diet is mainly hay, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. I wrote a long section on my guide „Before And After Getting Your Puppy” about a list of fruits and vegetables that guinea pigs can and can’t eat.
They will not regulate their own food and end up overeating, so you need to only feed them the amount they should eat.
I wrote also this article about one of the best food that I give to my cavies to be healthy, they like It too much.
Your pet should eat mainly hay and guinea pig food in the form of pellets. These two items contain the crucial vitamins and nutrients your pet needs.
However, you can also feed your pet fresh fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy diet.
If you want to introduce strawberries into your guinea pig’s diet, you should do it slowly. Changing your pet’s diet too suddenly can cause digestion issues like bloating and diarrhea.
Cut the strawberries into bite-sized pieces and only give your pet a few bites. Chances are, they will love the strawberries.
Wait a while to see how they digest the strawberries, and then you can give them more the next time.
Be sure to thoroughly wash strawberries before giving them to your guinea pig. Fruits often carry chemicals or pesticides that can kill your pets.
Feel free to give your pet the tops of the strawberries because they love to munch on leafy greens.
Regulate how many strawberries you give because they are high in sugar. You should not give your guinea pig strawberries every day.
This treat is only good for your pet occasionally and in moderation.
Can guinea pigs eat wild strawberries?
Wild strawberries should be just fine for your guinea pigs. Again, be sure to wash them completely before serving them to your pet. The same rules apply to wild and store-bought strawberries.
Cut them up into tiny bite-sized pieces, do not serve cold, and only give them to your pets every once in a while.
Again, your pig may end up loving the leaves and stems of the wild strawberries more than the actual fruit. While wild strawberries are high in sugar and usually loved by guinea pigs, they may not have a taste for them.
Don’t be alarmed if your pet ignores the fruit and munches on the green parts instead. Be sure to throw away any leftover strawberry pieces when your pet is finished eating.
Guinea pigs have a tendency to overeat if not monitored closely.
Related to Medicalnewstoday Strawberries are rich in vitamin C which is good for your cavies, potassium, folic acid, and fiber. These are all essential nutrients that support the body’s daily functioning.
Nutrition value
One cup of sliced, fresh strawberries, or 166 g, contains a range of important nutrients in the following amounts:
- Calories: 53 kcal
- Protein: 1.11 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.75 g
- Dietary fiber: 3.30 g
- Calcium: 27 mg
- Iron: 0.68 mg
- Magnesium: 22 mg
- Phosphorus: 40 mg
- Potassium: 254 mg
- Vitamin C: 97.60 mg
- Folate: 40 micrograms (mcg)
- Vitamin A: 28 international units (IU)
Strawberries also contain a range of powerful antioxidants, including anthocyanins, ellagic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol.
What fruits can guinea pigs not eat?
Most fruits are safe for your piggy in moderation. However, keep in mind that fruits are high in sugar and can lead to weight problems for your pet if they eat too much. It is important to remove any uneaten food to keep your pet from overeating.
Avoid feeding your cavy avocados. The skin and pit of the avocado are not safe for guinea pigs to eat, and the meat of the avocado is too high in fat for your pet to consume safely.
Feeding your pet avocado can lead to your pet becoming overweight and suffering other health issues.
Look how much this cavy love strawberry
Tomatoes are fine to feed your pet but remove the leaves and stalks. Tomato leaves and stalks are poisonous for guinea pigs and should never be fed to them.
Also, be sure to wash any fruits before serving them to your pet. Pesticides and chemicals often sit on top of store-bought fruits. Thoroughly washing all produce before giving it to your cavies is an important step to protect your pet.
What foods kill guinea pigs?
There are some things you should never feed your piggy. Most of the time human treats are not okay to give your pet. Much of what you pick up from the store are high in sugar or fat.
These products can cause your pet to be overweight and suffer serious digestion issues. Feeding sugary or fatty foods to your pig can kill them.
You should also avoid any foods that are toxic to guinea pigs. There are some foods pigs just cannot process, which will lead to death.
Always do your research before feeding something new to your pets. Something you think is harmless may actually be deadly for your cavy.
Here are some foods that should never be fed to guinea pigs:
- Chocolate is extremely poisonous for your piggy.
- Citrus fruits like oranges, limes, and lemons contain a lot of acids that hurt your pet’s stomach.
- Dairy products like milk and cheese are not safe for cavies.
- The meat of any kind does not fit in your pet’s diet because pigs are herbivores.
- Nuts are dangerous for your pet’s teeth.
- Potatoes and potato products like chips are toxic to cavies.
- Rhubarb. Including the leaves and stems, are toxic to guinea pigs.
- Sugar is bad for your pig’s digestion and teeth. Never give your pet sugar cubes or other forms of pure sugar. Only small amounts of sugar in safe fruits are okay.
If you’re like me, you love your pet and you would do anything to keep them safe. A lot of your pet’s health and wellness depends on what you feed them.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs have very specific dietary needs that should be followed closely. While strawberries are safe for cavies to eat, they should only be fed strawberries in small amounts.
Always research any food before feeding it to your piggy and avoid any foods that could be poisonous to your pet. If you feed your pig properly, they can have a long and healthy life.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
