Almond is a part of popular nut enriched with different nutrients which are vitamins, proteins, fibers, and some other essential nutrients that helps promote healthy living for pet owners and their pet. Humans love to eat this nut when it is soaked, roasted, or part of a delicious recipe. This nut is neither fruit nor vegetable but is regarded as a seed of an almond tree with an excellent taste and also has various nutritional and health benefits for people. Some of their health benefits are reduced weight gain and the risk of contracting diseases. Do these nutritional and health benefits have an impact on guinea pigs? Can guinea pigs feed on almonds? Are they any health risks attached to almonds? The answers to these questions will be discussed in this article.
Can Guinea Pig Eat Almond?
Yes, a guinea pig can eat almonds, but the seed must be in small quantities. Almond is a nut that can cause serious health risks to the body system of humans when eaten in large quantities. They can cause weight gain, or eating poisonous almond nuts can be detrimental. Such issues also occur in the body system of a guinea pig which is why it should be in moderation. Not all guinea pigs like to eat it, thereby, leading to the question, Can your guinea pigs eat almonds? The best way to answer this question is to gradually include them in their diet for a trial and take notice of their reaction before you can conclude whether they can eat it or not.
How Many Almond Should be Given to Guinea Pigs (Serving Size Included)
Guinea pigs are tiny animals which is why their food should be properly measured to avoid overfeeding, which can be harmful if not monitored. Almonds should be given to guinea pigs as a treat and not as a regular meal meaning that one or two almonds should be given to guinea pigs once a week or twice a month. The brown part of the almond should be removed in other for the pet to utilize all the nutrients in the seed. It s done by making a soaked almond in which the external part will be removed, thus, giving free access to the long and narrow portions. All guinea pigs should be placed under strict supervision during this process.
Which Type of Almond can Guinea Pigs Eat?
It is important to know which kind of almond specialty you are to feed your pets because some almonds can provide immense health benefits for your pets, and some can be poisonous to them. Hence, to avoid the loss of your furry friend. All almond specialties are listed below
Sweet almonds are the types of almonds suitable for pet owners and their pets. This seed is long and narrow in size and is packed with various nutritional benefits that can help guinea pigs fight against weight gain and some other health issues.
Guinea pigs should not in any circumstances feed on bitter almonds because they are poisonous to them. They are always short and narrow in size, and they produce harmful compounds such as cyanide during their decomposition. The result can be detrimental and may lead to the death of the guinea pig.
Just like any other fruits, unripe fruits or nuts usually contain a high amount of acid, which can affect the digestive system. Unripe almond is like that hence, it is important to drive your pet away from them.
Almonds are already enriched with too much salt which is some of the major causes of obesity and heart problems in Guinea pigs. Giving guinea pigs a salted almond will lead to an increase in their health risk. Therefore, salted almonds should be avoided.
What are The Health Benefits Of Feeding Almond To Guinea pigs?
Almonds are one of the fruits packed with numerous health and nutritional benefit, the following are some of the benefits your pets will gain from the seed.
The nutrient in charge of digestion is dietary fiber, the lucky news is that almonds contain up to 12.5g of this fiber. Thereby, providing a clean and healthy digestive tract and probably eliminating the risk of constipation in your guinea pigs
Almond is enriched with a decent amount of vitamin E (26.2mg) which helps maintain the blood sugar level of your pet. This is because vitamin E promotes the sensitivity in insulin hence, reducing the risk of diabetes. Vitamin E is also known to avoid oxidative damage in the body system.
Regular consumption of almond seeds can help improve the metabolic process of your guinea pig.
Almonds have the nutrient that can help you prevent t spike in cholesterol levels for your guinea pigs. This is because it helps the pets to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of cholesterol in the body of your pets.
Almonds contain 21.2g of protein an essential nutrient required in boosting the satiety of your pets and help to limit their food intake. This will lead to a reduction in weight gain.
Health Risk Of Feeding Almond To Guinea Pigs
All food has its benefits and side effects, therefore, we will be looking at the side effect of almonds on guinea pigs. They are listed below
- Obesity: Regular intake of almonds can lead to weight gain because of the high amount of fats present in the seed.
- Choking/suffocation: Almond is somehow little fruit, so also guinea pigs therefore, there is a high tendency for this seed to get stuck in their throats. Hence, a pet owner should be careful to avoid the mortality of their pet.
- Posoin intake: Bitter or unripened almonds can be poisonous to your guinea pigs because of what they contain, and the result can be downright detrimental
Conclusion
Guinea pigs can indeed feed on almond since it has a lot of nutrients packed into them. Too much or overfeeding your pet with this fruit can result in health risks that should have been avoided. Therefore, pet owners should go through this article to understand what or what is not needed in almonds for their pets.
