Bok Choy is a nutritious type of Chinese cabbage that is dark green colored. This variety of vegetables does not form heads, instead has dark green leaf blades. It is quite popular in Asia, and you can find it anywhere nowadays. Bok choy contains a wide assortment of nutrients and minerals. It is especially high in nutrients C and K and offers some fiber, which is a significant supplement for general well-being.
Bok choy is enriched with nutrients, minerals, and cancer prevention agents that might offer advantages for thyroid capacity and heart and bone wellbeing. They are also enriched with anticancer properties. There are many ways to cook this delicious food. You could eat it raw in a salad or steam it. You can also cook it in soup, stir-fry, or bake it, but can your guinea pigs enjoy the nutrients of Bok Choy like humans? Can guinea pigs eat bok choy? All answers to this will be answers below
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Bok Choy
Yes, Guinea pigs can eat bok choy, but only in moderate amounts. Bok choy is a type of brassica that grows blade-like celery, and it is high in vitamins (A, C, and K), and low in sodium, fats, and cholesterol. Due to it being a special type of brassica also known as cabbage, overfeeding can lead to gas or bloatedness which can be problematic. Bok choy is also enriched with a high amount of calcium and too much of this can lead to bladder problems. Therefore, it is safe to give your guinea pigs bok choy a time or two each week as a treat, but it is not good for constant or regular feeding.
What Are The Health And Nutritional Benefit Of Serving Bok Choy to Guinea pigs?
It has been established above that bok choy is one of the common nutritional cabbage, and it contains various nutrients packed together to be beneficial for your guinea pigs when it is being ingested. Although cabbage does not have many nutrients, when bok choy is fed to your guinea pigs in the appropriate proportion can produce more health benefits than health risks for your pets, and some of the benefits are listed below
Strong immune system
Vitamin C is mostly the crucial, essential vitamin that your guinea pigs need to complete their daily diet, and this is because unlike humans and some other pets, they can not produce their vitamin C themselves, instead, they depend on vitamin C-enriched food (Bok choy) to keep them healthy. Bok choy contains a decent amount of this nutrient hence, it is suitable for your pets. Vitamin C also helps keep your immune system strong by helping them fight against any infectious disease they pick up. It can also keep the immune system strong by reducing inflammation.
Provide Strong and healthy bones
Bok choy contains Vitamin K which is another nutrient that is essential in strengthening your guinea pig's bone and teeth. Vitamin K alone can not do that job which is why the leafy green vegetable is also enriched with calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc which also participate in keeping your pet's bones strong. You should also know that it is low in oxalates which bind calcium in the guts thereby, preventing it from getting absorbed and performing its duties. Therefore, for your guinea pigs and pregnant guinea pigs, it is advisable to give them a dose of this vegetable
Hydration and weight loss control
Bok choy is made up of 95% water which is essential in keeping your guinea pigs hydrated especially, after an hour of active movement. This vegetable also contains low calories and fats, and it is sugar-free which makes it an ideal food for your pets. Therefore, bok choy is another way to keep your pets in the right shape and proportion because of its decent amount of calories and carbs.
What Are The Major Health Risk Of Serving Bok Choy to Guinea Pigs
We have established that bok choy is rich in nutrients that are considered essential for the well-being of a guinea pig. Thereby indicating that the vegetables are safe for those pets when given to them in the right proportion. The question is what possible health risks can arise from overfeeding your pets the vegetable? Before answering the question, you should know that bok choy contains too much calcium, and in the body of a guinea pig its effects can vary from mild to detrimental which is listed below
Bladder or kidney stone
Bok choy contains a high amount of calcium, and too much intake or overfeeding of this vegetable is liable to kidney or bladder stones. Kidney or bladder stones are tiny stones that block the passage of essential nutrients and water from going out and coming into the kidney or bladder. The solution to this is to give them an appropriate proportion of bok choy vegetables.
Gasses or bloatedness
This can arise as a result of overfeeding or too much intake of bok choy by your guinea pigs. Their digestive system is sensitive thereby, all their food should be measured and given to them in the right proportion. The solution to this health issue is to place them on 24 hours diet to monitor and reduce the gasses or bloatedness.
Is it Safe To Serve Bok Choy to Guinea Pigs and What Are the Serving Size?
Bok choy also known as Pak Choi is safe for your pets, and this safety is only possible if you provide the food for them in the right proportion. The right proportion indicates that a small piece, or two, or a little handful would be a good serving if you give them one to two times per week. The best method you can use to give them this veggie is by mixing them with other veggies that contain different beneficial nutrients like bok choy, and if your pets find the taste unpleasant, you can choose not to serve them with bok choy again
Conclusion
Bok choy is a leafy green Chinese cabbage or vegetable which is enriched with various beneficial nutrients to keep pet owners and their pets healthy. The veggies are also enriched with a high amount of calcium, and when overfed, it may lead to serious health risks for your pets. The correct proportion and all you need to know about the vegetable have been discussed in this article.
