Broccoli is a vegetable with very high nutritional value that contains almost all of the nutrients needed by the human body and that of animals to survive. It is also known as the king of Vegetables thereby, earning the name cruciferous vegetable. Broccoli is rich in isothiocyanate and vitamin C. Isothiocyanate and vitamin C are strong antioxidants that can scavenge free radicals in the body, they are known to ensure good health and delay the aging process. This lead to questions like does broccoli have the same nutritional benefit on guinea pig like that as human? Can guinea pigs also eat broccoli? Can health challenges occur as a result of less or much quantity of broccoli for guinea pigs? Read this article closely to have answers to all your pet dietary questions.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Broccoli?
We all know that the guinea pig is a small animal. Therefore, guinea pigs usually have certain foods that will make them grow and are also beneficial to them. In addition, guinea pigs feed on a variety of foods which can either be fruits or vegetables. An example of those vegetables is broccoli. Broccoli is another source of cruciferous vegetables that are naturally packed with various nutrients which are specifically made to work wonders in the body of your furry pet. So, the answer to the first question is yes, guinea pigs can feed on broccoli but it should be in small quantities. Feeding on a large quantity of broccoli can cause serious health challenges for your furry friend.
What Are the Serving Size For Feeding Broccoli To Guinea Pigs?
The serving size of broccoli depends on two major factors which are how often you feed them with broccoli as a full meal or in what proportion is the cruciferous vegetable given to them. About half of one-full size of broccoli florets will be adequate to provide a variety of healthy nutrients that the pet needed to survive for that day without it causing the pet any health risk. Anything above that quantity per meal will lead to a negative effect due to the high concentration of calcium and oxalates present in broccoli. When calcium is present in high amounts in the body of a pet, it will develop into small stones which can later be the source of kidney stones or bladder stones.
Broccoli should be given to guinea pigs twice or thrice a week to avoid over-feeding. Even when the broccoli is served in the right proportion and it was given to the pet every day of the week, the result will be detrimental as that of feeding the guinea pigs with broccoli in high proportion. Therefore, broccoli should be used as semi-regular treaties instead of everyday meals.
Which of the Part of Broccoli is Safe to Eat, The Stalk or The Leaves?
Unlike every other fruit and vegetable, all parts of broccoli are edible enough to feed upon by guinea pigs therefore, they are safe and healthy. The florets or flower parts of broccoli have almost the same nutrient quantity as that of the other parts of the vegetable, but what makes this part different is the high quantity of vitamin A present in the flower parts. If your guinea pig is suffering from Stunted growth, dry skin, or eyes then the florets part of the broccoli should be given to them. The stalk is also known as the stem, and the leaves have enough nutrients to compete with the florets. Thereby, indicating that as long as your broccoli is fresh and looks healthy, it Is safe to feed them to your guinea pigs in small quantities.
What Are the Health or Nutritional Benefits Guinea Pigs Receive From Broccoli
It is of utmost importance to know what health benefit your guinea pigs can benefit from broccoli. The health or nutritional benefits that a guinea pig can sustain from broccoli can come in various versions and can also serve as supplementary nutrients. After all, the main food of guinea pigs is hay and pellets. Any other meal such as fruits and vegetables is known to contribute additional nutrients. Examples of such health or nutritional benefits from this supplementary nutrient are listed below.
The amount of vitamin C found in broccoli is a relatively substantial nutrient in the broccoli. The amount of vitamin C is almost the same as the quantity of vitamin C in citrus fruits. Guinea pigs can not generate vitamin C themselves thus, broccoli can serve as a source of vitamin C nutrients for guinea pigs
Vitamin A, B, E, and K are other vitamin nutrients that are found in broccoli. All these various vitamins are responsible for daily nutrients that will help the guinea pigs to develop as expected. Lack of these vitamins can lead to unhealthy growth, dry skin, itchy eyes, blindness, and all other deficiencies.
Other health benefits nutrients found in broccoli include
- Fiber: it helps the guinea pugs to aid digestion. For every 100g, 2.4g of fiber is present
- Calcium: it is responsible for strengthening and also bone growth. For every 100g, 47mg is present.
- Carbohydrates: It is present in a small quantity of about 6g for every 100g
- Calories: It has about 31 calories in every 100g of broccoli
What Health Risks Can Arise From Broccoli
Broccoli contains a decent amount of calcium and oxalates, and these oxalates are responsible for the formation of calcium stones in the body of your pets. Therefore, too much consumption of broccoli will make the guinea pigs at risk of kidney or bladder stones. Other health risks that may arise include diarrhea, bloating, had, and disruption of the digestive system. Hence, pet owners should ensure their guinea pigs get a small quantity of broccoli no matter how much their pets favor it to avoid serious health problems.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs do eat broccoli which is already established in this article. The florets, stalk, and leave part is safe to eat when it is appropriately washed to avoid germs and other microbial organisms that could lead to various health problems. Broccoli is known to offer health benefits and also health risks when given to the guinea pig in the wrong proportion. All you need to know about broccoli and Guinea pigs have been listed above.
