Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that comes from the brassicas family. They have a characteristic rosette morphology, which means that it has a large number of leaves very close together and very close to the ground that ultimately forms from the stem. They are extremely nutritious, and eating cabbage can be beneficial to health because they contain a low-calorie vegetable. 100 grams of cabbage contains only 25 calories, and its water content is as high as 90%.
Cabbage is very high in vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene, These vitamins are natural antioxidants that can effectively resist cell aging and delay the speed of cell aging, thereby delaying the body's aging process. In addition, cabbage is rich in dietary fiber, which can accelerate gastrointestinal peristalsis, enhance metabolism, and eliminate toxins and garbage. They are among the most versatile vegetable. Can guinea pigs eat cabbage? Can guinea pigs also benefit from them as a human does? All answers will be answered in this article.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cabbage
Yes, guinea pigs can eat cabbage but only in moderation. Like most herbivores, guinea pigs are essentially grazers. They munch on hay and veggies all day. That means it is important to keep fresh food available constantly. Guinea pigs need Vitamin C as people do, and cabbage stalks and leaves are quite good enough sources for them. They don't spend their little lives desperately wanting a more varied menu like; grass, hay, and dandelion or lettuce leaves. You should know that all types of antioxidant-rich cabbage are safe and beneficial for guinea pigs. Cabbage aids digestion, and it improves the resistance of the skin. But eating too much cabbage can cause a lot of gas in your pet's gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms of flatulence.
Is it Safe To Feed Cabbage To Guinea Pigs And In What Proportion Should They Serve Them?
Yes, cabbage is completely safe for your guinea pigs especially if served in the right proportion. Any form of leafy vegetable is safe for your pets since it has been established that they are herbivores, and they feed on vegetables, fruits, and hay to keep them healthy. A cup or one or two fresh and raw leaves of cabbage is enough to serve your guinea pigs twice to thrice a week. This is because of the high proportion of water content enriched in cabbage. A whole or chopped cabbage is fine because your pets will devour them in minutes, but anything other than that can cause a digestive problem because cabbage contains a high amount of calcium.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Different Types Or Parts of Cabbage
The beauty of giving your pets a balanced diet falls in the variety of meals given to them. This is why you should know whether you are helping them by adding the following nutrient-packed food to their diet or not.
Red cabbage
This special type of cabbage contains the highest amount of vitamin C that can be found in cabbage. Since vitamin C is required by guinea to survive, therefore, it is recommended to feed them red cabbage
Green cabbage
This is the most common type of cabbage, but it is not an ideal cabbage for your pets. They are enriched with a decent amount of vitamin C, but they also contain a decent amount of calcium which can be dangerous if it is overfed.
Savoy cabbage
It looks like a milder version of green vegetables, but it has less calcium and vitamin C compared to green cabbage which makes them not an ideal cabbage for your pets. You would have to provide high vitamins enriched food
Cabbage leaves
Yes, Guinea pigs can eat cabbage leaves. They are known to contain high nutritional and beneficial nutrients which are essential for your pets
Cabbage stalks
Yes, guinea pigs can eat cabbage stalks, but they should be farther away from their core. The cores are highly debatable by pet owners, but it should be best to be safe than sorry
What Is The Health And Nutritional Benefit Of Serving Cabbage To Guinea Pigs
Cabbage is high in fiber and has anti-inflammatory properties, not to mention all the vitamins and minerals like antioxidant sources, including vitamin C Here are just a few things cabbage can help on:
Assists In Weight Loss
It is considered to be the best food for pets that suffers from obesity and high weight. They contain little to no calories, Thus, a diet of raw cabbage would mean endless bowls with absolutely no weight gain. They are also responsible for keeping blood pressure from getting high. The high potassium content helps by opening up blood vessels, easing the flow of blood.
Improving Brain Health
The existence of vitamin K and anthocyanins in cabbage gives it the strength to become a brain booster.
Improving Bone Health
Cabbage contains great sources of minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These elements are integral to bone health by protecting your pet's bones from degradation, osteoporosis, and general bone weakening
Strong immune system
Guinea pigs need nutrients that can help them fight diseases. For pet owners, vitamin C is mostly used for boosting and maintaining the performance of their immune system. These benefits also extend to their pet when they feed on food high in vitamin C. Red cabbage is high in these nutrients.
Major Health Risk Of Serving Cabbage To Guinea Pigs
If pet owners fail to follow the appropriate serving portion because their pets love the food, they are introducing their pets to possible health risks. And some of those problems are listed below
Gases and bloatedness
Cabbage contains a high amount of water content therefore, overfeeding them with his food may lead to your guinea pigs suffering from gases. Unfortunately, the symptoms of gases are not that well known hence, you should desist from overfeeding.
Kidney or bladder stone
Green cabbage has a high amount of calcium, and overfeeding may lead to small stones that can cause blockage in the bladder and kidney.
Conclusion
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that offers a decent amount of beneficial nutrients which is essential in keeping your pets healthy. Too much ingestion may lead to health risks depending on the type of cabbage they were given which is why you should go through the article above to save your pets from suffering from health problems because of overfeeding.
