Eggs Are Among the Most Nutritious Foods on the Planet. They are loaded with high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, good fats, and various trace nutrients. A large egg contains (10): Only 77 calories, with 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein with all nine essential amino acids. Whole eggs are incredibly nutritious i.e containing a huge amount of nutrients compared to calories. However, the nutrients are found in the yolks, while the whites are mostly protein.
Eggs are very high in antioxidants, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which can drastically reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts. They also contain trace amounts of carbohydrates, but plenty of protein and fat. They score very high on a scale called the satiety index, which measures how much foods contribute to satiety. For this reason, it is not surprising to see studies showing that eating eggs for breakfast may lead to Fat Loss for humans, but what about guinea pigs? Can guinea pigs eat eggs? Does egg offer nutritional benefits to guinea pigs? This article will enlighten you on all you need to know about eggs for guinea pigs
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eggs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat eggs. guinea pigs are a domestically bred species, and their digestive system is meant for fresh greens, hay, and pellets with some low-carb vegetables, a bit of grass, and small amounts of fruit. Some even called them rodents, if one is to be set free or escape into the wild, they will only eat grasses since they are grazers. They are not very smart, and they are an easy game for predators if they are not gobbled up pretty quickly by something, especially given their nature of grazing constantly, they are likely to eat something poisonous to them and die that way. This is why they required all the love and attention you can give them so that they won't go and eat something that will cause damage to their digestive system like eggs which are enriched with high amount of cholesterol levels.
Nutritional facts about eggs
Eggs are just not called one of the best food on the planet because of their deliciousness, it was because of the nutritional nutrients that are present in them. However, it has been explained above that guinea pigs are natural grazers, and they depend on plant and plant-based substances as food, but this doesn't mean they do not have some of the nutrients essential for guinea pigs. Some of the nutrients found in them are listed below.
Protein (12.4g), sugar (0.2g), carbs (0.96g), total lipids or fats (9.96g), Calcium (48mg), cholesterol (411mg), vitamin A (0.0000180mg), etc and many more
Possible Health Risks Of Serving eggs to guinea pigs
Guinea pigs are herbivores and this indicated that they can not feed on dairy products e.g cheese, eggs, milk, etc because their digestive system is only structured for veggies, hays, herbs, fruits, etc. However, situations may arise that you will find your cavies immersed in eating eggs, what damage will your guinea pigs be prone to. Some of the possible health risks associated with serving eggs to guinea pigs are listed below
Lack of adequate Vitamin C
Eggs do not have enough vitamins to begin with, however, the amount of vitamin C found in guinea pigs is little or better still, close to none. Pet owners should be aware that guinea pigs need vitamin C to survive because their body system does not formulate vitamin C, and this makes it an essential nutrient for your cavies. Lack of vitamin C will lead to a poor immune system, no scurvy prevention, and poor health of their skin, hair, and other organs.
No dietary fiber is present
Dietary fiber is also one of the essential nutrients guinea pigs need for their daily survival. This is because they help with bowel movements and digestion thereby, preventing health risks like gases, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc. Since guinea pigs are herbivores and they can't digest eggs, then they will allow their cavies to be prone to this digestion problem if they do not find solace in other food
High in cholesterol
High cholesterol is not recommended for your guinea pigs because it causes health risks such as heart problems. This is because too much cholesterol builds up in the blood vessels to cause heart problems which can eventually lead to death if not properly monitored. Other possible health risks that may arise from too much cholesterol are obesity, diabetes, and cancer
Can guinea pigs eat boiled or cooked eggs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat hard-boiled eggs because it contains a decent amount of harmful compounds, and they should only be eaten by humans. Also, guinea pigs' digestive system can not digest any cooked food, and cooked egg is included, and this is because they are hard to digest.
Can guinea pigs eat scrambled eggs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat scrambled eggs. Guinea pigs can not eat eggs in general, and adding milk or cheese to them can be detrimental to their health. This is because they have some compounds that will cause stomach upset and other digestive issues for your pets.
Can guinea pigs eat egg boxes or cartons?
No, guinea pigs should not eat egg boxes or cartoons however, they can nibble on them without causing serious damage. Ideally, egg boxes or cartons can be used as toys for chewing, hiding, and playing around
Can guinea pigs eat eggshells?
No, guinea pigs can not eat eggshells. Eggshells have sharp edges, and this can cause a lot of internal damage to your guinea pigs if consumed, and there is also a high amount of calcium present in them. Feeding it to your guinea pigs will lead to kidney or bladder stone
Can guinea pigs eat raw eggs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat raw eggs. Raw eggs contain bacteria, and they can cause diseases for your guinea pigs. Also, their digestive stomachs can not digest both raw and cooked eggs so, you should desist from feeding it to your cavies
Conclusion
Guinea pigs can not eat eggs and this is due to the nature of their digestive system. Eggs also are not enriched with the important beneficial nutrients your guinea pigs need daily like fiber and vitamin C, and this is why they need to explore vegetables, fruit, hay, and herbs as food.
