Fruit in many places in the world is a one-season food, and this means that it is not that important to some people and pets. Fruit is mostly water, up to 95% in some fruits, with basically no fat (except avocados) or protein. Fruit also has small amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Studies do show that the most interesting part of the fruit is the antioxidants. Small berries fruits have many of these beneficial antioxidants. Fruit also has been hybridized over the years to be sweeter, making it very high in sugar content, which can be problematic in today’s commonly eaten high-carb diet.
Due to the various nutrient found in various fruit, it shouldn't be far-fetched that eating them will keep your pets healthy. However, what are the types of fruits that your guinea pigs can eat? Examples of fruits that guinea pigs can not eat? What are the beneficial nutrients of feeding fruits to your cavies? The answer to these questions and some endless ones will be discussed in this article.
Can guinea pigs eat fruits?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat fruits as long as it is served in the correct proportion. Studies have shown that if you or your pets are in dire need of a particular nutrient, you will always see them present in fruits, if not all the fruits. Therefore, this indicated that there is always a recommended fruit for a particular disease. However, because of the fast-growing genetic modification, hybridized fruits are known to be the sweetest, and feeding a lot of these fruits to your cavies may result in health issues. This is why this article will enlighten you on which fruit you should feed to your cavies and what is the benefit of feeding it to them.
Beneficial fruits you can serve to your guinea pigs
Apples
Apples are one of the popular fruits, and they are known to contain antioxidants, vitamins, dietary fiber, and a range of other nutrients. Due to their varied nutrient content, apples may help improve health in several ways. E.g they are recommended for patients with the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. However, it should be served in moderation to your pets, and the seeds should be removed when served to them
Apricots
Apricots are also one of the common fruits, and it is a small, yellow, tart-tasting fruits that contain a stone in the middle. Like most fruits, they are full of vitamins and minerals and make a great addition to a healthful diet. Before serving it to your cavies, it should be thoroughly washed, and the stone in the center should be removed before you cut it into a dice shape. 2 -3 apricots fruits are enough for your cavies.
Banana
Bananas are most commonly known for being a good source of potassium, however, their nutritional worth doesn’t end there. This fruit is packed with a plethora of vitamins and minerals that are essential to your health, making them one of the world’s most appealing superfoods. Bananas also jas high amounts of sugar therefore, it is essential to know the number of bananas you want to give your cavies to avoid health risks
Berries
Berries are known to be soft, small, and round fruits that consist of various colors with similar nutritional tastes. The color may be blue, red, black, or purple depending on the one you are harvesting. This type of fruit is high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are one of the fruits needed to keep your cavies healthy. However, some types of berries are extremely high in sugar content therefore, they should be fed in moderation.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers come from the family of Cucurbitaceae, and they are known for providing a lot of nutritional benefits for guinea pigs. They are mainly enriched in vitamins, minerals, low calories, low fats and cholesterol, dietary fiber, sodium, etc. These fruits have a mild, refreshing taste with a high water content. This makes it helps to reduce the risk of dehydration, and it is an essential fruit during hot weather.
Orange
Orange is a popular citrus fruit known for its amazing taste and vitamin C content. They also offer various nutritional benefits apart from containing a decent amount of vitamin c, and they are low calories and cholesterol fruits. You will also see a decent amount of antioxidants which will help the digestive system of your cavies fight against any inflammatory diseases. However, they should also be served in moderation to avoid overfeeding.
Watermelon
Watermelon is one of the nutritional fruits that you can serve to your guinea pigs. They are also a member of the Cucurbitaceae family like cucumber, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc. They are enriched with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc. They are of low calories and refreshing fruits which help prevent dehydration for your little pets.
Other types of fruits that should be served to your cavies
- Honeydew melon
- Cantaloupe
- Bell peppers
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Pears
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Guava
- Cherries
- Plums
- Mangoes
- Pumpkin
- Pineapple
- Papaya
Fruits that should not be served to guinea pigs
Not all fruits can be eaten by your cavies, even if they offer the best nutritional benefits to humans. It may be because of allergy reactions or the presence of some nutrients that may cause various health risks like digestive problems or any other type of problems. The fruits are listed below
- Avocado: These fruits contain a toxic substance that can be poisonous for your pets when consumed. However, the skin is free from this toxic substance, but it also contains high-fat content
- Apple seeds: Apple seeds contain a toxic substance called amygdalin, and this eventually leads to cyanide. The presence of cyanide in the belly of your cavies may result in a lot of health or digestive system failure
- Dry fruits: Dry fruits are usually enriched with a high proportion of sugar, and this may result in obesity or diabetes. Hence, do not feed it to them
- Lemon or lime: They are also part of citrus fruits but have high acidic content, and this can lead to damage to their digestive system
Conclusion
Yes, guinea pigs can eat fruits e.g berries, some parts of apples, oranges, cucumbers, and many more. This is because they are enriched with the nutritional benefit your cavies required, and their digestive system is made to digest them. However, it is essential not to overfeed them with any type of fruit since it may result in various health crises.
