Many people feed their pets the same things they eat, but as a guinea pig parent, you shouldn’t share your food with them. Always do your research before offering your guinea pigs something strange or new to eat. Apples are tasty, juicy, and full of vitamins and minerals. However, is it safe for your guinea pigs to consume this well-known fruit? And can Guinea pigs Eat Apples?
As a whole Guinea pigs can eat apples as a treat in moderation. Wash apples, remove seeds/core, & offer in small pieces a couple times/week. Hay, balanced pellets & fresh water should be staples, fruits & veggies can be offered for variety but monitor sugar intake to avoid health issues.
Below, we’ll discuss the nutritional worth, health advantages, and everything else involved with feeding apples to guinea pigs.
Another Topic that people ask about when getting a guinea pig is about Hay consumption check out our article All about Guinea pigs and Hay To continue to learn more about guinea pigs and apple eating read on.
Apples for Guinea pigs
One of the most popular treats that we have found is the following with 4.5 stars on Amazon and over 30,000 reviews it tends to be a hit with our guineas. Kaytee Timothy Biscuits Baked Treat for Pet Guinea and is made with Apples.
Apples are excellent fruit that taste good and provide a wealth of beneficial elements. Guinea pigs may consume an appropriate amount of apples without risk. They contain a lot of sugar; therefore, you should only give them in very little amounts and no more than once per 5-7 days.
Apples are an excellent source of many different nutrients for guinea pigs. However, there are several things you should be aware of before trying to include them consistently in your guinea pig’s diet.
Why Are Apples Beneficial for A Guinea Pig?
1. Sugar Content
Primarily, apples are excellent sugar sources for guinea pigs. The reason for this is that apples contain a lot of sugar. For example, around 11.9 grams of sugar are included for every 100 grams of the product. On the other hand, apples and other fruits, in general, should not be given as a reward more frequently than once in a while. Too much sugar can harm Guinea pigs, which disrupts their intestinal microbes.
2. Rich In Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radicals and boosts immunity. If a guinea pig eats an apple once in a while, it is more likely to be immune to microorganisms that cause disease than if it doesn’t get any apples.
3. The Source of Fiber
Apples are another excellent source of fiber for guinea pigs to consume as part of their diet. They provide around 2.2 grams of fiber per 100 grams, a significant amount compared to other foods. There are several reasons why guinea pigs need to consume fiber. Experiments have shown that diets devoid of fiber result in slower growth rates.
4. Source of Iron
Iron is an essential mineral necessary for every living species’ survival. It is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, which is a protein that is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the blood. Apples have a trace amount of iron, around 0.05 milligrams per 100 grams. Even though it doesn’t look like much, it’s more than enough for your guinea pig.
5. Vitamin B-Complex Vitamins
Apples, besides having a high concentration of vitamin C, are also an excellent source of vitamin B-complex vitamins. Among these are:
- B9 (Folate)
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
- B3 (Niacin)
- B2 (Riboflavin)
- B6 (Pyridoxine)
Guinea pigs require all of these vitamins to be healthy. They contribute to the health and well-being of the guinea pigs’ nervous systems. They also carry out a number of additional duties that are beneficial to your pet’s health.
6. Source Of Vitamin A
Apples, in addition, have a significant amount of vitamin A. Due to the considerable amount of this vitamin that guinea pigs need, it is essential for their health. Vitamin A insufficiency causes poor development, weight loss, and skin diseases.
Here is a table of the basic nutritional information for an apple for a guinea pig:
| Nutrient | Amount per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Water | 85.0 g |
| Energy | 52 kcal |
| Protein | 0.3 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14.0 g |
| Fiber | 2.4 g |
| Sugar | 10.4 g |
| Calcium | 6 mg |
| Iron | 0.2 mg |
| Vitamin C | 4.6 mg |
It’s important to keep in mind that this information is for a serving size of 100 g of apples, and it should only be fed to guinea pigs in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The primary staple of a guinea pig’s diet should be hay, followed by a balanced pellet diet and fresh water. Fruit, including apples, should only be offered as an occasional treat.
Can Guinea pigs eat the skin of an apple?
As a whole Guinea pigs can eat apple skin, a source of fiber & vitamins. Wash skin thoroughly & remove seeds & core before feeding. Offer in moderation as a treat, not a primary source of food. Hay, a balanced pellet diet & fresh water should be the primary staples of a guinea pig’s diet.
Risks of Giving Apples To Your Little Guinea Pigs
Apples contain a lot of sugar, which, if given to a guinea pig in huge quantities, may lead to a variety of health issues and behavioral issues.
The digestive systems of guinea pigs are not made to break down sweet foods, so giving them too much can make them have loose motions or tummy issues. Over time, consuming an excessive amount of sugar can lead to obesity as well as other, more significant health issues like diabetes.
The apples you buy at the shop almost always have some residue of pesticides on them. In addition, they are waxed so that they shine in supermarkets. You can prevent these chemicals if you can buy organic or simple from any organic farm or farmer’s market.
In that case, you must ensure the apples are completely washed. It may be possible to get rid of part of the waxy substance by rinsing it under warm water for a few seconds.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples Daily?
Apples are not a good choice of diet for guinea pigs daily. In short, you should only give your guinea pigs apples as a special treat once in a while. Even though they are fairly sweet and contain beneficial elements that can improve your pet’s health, apples can still be hazardous if fed regularly.
You should also consider that apples are sweet and that giving your guinea pig excessive sugar is unhealthy for them. If the sugar levels are excessively high, your guinea pig risks developing health difficulties and, in some circumstances, even unnecessarily putting on extra weight. Apples should be offered to your guinea pig no more frequently than once or twice a week.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Seeds?
As a General Rule Guinea pigs should not eat apple seeds. Apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanide, a toxic compound. Large amounts of apple seeds can be dangerous for guinea pigs. It’s best to remove the seeds and stem and only give them small amounts of apples as a treat.
They might not kill your guinea pig immediately, but they might negatively impact its health. Before serving, the cores of the apple should be cleaned of any seeds and then sliced into little quarter-sized pieces.
How Should Apples Be Fed to a Guinea Pig?
If you want to feed your guinea pig apple, it is preferable to chop the apple up into little pieces first. Then, measure out about half a cup or less of these pieces and give them to your guinea pigs.
You should leave the skin on since it has a high concentration of fiber, which is beneficial to digestion. Additionally, guinea pigs can get some of the energy they need from the fiber in their diet.
Apple cores should never be given to guinea pigs in their complete form. And under no circumstances should you provide them with apple seeds to eat. Cyanide may be found in high concentrations in apple seeds. When consumed in sufficient quantities, this can be fatal.
Guinea pigs should not be given apples regularly as a source of nutrition. Instead, you ought to limit their consumption of apples to a treat once or twice a week at the most.
Young guinea pigs, more than 4 weeks, may have small portions of apples, just like adults. You should begin with a tiny slice and only provide it very infrequently. They can get stomach pain and irregular urine frequency if they consume excessive sugar.