In this blog post, we’re going to talk in-depth about whether it’s safe for your guinea pigs to consume strawberries.
We’re going to assume that the majority of you haven’t randomly stumbled across this guide, but you instead have a and are looking for nutritional guidance on which foods to feed your furry friend. If so, keep reading, you’ll want to make sure that these adorable little animals that bring you a lot of happiness are well taken care of, and live long and healthy lives.
Such a is perfect for families, especially those who have small children. This is because they are easy to care for, and are more cuddly than other common choices of pet, like a hamster, fish, or reptile.
Anyway, let’s talk more about the topic, and give you some of the details behind strawberries, and whether it’s a good idea to feed it to your cavies.
Can my Eat Strawberries?
The short answer to this question is, yes! Strawberries are a safe for guinea pigs to eat, but only in small amounts.
Strawberries are derived from the .
Now there are actually three different varieties of this plant, which include June-bearing, ever-bearing and day-neutral bearing. Each of these varieties bears at different times of the year, and for different durations.
There are several types of , including Albion, Northeaster, Tillamook, Earliglow, Quinalt, and more.
However, why is this the ideal treat for your cavy?
Why are Strawberries Suitable For A to Eat?
A is quite a complicated topic.
This is because, your furry friend needs a good varied to help maintain nutrient and levels. Not only this but a balanced diet also helps to prevent imbalanced levels of certain bacteria and fungi.
What is the best for Guinea pigs?
As we can see from VCA Hospitals’ advice:
The preferred basic for guinea pigs is unlimited amounts of Timothy or other low-calcium hay, supplemented with smaller amounts of commercial, high-fiber, Timothy-hay based . C should be given each day to help maintain and boost your guinea pigs immune system. Hay should be offered throughout the day. Hay and pellets should be supplemented with a variety of fresh, well-washed, leafy greens or colored vegetables (especially those high in C, such as bell pepper, tomato, and asparagus).
Other good choices for vegetables include green and red leaf lettuce, , broccoli, cauliflower, endive, kale, carrot tops, beet greens, cilantro, carrot, and squash. Iceberg or head lettuce has little nutritional value and is mostly water, so it should not be offered.
Thus, is recommended as a fantastic source of C, with over 56 mg of C per 1/2 cup of [Azeah].
C is highly important for your cavies’ overall health, as it helps to support the immune system.
However, as is described above, Guinea pigs have delicate digestive systems, meaning that bacterial imbalances can occur due to a one-sided .
And since strawberries have extremely high , it’s crucial that you do not overfeed your cavy on them, as it can cause diarrhea and even more serious issues.
Therefore, it’s recommended to only feed your a or two on rare occasions, as treats.
Instead, be sure to give your constant access to . This is because it’s crunchy to eat and subsequently it helps wear down their herbivore teeth, which grow continuously throughout their lives. Therefore, it’s important that your cavy chews on tough vegetation to wear them down. Additionally, because their digestive systems is so complex, it requires high levels of fibre to keep it working optimally. Therefore, hay is the perfect source!
Remember to feed your on and , including the odd wild as a treat. Try buying organic so there are no pesticides or unwanted chemicals. And always wash the and that you buy, to help remove excess soil and dirt.
Some guinea pigs love including the , where others much prefer to only eat the main part. Either way, both the and the leaf is fine for your cavy to enjoy.
Let’s further explore the nutritional aspects and health benefits of strawberries.
Health Benefits of Strawberries
High in C
Strawberries are a rich source of C. A medium-sized has approximately 7 mg of C, where a large has around 10 mg.
Similarly to humans, guinea pigs cannot create their own source of C, so they mostly get it from their .
Disease Prevention
Strawberries have a range of active compounds which both show protective effects from chronic diseases for humans and animals.
This is due to their level of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Antioxidants destroy free radicals in the body, and help assist the immune system.
Great for the Heart, Brain, and Eyes
Strawberries are packed with lots of vitamins, manganese, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants (These are specifically referred to as polyphenols) including anthocyanins, ellagic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol. Additionally, strawberries are sodium, fat, and cholesterol-free, and are a low-calorie , meaning that you won’t have to worry about your putting on weight whilst enjoying one of these rare treats.
Weight Loss
As we mentioned above briefly, strawberries have no fat, and are ultra low in calories. This means that they are ideal to feed a potentially overweight cavy as a rare treat.
Help to Develop and Maintain Good Bone Health
Strawberries are very good for a human or animal’s overall bone health. This is due to the combination of antioxidants, manganese, vitamins C and K, alongside potassium.
Osteoarthritis Prevention & Relief
Due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, studies have shown that there is evidence to suggest that strawberries can help to prevent arthritis from occurring in humans. Although further research needs to be done on this for it to be concluded, we think that providing your with a or two as a rare treat, can only be positive for
How Much C Should A Get?
The average should get around 10 – 30 mg of C on a daily basis.
Pregnant guinea pigs will require more than this.
However, an unhealthy will ultimately require anywhere from 100 – 200 mg, to provide a boost to its immune system.
Also, if you suspect that your is becoming ill, it may be useful to provide more C, but we suggest seeking medical assistance from a veterinarian for this.
in Strawberries
Strawberries are packed full of vitamins and antioxidants, this includes C, K, potassium, manganese, and folate.
According to Nutritiondata, 1 whole, large , which weighs approximately 18g, has the following nutritional information:
Vitamins
A – 2.2 IU
Vitamic C – 10.6 mg
D – 0.0 mg
E – 0.1 mg
K – 0.4 mcg
Thiamin – 0.0 mg
Riboflavin – 0.0 mg
Niacin – 0.1 mg
Folate – 4.3 mcg
B12 – 0.0 mcg
Pantothenic Acid – 0.0 mg
Choline – 1.0 mg
Betaine – 0.0 mg
Minerals
Calcium – 2.9 mg
Iron – 0.1 mg
Magnesium – 2.3 mg
Phosphorus – 4.3 mg
Potassium – 27.5 mg
Sodium – 0.2 mg
Zinc – 0.0 mg
Copper – 0.0 mg
Manganese – 0.1 mg
Selenium – 0.1 mg
Fluoride – 0.8 mcg
Fats & Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids – 11.7 mg
Omega-6 fatty acids – 16.2 mg
Source: https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and--juices/2064/2
How Many Strawberries Should I Give To My ?
It’s highly recommended to only feed your a or two on rare occasions, as treats.
The reason for this is because strawberries have high , and therefore, feeding your cavy too many strawberries can have severe negative effects on your ‘s digestion and overall health.
This is also true for , which has high .
How Should I Prepare Strawberries For My ?
As we’ve tried to emphasize within this article, strawberries should only be given to your on a rare occasion, as a treat.
With that being said, one is really enough for one .
For practicality and ease of eating, we recommend slicing the in small portions.
You can feed your cavy the whole , including the top and leaves, as these will only help with their overall digestion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As a , we understand that you’ll most likely have a lof of questions.
Therefore, we’ve addressed some of the most common FAQs that we see on a daily basis, in regards to to your cavy. These are as follows:
As A Healthy Treat?
Guinea Pigs can enjoy the odd as a rare treat. And this is healthy because strawberries are naturally high in C, K, and several antioxidants. However, due to their high , they should not be fed to your on a regular basis.
Instead, focus on feeding your a that mainly consists of vegetables.
How Many Strawberries Can Guinea Pigs Eat A Day?
You should not feed your strawberries on a daily basis. Instead, it’s recommended by experts to only feed these on a rare occasion.
Tops?
Absolutely, the top of the which includes the leaves are ideal for your cavy to eat, as their herbivore digestive system is more suited to digesting leafy greens.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat And Leaves?
Yes they can, guinea pigs often enjoy the leaves and stems. They are perfectly safe for consumption.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat ?
Your should have no issues with being able to eat and digest . And since eating strawberries is a rare treat for your cavy, you can simply leave the seeds in the .
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cold Or ?
We don’t suggest feeding cold , including strawberries, to your , as they have delicate digestive systems. Cold and frozen can subsequently cause your cavy to experience digestive issues, including stomach pain, diarrhea, and more.
Can Eat
Yes, they certainly can.
Can Eat
We wouldn’t suggest feeding your , or any for that matter. Why? Because we haven’t seen enough research to suggest that their digestive systems are capable of handling it.
Does That High Make Strawberries Bad For Guinea Pigs?
Yes, too much can have a negative impact on your guinea pigs digestive health and even their overall health.
Since their digestive systems are delicate, it doesn’t take much sugary to cause symptoms of gut dysbiosis, such as persistent diarrhea and other issues like fatigue.
Therefore, you’ll want to restrict how many sugary foods, including strawberries and citrus fruits, that you’re feeding to your . Instead, replace these with plenty of leafy greens, including kale, lettuce, cilantro, etc.
Leave a Reply