Lots of new guinea pig owners think that raspberries are bad for their pets and confuse with question: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raspberries? The reason being that raspberries are candy like so they must contain lots of sugar. Let me tell you that this is not true. Raspberries are absolutely delicious treats that you can give your pet pig.
They are low in sugar, high in fiber, and contain antioxidants. All these essential nutrients your guinea pig needs for proper nourishment. But what your guinea pig doesn’t need is an excess of this fruit.
Moderation works wonders for a guinea pig. For any pet, as a matter of fact. And that why in this article you’ll understand the basics of feeding raspberries to guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raspberries?
YES, they can. But wait.
You will need to be careful about the feeding amount. And also about the number of times you serve this to your guinea pig on a weekly basis. Guinea pigs will enjoy the juiciness of raspberries. Of that, there is no doubt.
However, you have to control how much they eat. The right amount of raspberries will result in no vomiting or other signs of discomfort.
Even though a guinea pig’s diet does not, primarily, contain raspberries. You can always give raspberries as treats for their good behavior and/or for bonding with them.
Raspberries contain vitamin C as they contain plenty of water. And speaking of water, they are also high in fiber, low in sugar, and calories.
Your guinea pig needs vitamin C and fiber in abundance. So raspberries are both nutritious and delicious treats for your pet pig.
In fact, in terms of flavor and texture, raspberries can just as easily become your pet pig’s favorite. A raspberry is tiny in size so a single piece of raspberry may not be sufficient for your feisty eater! Never give in to your piggie’s whims.
This brings me to another important question.
Guinea Pig Safe Fruits
How Much to Feed? Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raspberries Too Much?
Even if your guinea pig will want to eat raspberries non stop, you cannot give them more than they should be eating.
For feeding a baby guinea pig, it’s best to stay away from feeding fruits of any kind. Stick to healthy guinea pig food including hay and dry food pellets.
For feeding an adult guinea pig, 2 to 3 medium sized raspberries are perfectly alright. In case you have extra large ones, go for 2. And for small raspberries, feeding 3 at a time is okay.
This should be limited to 2 3 times per week. Feeding your pet pig raspberries on a daily basis is a bad idea. It is not supposed to be a part of their daily diet.
Even if you give your pet pig fruits daily, you must balance it out with other permitted foods. So your pet pig receives a mixed diet of minerals, vitamins, fiber, and other essential nutrients.
Before you start feeding your guinea pig raspberries on a regular basis. It’s important that you follow these steps.
- Give your pet pig a small piece of raspberry that is bite sized. If your guinea pig seems to like it, you can offer him or her another piece after.
- Wait for 24 hours to see if your pet has any allergic or digestive reaction to the food. Is he or she passing stools properly? Any vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, bloating, diarrhea?
- If everything is normal, you can begin feeding your guinea pig more raspberries. If not, take your pet to the vet to solve any complications that may arise.
Are There Any Risks of Feeding Raspberries to Guinea Pigs?
While raspberries contain calcium, vitamin C, fiber, and phosphate. There is a list of reasons why you can also avoid feeding raspberries to guinea pigs.
Overfeeding raspberries could be dangerous for them. Feeding too many raspberries can increase the chance of the following risks.
#1. Xylitol
Raspberries do not contain plenty of sugar. But they do contain traces of sugar. Sugary, sweet fruits contain something called “xylitol.” This causes a sugar spike in non primate species.
Since a guinea pig’s body absorbs sugar quickly, it can lead to low blood sugar, insulin resistance, and other such problems.
A sudden rush of xylitol in the bloodstream of guinea pigs is a major cause of this.
In worst cases, your guinea pig may also enter hypoglycemic shock if fed large quantities of raspberries. Or any sweet fruit of that matter.
#2. Oxalate
It’s true that blueberries contain high oxidants, also known as oxalate or oxalic acid. This is an organic compound that is not harmful in small amounts. But if consumed in high numbers can lead to kidney, bladder stones in guinea pigs.
Oxalates form in the urine or stools as calcium oxalate. This can develop stones in the bladder or kidney over time. Especially when you combine that with a high calcium diet.
Making sure your guinea pig’s diet is balanced is a top priority. That’s the only way you can avoid these risks and reap only the health benefits of nutritious fruits and veggies.
Final Thoughts – Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raspberries!!
Any sudden diet change for a guinea pig is a bad idea. It can cause indigestion, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or vomiting. Anything that upsets their tummy or makes them uncomfortable should be avoided.
Make sure you feed your pet pig healthy and organic fruits and veggies. Organic is healthier because it doesn’t contain any pesticides or harsh chemicals. They have very sensitive tummies so they may be allergic to certain fruits that you don’t know of already.
Apart from this, raspberries are healthy and delicious. And if you ask me, I don’t see why you shouldn’t add this to your guinea pig’s diet right now!
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