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Can Guinea Pigs Eat Red Cabbage? Why You Should!

Can guinea pigs eat red cabbage? Definitely Yes; in fact, it is the best variety of cabbage to feed to your guinea pig compared to Chinese and green cabbage. The high vitamin C content of the red cabbage is essential to prevent your pet from developing scurvy.

Red cabbage is healthy and nutritious food for your guinea pig. It is also delicious and can be a good treat if you want to skip pellet food and timothy hay. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Red Cabbage

Can guinea pigs eat red cabbage

Now that you know that you can feed your guinea pig with red cabbage, read on and delve into more information about cabbage as food for your pet. This article also includes the benefits and risks of feeding your guinea pig with red cabbage.

Benefits Of Red Cabbage For Your Guinea Pigs

Here are some benefits of red cabbage for your guinea pig. Let’s read along and get your pet healthy and strong. 

  • Eliminates free radicals

Free radicals are produced as the body undergoes metabolic processes—too much free radical production causes damage to the cells. A high level of these by-products is not suitable for guinea pigs.

One way to get rid of them is through antioxidants. A potent one is a flavonoid that can be found in red cabbage. By feeding red cabbage to your pet, it can reduce the risks of diseases and infections by detoxification.

  • Prevents cholesterol oxidation

Cholesterol is a molecule needed by the body. However, once it is oxidized, it becomes harmful. This bad cholesterol sticks to the walls of arteries causing heart diseases and other complications.

Benefits Of Red Cabbage For Your Guinea Pigs

The flavonoid, an antioxidant present in red cabbage, prevents the oxidation of cholesterol. Thus, protecting your guinea pig from heart illness and other health complications caused by an increased amount of bad cholesterol.

  • Helps proper digestion

Generally, guinea pigs have a weak digestive system. Digestion and nutrient absorption is a complicated process for them. Therefore, they need assistance to complete these processes through the intake of food with high dietary fiber.

Red cabbage is known for its high fiber content. Thus, feeding this to your pet could improve digestion and help them extract nutrients from their food. It can also prevent other stomach illnesses such as constipation.

  • Assist in weight loss

Dietary fiber is a popular diet for those who want to lose weight. This is also true with guinea pigs. Since red cabbage has a high amount of dietary fiber, it is a natural food filler. Weight maintenance is an important aspect of maintaining health. Being underweight or overweight can predispose your pet to various diseases. You can know more about the weight management of guinea pigs in this article how much do Guinea pigs weigh.

Feeding your pet with it will reduce its food intake. When the amount of food decreases, it also triggers the decline of the calories in the body. As a result, your guinea pig will have significant control over its weight.

  • Reduces inflammation

Guinea pigs are active animals and are prone to injuries, illnesses, and other diseases. This causes the organs to swell or inflame. Although inflammation is a normal response of the body to fight diseases and infection, it can still threaten your pet if it is not appropriately handled.

Antioxidants can assist in reducing the swelling of organs and tissues. Red cabbage is recognized as one good source of antioxidants. Hence, feeding it to your guinea pig will significantly influence its body’s response to illnesses, injuries, and infections.

  • Boosts immunity

Vitamin C is recognized as an immunity booster both to humans and animals. Unlike humans, guinea pigs cannot generate or store it. Therefore, regular intake of food that is rich in vitamin c is essential.

Benefits Of Red Cabbage For Your Guinea Pigs

Among all varieties of cabbages, red cabbage has the highest vitamin C content. Feeding it to your guinea pig will ensure a robust immune system that can fight off diseases and illnesses. Illness and pain can be evident through crying. But crying can be due to various reasons. You can read more about various reasons of crying in this article why do Guinea pig cry

  • Lowers blood pressure

Like humans, high blood pressure can put the guinea pigs’ life at risk. Complications, such as stroke, could occur. To maintain the ideal pressure of blood in guinea pigs, a regular intake of minerals such as potassium, manganese, and iron is required.

Red cabbage is a good source of minerals that can regulate blood pressure at an optimum level. This will help keep a healthy heart and lower the blood pressure of your guinea pig.

  • Develop strong bones and teeth

A pet with strong bones is an active pet. To achieve this, you must provide food high in calcium. It is proven to aid in the development of strong bones and teeth.

Calcium is nutrients that are abundant in red cabbages. Feeding this to your guinea pig as it grows will ensure a challenging and energetic pet.

2 Major Risks Of Feeding Red Cabbage to Your Guinea Pig

If you ask, can guinea pigs eat red cabbage? Well, cabbages are entirely safe for your cavies. Leafy vegetables like cauliflower are an excellent choice of diet for them. However, these should be fed to them in moderation, knowing the risks of overfeeding they could cause.

  • Kidney complications

The red cabbage also has a high level of calcium. Calcium is essential in young guinea pigs, but it can be a risk factor among adults. A high amount of red cabbage to adult cavies may trigger the formation of urinary tract stones. This is because of the calcification due to high calcium intake for an extended time.

2 Major Risks Of Feeding Red Cabbage to Your Guinea Pig

A small portion of red cabbage should be enough for its nutritional intake requirement.

  • Digestion difficulties

Guinea pigs have a weak digestive system. For that reason, one vegetable that we can feed them to assist in digestion is red cabbage. However, too much cabbage can cause bloating, diarrhea, and other digestive issues.

A gradual increase in red cabbage feed can help their digestion adjust, thereby preventing diarrhea.

How To Feed Red Cabbage To Guinea Pigs 

Here are the steps in feeding cabbage to your guinea pigs:

#1 Wash thoroughly

Cabbage growers use different chemicals to ensure that their yield is healthy. However, some of these insecticides stay on the cabbage when harvested. So washing them thoroughly is a must to remove these chemicals and ensure food safety for your pet.

Hygiene is very important for the health of your pet. Make sure feeding utensils and water bowls are properly cleaned. You can learn how to clean Guinea pig water bottle in this article. 

#2 Cut it into guinea pig bite-size pieces

Since cavies have issues with digesting their food, you must cut the cabbage in bite-size.

#3 Feed them once or twice a week

Because cabbage contains a high amount of calcium, which can cause bladder stones to toy our cavies, feeding them moderately is essential. Introduce a small portion of the cabbage and gradually increase the amounts. This will prevent bloating and diarrhea in your guinea pig.

Final Words

Guinea pigs are famous pets because of their curiosity and friendliness. As a pet owner, you need to be committed to taking care of them.

Feeding them with red cabbage will give them the necessary nutritional intake. Consider the facts that we gathered in this article, and indeed your cavies will grow healthy and happy.

We hope you have gained useful information from this article “can guinea pigs eat red cabbage?” and it will help you take better care of your pet’s diet. 

 

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