Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples? How To Feed Apples to Guinea Pigs?

The answer to the question, “can guinea pigs eat apples,” is yes. Given the many great benefits of this fruit, you can never go wrong feeding this to your pet.

As a guinea pig owner, you have to be sure to give them the best foods in their daily meal, especially those containing lots of nutrients and minerals that will help your pet’s growth.

Apples are crunchy and delicious, which your guinea pig will enjoy eating. They contain a lot of health benefits like antioxidants for better health.

This article will cover the benefits and risks of feeding apples to guinea pigs and much more.

Green and Red Apples

An apple is a round fruit with white flesh and red or green skin on the outside. It is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree cultivated in places around the world and is a widely grown species that primarily originated in Central Asia.

The most common types of Apples are red and green. Red is sweet, while green apples are sour. Guinea pigs can safely eat both.

Apple also has other different types like Braeburn, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Gala, or Fuji, which can be sweeter or sour in taste. Guinea pigs can have these all, but they may have taste preferences.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples?

Yes, they can! Guinea pigs can eat apples along with their skin, flesh, and apple tree leaves. But they cannot eat apple seeds. Apple seeds are toxic to guinea pigs and will cause terrible effects on their health.

They can also eat dried apple as long as there is no added sugar or flavors. It’s best to buy dried apples made for guinea pigs and other gerbils.

An apple is an excellent addition to the cavy’s diet because it adds an extra punch of minerals and vitamins with every serving. Just add this fruit to grass hay to get the right mix of its food. Serve them apples in small portions and only occasionally. Apples are a great treat you should offer your guinea pig!

Health Benefits Of Apples To Guinea Pigs

Apples are a type of fruit with many vitamins and minerals not only for humans but also for animals. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and that is a message that strongly supports why apples are great for your pets.

The following are the benefits that your cavy can attain from apples:

Dietary fibers

Since apples are rich in dietary fibers, it is suitable for your pet, especially apple peels. The dietary fiber available in apples is great for their digestive system and will improve their digestive process.

Apple leaves provides an adequate amount of minerals like phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

Regulation of the nervous system

You must add Vitamin C to your guinea pigs’ diet because they cannot naturally produce this mineral. This one is an excellent antioxidant that can block the free radicals and boost your cavy’s resistance against illnesses and diseases.

Apples also contain the right amount of Vitamin B-complex, such as thiamin. By that, it will help regulate your pet’s nervous system so that it can have a healthier body.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the following are the nutrients that your pet can acquire when eating apples:

• Vitamin B-6
• Niacin
• Riboflavin
• Vitamin K
• Folate
• Vitamin A
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Calcium
• Carbs
• Protein

Risks Of Giving Apples To Guinea Pigs

There are benefits in giving guinea pigs apples, but there are also certain dangers and risks.

I own a guinea pig named Ginger, and as a cavy owner, you have to avoid feeding them too much of the fruit. Even if apples are safe to eat, studies show harmful effects, especially in excessive feeding.

High sugar content

We all know that apples are sweet, and that is because they contain sugar. Too much of this can lead to issues like diabetes.

Poisonous apple seeds

As we talked about earlier, the seeds of the apple are toxic because it contains cyanide. If your pet eats a lot of it, the apple seeds may cause fatal issues.

That is why it is always advised that you take away the fruit seed before giving it to your furry pet.

Acidity

Perfectly ripe apples contain less acid than the unripe ones. Regardless, apples are acidic.

The best thing you can do is make sure you only give them adequate amounts to eat meal plans and do it at proper intervals.

How Much Apple Can I Feed My Guinea Pig?

Guinea pigs should get about a half a cup of fruit and vegetables a day in addition to their grass, hay, or pellets. Make sure to introduce this slowly if they aren’t used to fresh fruit and vegetables.

Due to the high sugar content in apples, you should feed apples only twice a week or less. I recommend a small piece each time, around a half-inch cube or so. If your guinea pig gets diarrhea, reduce the amount and frequency of this treat.

Prepare Apples For Guinea Pigs

There are specific steps and things that you have to follow when feeding your guinea pig apples.

Be sure to note everything below in order to feed your guinea pig safely. You can also read here how to clean Guinea pig water bottles.

Step #1. Find the right apple for your cavies

Select the kind of apple that is perfectly ripe because unripe ones are very acidic for your pet. Feeding unripe apples too often will cause health problems.

Step #2. Wash the apples

Be sure to wash the fruit thoroughly to get rid of the chemicals and pesticides that may be present on the skin. If your cavy happens to eat it without proper washing, it may lead them to illnesses.

Step #3. Slice the apples

For the third step, slice the apples into appropriate slices that are not too big or too small. Also, make sure that you serve your pets with no more than a tablespoon of apple.

Step #4. Remove uneaten pieces

Finally, remove the uneaten pieces of apples left in the guinea pigs’ cage. Do it after a few hours that you give the fruit to them.

By that, you can now assume that they finish nibbling the food. Taking away the excess will make sure that the bacteria won’t have any chance of occurring. Rotten food will harm your guinea pigs’ health.

If you want to improve your relationship with your guinea pig, you can read more about how to tell if your Guinea pig likes you?

Conclusion

Can guinea pigs eat apples? Yes, they surely can but they cannot eat apple seeds which are toxic to them.

Just give the apple to your pet in small amounts and only on an occasional basis so that there won’t be any health issues in the future. If you are feeding your guinea pig a daily diet consisting mostly of pellet or hay, I recommend supplementing it with fresh food such as apples.