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.
Guinea pigs are cute and furry tailless rodents that indeed bring joy to our daily lives. As a guinea pig owner, you have to be sure to give them the best foods in their daily meal especially those that contain lots of nutrients and minerals that will help in your pet’s growth.
For example, apples are crunchy and delicious, which your guinea pig can surely enjoy eating. It contains a lot of health benefits like antioxidants for a more healthy body.
If you want to know the detailed answer, continue reading because we are going to discuss it further.
In this article, you will learn about the benefits and risks of feeding apples to guinea pigs, and much more. So without any more delays, allow us to begin!
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 in which is cultivated in places around the world and is a widely grown species and primarily originated in Central Asia.
The most common types of Apples are red and green. Red is sweet in taste while green apples are sour. Guinea pigs can 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 a preference to some according to their taste.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples?
Yes, they indeed can! Guinea pigs can eat apples along with its skin and flesh.
But, you have to make sure that you take away the seeds because it is toxic for them and will cause terrible effects on their health. Also, serve them in a small portion and only on an occasional basis.
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 hay so that it can get the right mix of its food.
Health Benefits Of Apples To Guinea Pigs
Apples are a type of fruit that has 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 the kind of fruit rich in dietary fibers, it is right for your pet, especially its peels. The dietary fiber presented to apples gives a lot of benefits, such as an improved digestive process.
Furthermore, the apple leaves are safe for your pet to eat, for it 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 the nervous system of your pet so that it can have a healthier body.
The following are the added nutrients that your pet can acquire when eating apples:
- Vitamin B-6
- Niacin
- Riboflavin
- Vitamin K
- Folate
- Vitamin A
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Calcium
- Carbs
- Protein
3 Risks Of Giving Apples To Guinea Pigs
If there are benefits in giving guinea pigs apples, there are also certain dangers as a companion.
I myself own a guinea pig named Ginger and as a cavy owner, you have to be aware of this matter to avoid feeding them too much of the fruit. Even if apples are safe for them to eat, studies show harmful effects, especially in excessive feeding.
1- High sugar content
We all know that apples are sweet kinds of fruits, so we are sure that it contains a lot of sugar. Too much of this can cause your guinea pigs to have health issues like diabetes.
2- Poisonous seeds
As we talked about earlier, the seeds of the apple are toxic because it contains cyanide. If your pet happens to eat a lot of it, the fruit seeds may cause severe issues.
That is why it is always advised that you take away the fruit seed before giving it to your furry pet.
3- Acidic
Perfectly ripe apples contain only less acid than the unripe ones. But, it is still a fact that apples are acidic.
The best thing you can do is make sure that you only give them adequate amounts to eat meal plans and do it at proper intervals.
These are the things that you should keep in mind so that you won’t risk the health and the life of your beloved guinea pig.
4 Prepare Apples For Guinea Pigs
There are specific steps and things that you have to follow when it comes to feeding your pets. If you fail to do even just one of these, it may cause harm to them from the smallest to the immense danger there is.
Along with the question ‘can guinea pigs eat apples’, you should also be careful about the parts of the apple you feed about which you can read here.
Be sure to note all of the things below so that the guinea pig can be far from any harm. 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. In the long run, it may cause them to have health issues if you fed the unripe apples every time.
Step #2. Wash the apples
In the next step, 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, not more than a tablespoon of apple.
Step #4. Remove uneaten pieces
Finally, remove the uneaten pieces of apples that are left in the cage of the guinea pigs. Do it after a few hours that you gave 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 because it will harm your guinea pigs’ health.
If you want to improve your relation with your guinea pig, you can read more at how to tell if your Guinea pig likes you?
Conclusion
We hope that if you have reached this part of the article, you have enough knowledge about apples and their effects on guinea pigs.
You now know the answer to the question, “can guinea pigs eat apples?” and yes, they surely can eat it but without the seeds.
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. Good luck, and may your guinea pig grow into a strong one!