Can guinea pigs eat apricots? The answer is a big yes. Your cavies would approve this lovely fruit. Apricots are delicious and sweet fruits that are found and well-known across the globe. Both humans and several animals enjoy this in their daily diety.

Guinea pigs have a healthy diet that is mainly focusing on hay and leaves. However, your cavies can have some fruits, too! Apricots are essential for their growth and development. However, improper control could also lead to their demise. (Please read here how big do Guinea pig grow)

Today, we are going to talk about the pros and cons of feeding your cavies apricots. Keep on reading to know more!

Quick Facts

Did you know? There is a National Apricot Day in the United States is usually celebrated every January 9.
An apricot tree can continually produce fruits from 20 to 25 years.
Apricots are healthy because they do not have cholesterol, fats, and sodium.
California is one of the primary producers of apricots that yield 95 percent.
Apricots belong in the rose family and is a relative of peach and plum.
To become ripe, you should store apricots at room temperature.
Today, cultivating apricots are common around the world except in Antarctica.
You can make jam out of this fruit.

Health Benefits of Apricots

Even though too many apricots are not safe for your guinea pigs, these fruits contain a lot of essential vitamins and minerals that their body needs.

Hydrates the body

Being hydrated is important for your guinea pigs, especially in the summer. Apricots have great water/juice content in them that can help keep your guinea pig hydrated.

Not all guinea pigs are the same. Some don’t drink enough water to nourish their body. As an owner, you must keep an eye on their hydration, especially during summer, when the weather is very hot and humid.

If your guinea pig is one of those that don’t drink enough water, feeding them with apricots can increase their water intake. (please read here can Guinea pig Drink water out of a bowl)

Prevents diseases

With a decent amount of antioxidants and vitamin C, apricots are great in preventing diseases. These nutrients are what boosts and maintains its immune system.

The two nutrients working together helps in fighting off diseases. Your guinea pigs will be healthier and live a longer life if it lives disease-free.

Improves eye health

Remember how apricots contain vitamin A and beta-carotene? Well, these nutrients are the ones responsible for improving your guinea pigs’ eye health.

Other fruits with high Vitamin A content you can consider are oranges, apples, papayas, and strawberries(can Guinea pigs eat strawberies). Take note that these fruits are as sweet as apricots, so feed your guinea pigs with this in small amounts as well.

Reduces inflammation

Another benefit of antioxidants is reducing inflammation. Some complications that are common in guinea pigs are Scurvy and joint swelling. Scurvy has symptoms that make their limbs swell, and so by feeding them with apricots that have anthocyanins, swelling can be reduced.

Cherries(Can Guinea pigs eat cherries) have anthocyanins in them as well. You can choose to feed them this to add variation in their diets.

Nutrition Facts

Let’s further elaborates.

Vitamin A and carotene

Guinea pigs do not have good eyesight. The older they get, the worse their condition gets. Apricots are rich in vitamin A and beta carotene, which are important in the improvement of their eyesight.

Other than bettering the eyesight, vitamin A and beta carotene as well promotes healthy hair growth and boosts the immune system.

Vitamin C

For humans, vitamin C is responsible for boosting and maintaining the immune system. The immune system is important since it helps in fighting off diseases. For guinea pigs, the benefits are the same.

Another worth of mention about the benefit of vitamin C is that it protects the guinea pigs from getting scurvy. This is a very dangerous disease that causes a lot of pain to your piggies, so best avoid it now than to regret it later.

Scurvy is a common disease that guinea pigs suffer. To further boost the immune system against illnesses, apricots provide a sufficient amount of Vitamin C.

Potassium

Food that is high in potassium is what prevents kidney and bladder stones from forming. Since guinea pigs are vulnerable to this type of condition, it is better to prevent it from happening as early as possible.

Potassium is essential for maintaining the fluid balance in a guinea pig’s body. Other than that, it regulated nerve signals and helped in their muscle contraction too.

Fiber

Apricots are a good source of fibers. Fibers do many jobs inside the body. By eating apricots, your guinea pigs will not be at risk of upset stomach and diarrhea because it cleans the intestines to excrete any left-over waste that can harm your pet. The metabolism of your guinea pigs will also increase.

An excessive amount of calories can result in weight gain. Apricots have only little calories, so your guinea pig will maintain its weight and become healthier. With this, you can reduce cholesterol levels.

It is common knowledge to guinea pig owners that these animals have very sensitive digestive systems. What fiber does is that it aids in the proper digestion of your guinea pigs. It stops bloating and indigestion.

With a good digestive system, it helps in their proper bowel movement. Plus, fiber works great in maintaining the cholesterol and glucose level of your cavies bodies.

Anthocyanin and flavonoid content

You can find anthocyanin and flavonoids in apricots that help in guarding the body so that bacteria that bring diseases would not develop. Inflammations and allergies are also reduced, thus making your guinea pig healthier.

Antioxidants like these excrete toxins outside their body and prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Another role that it does is avoiding high blood pressure, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

Hazards In Feeding Apricots To Your Guinea Pigs

We have discussed above all the benefits apricots can bring to your guinea pigs. This fruit is a healthy option to feed them with, but if you overfeed them with apricots, it can cause complications.

Diarrhea

The most common complication is diarrhea. This happens when there is a sudden change in your guinea pigs’ diet, or they have been overfed with sweet treats.

This is why properly introducing a new food item in your guinea pig’s diet is critical because their digestive system is very sensitive. The slightest change can cause an imbalance. Plus, apricots have a lot of sugar in them, so you must be aware of how much you are feeding them with.

Obesity

Guinea pigs can also be obese, especially when they are overfed. Obesity can cause a lot of other more serious complications for your guinea pigs.

When you notice that your guinea pigs are getting bigger in an unhealthy way, then you must seek a veterinarian and ask for a low-calorie diet for your piggies.

Generally, a low-calorie diet includes more vegetables and hay in the regular diet of your guinea pigs. The vet will also advise you to lessen, giving them sugary food.

Diabetes

Another common complication your guinea pigs can have because of too much sugar is diabetes. Cavies love to eat treats, especially those with high sugar content, but it is not healthy for them. That is why, as an owner, you must be keen on what you feed your piggies.

Some researches prove to add sweet stuff such as fruits and other treats that make guinea pigs more vulnerable to diabetes. Sweets must be given within the smallest amounts to avoid diabetes, which leads to even more complications.

Are Apricots For Guinea Pigs?

Apricots are the type of fruits that have high sugar content. Sugars are good for giving energy to your guinea pigs and make them active, but too much sugar is bad for their well-being.

To simply answer the question, yes, guinea pigs can eat apricots. These critters love sweet fruits, but they cannot be fed too much of it. Sugar can cause complications to your cavies, such as high blood sugar.

But, if ever you do plan to give out these sweet treats to your piggies, then feeding them in small amounts will be enough to keep the sugar at a minimum.

How to prepare apricots for guinea pigs

If you are looking for a fruit that can be an alternative to peaches(Can Guinea pigs eat peaches) and plums(can Guinea pig eat plums), then you are reading the right guide. Apricots taste sweet and accompanied by a little punch of sourness. It has a faint tartness like peaches and plums.

If your loving pets love this kind of flavor, then providing them this luscious treat will surely make their life even sweeter. Let us dive into the methods of preparing this golden-orange fruit.

First, look for a yellowish-orange apricot that is soft to touch on the outside but is firm from the core. By doing this, you will be able to choose the ripe one. Second, thoroughly wash the apricot to eliminate dirt and pesticides that could harm your guinea pigs.

After doing this, divide the apricots into smaller portions and make sure to remove the seeds. Lastly, serve this mouth-watering treat to your guinea pigs. Consider removing any left-over fruits or vegetables from the cage to avoid fly and rat infestation.

In addition to this, when introducing apricots to your guinea pigs, start by giving them tiny portions at a time. For 12 hours, if there are no signs of diarrhea or discomfort, then you can start by giving larger servings of apricots to your adult guinea pigs.

Consider its required serving and frequency as providing them excessive amounts of apricot can lead to certain risks. However, if these discomforts or allergies occurred, then consider keeping the specific herb off the menu.

Can guinea pigs eat processed apricots?

Apricots are best when served fresh. Any type of processed fruit or food could be harmful to your cavies.

You may wonder whether or not can guinea pigs eat dried apricot. The answer is a simple no. Dried apricots have a high sugar content that could upset your pets’ digestive system. They could also contain preservatives that are dangerous to their health.

Canned apricots could also give your piggies the worst consequences. They contain artificial flavoring, coloring, preservatives, and high amounts of fructose that can diminish your guinea pigs’ quality of living.

In the end, it is better to give your pets fresh and organic apricots to prevent any potential health complications.

Can guinea pigs have apricot seeds?

Apricot seeds are one of the fruit seeds that produce cyanide when ingested. Eating seeds poses a threat to your cavies. Moreover, this part of the apricot is too large for them to consume. Eating seeds could choke them. When giving your pets this fruit, you should always remove them beforehand.

Can guinea pigs drink apricot juice?

Store-bought apricot juice is processed and filled with chemicals that are bad for your cavies. The high fructose and preservative content pose a threat to their health. Thus, you should give them the fruit itself or plain old water instead.

How often should I feed my guinea pigs apricots?

Apricots should be given to them as an occasional snack because daily intake could lead to a lot of complications. Give them this fruit one to two times a week only to prevent any problems with their health.

Final Words

Ask yourself again: can guinea pigs eat apricots? With the right serving and frequency, absolutely. Through this article, you will know what’s best for your pets and establish a closer bond with them. Keep safe, and always love your pets no matter what!

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apricots? Pros, Cons, And More