Can guinea pigs eat asparagus and how much asparagus can you give to your guinea pig?
In this article, we answer this question along with proper serving sizes, the risks of eating certain foods, and more.
Let’s go ahead and dive right in.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus?
Guinea pigs can eat asparagus, but never give too much asparagus to your pet.
In fact, asparagus is quite healthy for your guinea pig since it contains essential nutrients such as vitamin C and phosphorous.
You should only feed asparagus to your guinea pig as an occasional treat.
Let’s get into more of the details of other guinea pig food and what your guinea pig can eat.
Before we continue, here are the top guinea pig food products:
- Supports dental health through natural chewing activity
- Kaytee is a veterinarian recommended brand
- Prebiotics and probiotics to support digestive health
- Made with Timothy Hay
- No loose seeds or sugary fruits
- ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR A HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLE: Made with high fiber Oxbow Timothy Hay to support healthy...
- SUPPORTS IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH: Made with stabilized Vitamin C and antioxidants to support the immune system health...
- PERFECT FOR PICKY EATERS: Uniform pellets prevent selective feeding
- FORTIFIED FOOD: Fortified with vitamins and minerals for optimum health
- VETERINARIAN RECOMMENDED: Formulated with the guidance of top veterinarians and nutritionists
Last update on 2023-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Foods Guinea Pigs Eat
Guinea pigs are cost-efficient when it comes to feeding them.
Guinea pigs eat a diverse variety of food, including fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Fruits these pocket pets can eat include pineapple, bananas, blueberries, apricots, cherries, strawberries, pumpkins, apples, and grapes.
The veggies guinea pigs eat are capsicums, silverbeet, cabbages, arugulas, carrots, cauliflower, artichokes, clovers, beans, and kales among others.
Giving your guinea pig a limitless amount of Timothy hay is very good.
Guinea pigs should always be chewing as this helps in limiting the growth of their teeth which never stop growing since the moment they are born.
As much as guinea pigs eat a variety of fruits and veggies, it is not advisable to feed them coconuts, avocados, grapes, onions, and chives.
This is because such foods cause some serious health problems or even the death of your adorable guinea pig.
Another thing you shouldn’t think of is feeding your guinea pig cooked food, junk food, and sugary stuff.
Processed foods and foods high in sugar adversely affect the health of your guinea pig and causes severe conditions and diseases.
Likewise, the water you are giving to your guinea pig should also be chlorine-free.
What is really important is vitamin C.
You should be feeding guinea pigs foods rich in vitamin C because they cannot produce it on their own.
However, be careful, as you can easily overfeed your guinea pig.
Yet, lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy, a potentially fatal illness in your guinea pig.
For that reason, many guinea pig foods on the market are enriched with vitamin C, as it’s a crucial vitamin for them.
On the other hand, other minerals and vitamins they can get in sufficient amounts from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Asparagus is a vegetable that guinea pigs can eat, but also in moderate amounts.
Let’s learn more about this plant.
Asparagus
The asparagus is a herbaceous plant, which grows to a height of 40-60 inches tall with a stout stem that has several branches.
It was at one point classified in the lily family.
Its scientific name is Asparagus Officinalis.
The leaves of this plant are needle-like and are clustered in 4-15 leaves forming a shape that looks like a rose.
The fruit is a small berry, red in color, and is usually toxic.
Asparagus has several types which include the Mary Washington asparagus, jersey series, green asparagus which is the most common, purple passion asparagus, white asparagus, Viking KB3 asparagus, atlas asparagus, UC157 asparagus, and Apollo asparagus among others.
The asparagus plant is used as a vegetable because of its unique flavor.
Get to know this plant better.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus?
Yes, indeed, guinea pigs can eat asparagus.
Your guinea pig can eat asparagus, but only in small portions.
It’s a great source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, dietary fiber, calcium, and potassium.
It plays a big role in keeping the digestive system healthy.
Do Guinea Pigs Enjoy Eating Asparagus?
Whether a guinea pig will eat asparagus depends solely on the preferences of your pet.
Some guinea pigs enjoy this vegetable while others don’t.
Sometimes, your guinea pig will eat asparagus with great delight but might refuse to eat it at times.
This kind of behavior is normal so we shouldn’t get worried.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus Ends?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat asparagus ends and they are a beneficial part of your guinea pig’s diet.
Guinea pigs can eat asparagus ends without any problem.
The ends have a fibrous texture so the guinea pigs use them as chew toys.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus Tips?
Surprisingly, guinea pigs enjoy eating asparagus tips.
It is delicious to them.
But before serving them asparagus tips make sure they are thoroughly washed and be careful about the serving size.
Likewise, don’t give your guinea pig asparagus tips that have changed color.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus Stems?
Yes, your guinea pig can eat asparagus stems.
The stems of the asparagus plant are completely safe for consumption.
Guinea pigs usually enjoy eating the stems because they love chewing, which is also good for their teeth.
You should also watch out for the serving size and serve asparagus stems in moderate amounts.
Can a Guinea Pig Eat Asparagus Fruits?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat asparagus fruits.
These fruits are extremely poisonous and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
We should not feed asparagus fruits to our guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Asparagus?
Guinea pigs can’t eat asparagus that is in a can.
Canned asparagus may contain chemicals that are harmful to the health of your guinea pig.
Always make sure that guinea pigs munch on raw asparagus only.
Overall, you should never serve processed food to your guinea pig.
Can a Guinea Pig Eat White Asparagus?
White asparagus is safe for guinea pigs.
It only gets its color from the conditions it’s grown in.
This means that there’s no genetically induced component in its color.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cooked Asparagus?
Cooking asparagus requires additional ingredients such as oil and onions.
These additives are toxic to guinea pigs.
No, we should not feed guinea pigs with cooked asparagus.
In general, we should never feed them cooked food.
Guinea pig’s diet should contain only raw food.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus Stalks?
These stalks are chewy to guinea pigs.
We know that the teeth of guinea pigs never stop growing and, in that case, giving them the asparagus stalks helps in pruning their teeth.
This is the main reason to feed them the stalk of the asparagus plant.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Frozen Asparagus?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat frozen food.
Frozen asparagus has preservatives that can be harmful to a guinea pig.
You should only give raw asparagus to your guinea pig.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Baked Asparagus?
Baked asparagus is something humans enjoy very much.
Sadly, guinea pigs cannot digest cooked and baked foods.
These pocket pets can only eat raw fruits and vegetables.
Feeding them baked asparagus can jeopardize their health.
It causes bloating which is very uncomfortable for them.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Asparagus?
No, baby guinea pigs cannot eat asparagus.
They require a specialized diet, that includes a mother’s milk, fresh hay, and water.
You should introduce new foods cautiously and, if you notice any allergic symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, or bloating), stop feeding the food and give your guinea pig plenty of water.
If your guinea pig doesn’t have any reaction to newly introduced food, you can continue feeding your guinea pig without worries.
Nutritional Facts Of Asparagus for Guinea Pigs
For each serving of 100g, it includes:
- 2.2g of protein
- 3.88g of carbs
- 24mg of calcium
- 52mg of phosphorous
- 20kcal of energy
- 2.14mg iron
- 2.1g dietary fiber
- 202mg of potassium
- 5.6g of Vitamin C
- 1.13mg of Vitamin E
- 0.12g of lipid fat
- 0.091mg of Vitamin B6
- 0.978mg of niacin
- 0.54mg of zinc
- 14mg of magnesium
- 0.158 of manganese
- 0.143 of thiamine
- 16mg of choline
Health Benefits of Asparagus on a Guinea pig
Antioxidants
Asparagus is full of vitamin E and vitamin C, which makes it a great source of antioxidants.
They help in improving the eyesight of guinea pigs and reduce cholesterol.
Immune system
The asparagus plant has nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essentials to the health of your guinea pig.
Guinea pigs munching on this plant make them stronger as it improves their immune system.
Bone health
Asparagus contains vital vitamins that are essential to a guinea pig.
These are vitamin K, vitamin C, and magnesium.
They are responsible for the growth of strong bones and teeth for aging guinea pigs and should be a part of your guinea pig’s diet.
Scurvy Prevention
Guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C on their own.
This can cause scurvy.
Although asparagus doesn’t contain enough vitamin C to fulfill the daily needs of this vitamin, it is very healthy and beneficial to your guinea pig.
You will need to feed your guinea pigs with other supplements to provide the recommended vitamin C amount their bodies need.
Controlling Blood Pressure
Potassium in the asparagus plant is in good amounts and is responsible for the overall health of the cardiovascular system of your guinea pig.
Iron, together with copper, is also good for blood vessels and blood.
Lack of iron can cause a disease known as anemia.
Flavonoids
Quercetin has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer effects on guinea pigs.
Water
Asparagus has high water content.
It reduces weight loss which is key to our guinea pigs and also reduces the number of calories in their bodies.
Fiber
The dietary fiber found in asparagus helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels and digestion.
How Much Asparagus Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
We should be conscious of the quantity of asparagus we serve our guinea pigs.
Our little pocket pets shouldn’t munch on asparagus daily to prevent health risks that would emerge from the excess of some vitamins and minerals asparagus contains.
For that reason, you should give your guinea pigs ¼ a cup, once or twice a week, and mixed with other foods such as kale and bananas.
How to introduce Asparagus to Guinea Pigs?
The amount of asparagus a guinea pig needs is only ¼ cup of the plant.
Make sure to wash asparagus thoroughly before feeding it to your guinea pigs.
This helps in making sure that the pocket rodents don’t get affected by the pesticides that might have been sprayed on the plant.
Just like all other fruits and vegetables, always serve raw asparagus to your guinea pigs.
Cost of Asparagus
Most pet owners in the past used to feed leftovers to their guinea pigs.
However, a guinea pig’s diet should contain only large amounts of timothy hay, fresh fruits, and vegetables, as well as foods enriched with vitamin C.
Asparagus is expensive compared to other vegetables.
This is because it’s really hard to cultivate and requires a lot of work.
Again, asparagus takes time to grow to maturity, which makes people opt for other kinds of vegetables.
This makes asparagus expensive when bought in supermarkets.
However, you can also plant it yourself.
Can Asparagus Have Side Effects on Guinea Pigs?
Diarrhea and Stomach Problems
If you feed your guinea pig with a large amount of asparagus, it may cause some side effects such as diarrhea and stomach bloating.
Urinary Problems
Adult guinea pigs should not eat asparagus in large amounts.
Asparagus contains larger amounts of calcium than your guinea pig needs, which is not good for your pet.
If you feed your guinea pig with asparagus in excess, it can cause serious urinary problems and guinea pigs can develop kidney stones.
Calcium is only good for baby guinea pigs as it helps them in growth.
Allergies
Guinea pigs can be allergic to the asparagus plant.
If you feed your guinea pig asparagus for the first time, give them a small amount of asparagus and observe them carefully.
Your guinea pig can exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea, a running nose, sneezing, and vomiting.
Pesticides
Feeding guinea pigs asparagus fresh from the farm is very dangerous.
Before we give asparagus to our guinea pigs, we should wash the plant thoroughly to prevent diseases.
Another way of preventing guinea pigs from consuming asparagus with pesticides is to purchase organically grown vegetables.
How To Know Your Guinea Pig Is Sick?
One thing we should know about the guinea pig is that it’s a sensitive pocket pet.
Any conditions and diseases are easily noticeable.
One of these signs is diarrhea.
The guinea pig will look weak and it will diarrhea a lot and if caution isn’t taken immediately, it might die.
The other symptoms are having a running nose, vomiting, and sneezing.
Which Type of Asparagus is Healthy For Guinea Pigs?
Green Asparagus
It is the most common type of asparagus found in many supermarkets.
It is green and grows almost everywhere in the world.
It’s the best type of asparagus to feed the guinea pigs.
Purple Asparagus
This type is not only different in color but also in its content.
It is usually purple.
It contains high amounts of anthocyanin, the antioxidant, and this is what gives it the purple color.
It also tends to have a more sugary taste than the other types meaning the guinea pigs will enjoy eating this type as compared to the others.
Wild Asparagus
Just like the name suggests, this type of asparagus grows in the wild and is easy to find if you know your way.
This kind of asparagus has thorns on its stems, which are small.
It’s advisable to wear gloves when harvesting this kind of asparagus.
Apollo Asparagus
This type blooms earlier than any other type of asparagus.
They have a nice smooth appearance and even have stalks.
The Apollo asparagus is a good type of asparagus in that it stays fresh for a long time so preserving it to feed the guinea pig would not be a problem.
Jersey Series Asparagus
There are several types of jersey asparagus and they include:
- Jersey knight
- Jersey giant
- Jersey supreme
We shall talk more about the jersey giant.
This type of asparagus is usually very meaty and tasty.
We all want something our guinea pigs can enjoy eating, right?
The jersey giant asparagus grows to a height of nine inches.
Their spears are thick and are perennial plants meaning you can feed your pocket pets for a long time, of course checking on the serving size.
Purple Passion Asparagus
This type of asparagus is one of the tastiest we have among the other varieties.
It consists of both male and female plants.
Due to its unique taste, the guinea pig would munch on this asparagus type gladly and would say thank you when it’s done.
Viking KB3 Asparagus
This is a sturdy type of asparagus that grows up to 10 inches tall and is very meaty.
The good thing about this type is that when you plant it in your garden it will grow to maturity fast and you will be able to get the plant to spice up and create a well-balanced diet for the guinea pigs.
Another advantage of the Viking KB3 is that it’s yummy and also meaty.
Guinea pigs would love eating this type of asparagus so much.
Again it’s simple to cultivate it so it doesn’t require much special attention.
Summary
There are many theories as to why asparagus is healthy or bad for our guinea pigs.
Here are some facts.
Guinea pigs chewing on asparagus stalks is good because it helps in pruning their teeth which we all know never stop growing.
It contains some key vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin K, calcium, potassium, Vitamin E, iron, dietary fiber, phosphorus, Vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and many more.
There are several kinds of asparagus but the green asparagus is the most common in many stores.
The white asparagus is similar to the green asparagus.
The color is due to the lack of enough sunlight.
We should never feed cooked, frozen, baked, or processed asparagus to guinea pigs.
They can cause bloating and diarrhea.
Asparagus contains an acid called asparagusic acid which makes a guinea pig’s urine have an odor.
Calcium is an element found in asparagus in low quantities as compared to other elements in it.
We should wash the asparagus very well before feeding it to the guinea pigs to avoid the risk of consuming pesticides or other bacteria.
Cooked asparagus has been prepared using several seasonings including onions and oil which we all know they’re toxic to the little ones.
We should also consider buying fresh asparagus from trusted stores like Walmart.
Also, we should observe the guinea pigs when introducing new foods to be able to notice any side effects and act accordingly.
Here are the top 5 guinea pig products:
Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Final Thoughts
Can guinea pigs eat asparagus?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat asparagus, because it has nutritional value for these little pets.
Thus, this vegetable should be a part of your guinea pig’s diet.
Although raw asparagus is good for your guinea pig’s health, you should feed your pet with this plant in moderation.
Introduce the asparagus plant to your rodent gradually and in small amounts, keeping watch of the allergic symptoms.
Feeding too much asparagus to guinea pigs makes them consume more fiber and calcium than they need.
This causes diarrhea, stomach problems, or vomiting.
Consequently, they should only eat asparagus once or twice a week and consume ¼ cup of asparagus mixed with other fruits and vegetables.
