Kiwis are a nutritious food with tart flavor available in all seasons; but can guinea pigs eat kiwi fruit?
Organic kiwi is rich in minerals, vitamins, and has many health benefits for humans.
Maybe you are tempted to share kiwi with your guinea pigs.
But, does kiwi have any benefits to our guinea pigs?
Can guinea pigs eat kiwi skin or just fruit?
Let’s find out!
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kiwi?
Guinea pigs can eat kiwi, but they should eat it in moderation because of its high sugar content.
When feeding the kiwi to your guinea pig, remove the peel first and then feed your pet small pieces at a time.
Watch for any changes in your pet when introducing changes to their diet.
Like with any other vegetable or fruit, a small quantity is allowed and safe.
But that doesn’t mean when you offer kiwi to our guinea pigs, they will love the taste and start eating it.
Some guinea pigs may accept the taste and love it while some don’t accept it at all.
Anyway, you should be careful when presenting kiwi to your guinea pigs for the first time.
When your guinea pigs eat kiwi fruit, observe their stool and, in case you discover any changes or indications of medical problems, you have to make urgent changes to keep them in a healthy state.
Remember, 5% of guinea pig’s nutrition comes from fresh vegetables and fruit.
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- America’s #1 Hay Brand
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Last update on 2023-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Are the Benefits of Kiwi for Guinea Pigs?
In general, kiwi – also called Chinese gooseberry – contains abundant useful ingredients, which have a good effect on the health of guinea pigs.
For that reason, it is a good idea to serve let your guinea pigs eat kiwi fruit two to three times per week.
Kiwi also enhances eyesight and affects the skin of your pigs making it healthier, Also can relieve pains and aches if our pigs get injured or hurt.
Kiwi enhances bowel movement so, in case your guinea pigs suffer from constipation, it is a good fruit to add to your guinea pig’s diet.
In addition, kiwi enhances your pet’s cardiovascular system health.
Kiwi is known for preventing breathing problems and protecting from oxidative cell damage.
What Are the Nutritional Values of Kiwi?
For every 100 gm of Kiwi according to the US Department of Agriculture:
- Vitamin C: 92.7 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.063 mg
- Vitamin K: 40.3 µg
- Vitamin A: 4 µg
- Potassium : 312 mg
- Vitamin E: 1.46 mg
- Phosphorus: 34 mg
- Energy: 61 kcal
- Fat : 0.52 g
- Protein: 1.14 g
- Magnesium:17 mg
- Calcium: 34 mg
- Dietary fiber: 3 g
- Carbs: 14.66
The most important ingredient is vitamin C
It helps strengthen the body’s immune system.
The addition of fruits like Kiwi, in small suitable quantities, can be a substantial enhance for their needs of vitamin C, as kiwi contains 93 mg/100 g of vitamin c.
Guinea pigs aren’t able to produce vitamin C, so their nutrition needs to contain a suitable amount of vitamin C to compensate for its deficiency within their bodies.
Many other ingredients
Vitamins
Kiwi also contains a good quantity of vitamin B-6 and vitamin E.
These vitamins form an integral part of the diet as well.
It helps to preserve the general health of the body.
Also, vitamin K which exists in a suitable amount in kiwi has a very important role as it prevents excessive loss of blood in case of injury in the future by enhancing blood clotting and preventing its flow.
Calcium and phosphorus
There is a decent content of phosphorus and calcium which are very important to the health of teeth and bone of guinea pigs.
Fiber
Also, fiber exists in a suitable amount in kiwi, it helps in preventing diarrhea and diseases of the digestive system to keep it in a balanced state.
But take care, too much amount of fiber may cause digestion problems for your guinea pigs, notice their stool if it becomes loose this is an indication for stomach disease.
Potassium
There is a lot of potassium in kiwi nearly about 312 mg/ 100g which is very important as it helps in preventing calcification and preventing the formation of bladder stones.
Other ingredients like iron, sugar, protein, Magnesium, carbs, and fats are also present.
There is no cholesterol in kiwi which increases its nutritional value.
Can Kiwi be Harmful to Guinea Pigs?
When our guinea pigs eat much kiwi fruit, this could be bad for their health the reason for this is as follows:
Although kiwi contains the perfect amount of minerals and vitamins which are very useful for their bodies, kiwi also contains high amounts of calcium and phosphorus.
While phosphorus and calcium are useful for pregnant and young guinea pigs, they can be harmful to old guinea pigs.
Bladder stones may form because of the high calcium content that kiwi fruits contain, which also affects guinea pigs’ urination and may cause pain to your guinea pigs.
Also, the high amount of sugar that exists in kiwi can cause serious diseases like obesity, diarrhea, stomach pain, and an increase in blood sugar level causing diabetes in Guinea pigs.
To avoid these harmful effects of kiwi, make sure not to give your guinea pigs too much kiwi.
When feeding kiwi to guinea pigs:
- Give them a small piece/slice to make sure they digest it easily without a catch in their digestive system
- Pay attention to your guinea pigs’ stool; if it changes color, you need to go to the nearest vet
- If your guinea pigs are diabetic, you should avoid giving them kiwi as a snack as it may cause an increase in blood sugar content which puts them in danger
- Two to three servings of kiwi per week are enough
- It’s up to you to remove seeds from kiwi fruit before giving it to your guinea pigs or to leave it
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kiwi Skin?
While most guinea pigs eat kiwi fruit, if you want to be on the safe side, you shouldn’t serve kiwi skin to your pigs.
Kiwi has a rough slimy texture, in some cases, this may lead to choking in guinea pigs.
Some people have a different opinion and believe that kiwi skin can be useful.
But this opinion seems to be wrong as kiwi skin not only may cause choking but also contains most pesticides and chemicals sprayed in kiwi.
Most of these chemicals and pesticides often get absorbed by kiwi skin and don’t scrap even with washing.
So it’s advised that we wash the kiwi properly, then peel the outer surface before serving it to your guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kiwi Seeds?
Yes, they can eat seeds of kiwi as it is soft like seeds of blueberries and tomato.
But there are other types of seeds that you shouldn’t give to your guinea pigs, like papaya, watermelon, and apple, as these seeds are rough and can cause injury to pigs’ throats.
Although in some cases kiwi seeds might be harmful to your pigs due to their tiny throats so taking care is needed.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kiwi Berries?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat kiwi berries and also kiwi skin.
This type of kiwi has a sweeter taste than green kiwi and is also smaller in size.
The skin of kiwi berries is edible and soft so guinea pigs can eat kiwi easily without risk of choking.
Nutrients in kiwi berries are similar to green kiwi and have the same nutritional value.
It contains many useful nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, and minerals.
If you served kiwi berries with their skin to your guinea pigs, you must remember to wash kiwi properly, with water, before serving.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Kiwi?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat dried kiwi.
Because the outer surface of dried kiwi is coated with granular sugar.
This type of sugar causes a high increase in sugar intake in guinea pig’s diets which is very harmful to their health.
So we must be strict when we feed our guinea pigs any type of fruit with a high sugar content as this will make our guinea pigs prone to more diseases.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Golden Kiwi?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat a golden kiwi.
Vitamin C exists in golden kiwi in a higher amount than the green kiwi, but you should maintain serving a small slice as in green kiwi and not increase the rate of feeding per week to avoid overfeeding your guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs can be persuasive and charming when it comes to treats and fruits and tempt you to become liberal and share more with them.
For this reason, you must be firm and keep your emotions away and serve only the recommended quantity to your guinea pigs.
Which Foods Guinea Pigs Cannot Eat?
Dairy food and drink
Guinea pigs mostly consume plant food as they are herbivores.
This doesn’t mean guinea pigs can eat all plants as some are poisonous and toxic.
Guinea pigs can’t tolerate dairy processed food as they are lactose-intolerant.
Any form of milk like cow’s milk should be avoided, only specific milk replacer is allowed.
Bread
It is unhealthy and lacks any nutritional value.
Toast, wheat bread, and white bread are not useful to guinea pigs and other small animals, even ducks.
The high concentration of starch in bread will lead to intestinal problems and may result in the death of your guinea pigs.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms that grow on the ground are poisonous, toxic, and fungal growth, so they are inedible.
The store-bought mushrooms are great for human health but have no value to our guinea pigs.
Any sort of seeds is not allowed for our guinea pigs as it can cause injury to their tiny throat.
Cheese
Guinea pigs cannot eat cheese as it contains undesirable ingredients.
It may cause downright dangerous for our guinea pigs’ health.
Generally, junk food is not suitable for our guinea pigs and should be away from them.
Some people believe a small amount of whole wheat can be used occasionally as a treat.
Honey
Though it is very delicious to us, it contains a high amount of sugar and is sticky so it is not suitable for guinea pigs to eat.
Honey sticks which contain a small amount of honey and other ingredients are not harmful to guinea pigs like pure honey.
But must be in small amounts as it is not considered a dietary supply.
Meat
Guinea pigs are herbivores; they cannot digest any type of meat.
Source : guinea pigster
Which Fruits Can Be Alternatives to Kiwi?
A lot of fruits can be alternatives to kiwi if you want a healthy snack for your guinea pigs.
Those fruits taste delicious, are the same as kiwi, and are also useful to your guinea pigs as they contain almost the same amount of minerals and vitamins.
Also, if your guinea pigs are diabetic you can try some of these alternative solutions to avoid the risk of high sugar content in kiwi.
The most popular kiwi alternatives are:
Celery
It is very safe for guinea pigs as it’s known for high content of fiber, so it prevents diarrhea and diseases of the digestive system to keep it in a balanced state, it’s believed that it can lower blood pressure.
Banana
One of the most important sources of vitamin C and B, and important minerals like potassium and magnesium.
Bananas are very good for guinea pigs with loose stool, but too much amount may cause constipation so balance is very important to keep your pets in a healthy state away from digestive diseases.
Some guinea pigs prefer banana peel/ skin and ignore the fruit itself, but some refuse to eat banana skin and only eat the attached residue of the banana.
The Peel of a banana is rich in potassium.
Mango
Mango is a tropical fruit with a high content of fiber and vitamins like A, B6, C, and E.
It has a sweet taste that guinea pigs would surely like, But don’t forget to cut it into small pieces to make it easy for digestion and avoid the risk of suffocation.
Rockmelon (Cantaloupe)
Sweet and juicy fruit has good nutritional value, safe for our guinea pigs with limitations.
Rich in vitamin C and vitamin A contain sugar :5.7 gm/ 100 gm Dietary fibers : 1.2 gm / 100 gm
Source: Melons Australia
Oranges
But be careful, if your pigs eat many oranges, this can cause them an upset stomach because of too much sugar.
This can lead to stool problems and other digestive concerns, so limited amounts are recommended to keep your pets healthy.
Vitamin C content is higher in kiwi than in orange.
Strawberries
Many Guinea pigs prefer the green leaves of strawberries to the fruit itself.
You should take care when you feed strawberries to your guinea pigs as strawberries are always exposed to pesticides on farms.
It exists on top of the list of pesticide use.
So you should wash it properly to protect your pets or you can grow strawberries in your garden with simple tools.
This way you can be peaceful without any worries.
Guinea pigs are also known for their liking of papayas, peaches, cucumbers, apples, and pears.
You must be careful with your guinea pigs and get their diet from reliable sources such as Amazon because they deserve all care and love from us.
What Food Guinea Pigs Should Eat?
The first choice is natural food, we should stay away from artificial components and artificial colorings.
Vegetables
Some owners of guinea pigs feed their pets up to a cup of vegetables every day.
It’s useful and full of health benefits.
Peppers contain lots of vitamins especially vitamin C which is important for our guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs mostly prefer Red Bell pepper.
Green vegetables like kale, cucumbers, carrots, and mustard greens are good for pigs too.
Fruits
Many types of fruits can be used as treats.
But fruits cannot be served in higher amounts, as they contain acid and sugar which may cause obesity, sores around the mouth, and Diabetes.
Twigs
A small branch of a pear or apple tree is very great for your guinea pig’s teeth.
As pigs will nibble on these twigs to make sure their teeth are wearing down.
Which Foods to Avoid Giving to Guinea Pigs?
If you find some types of food are delicious this is not a reason to give it to your pigs.
You shouldn’t give your pigs meat, pastries, and potatoes as they are unable to digest them.
Also, chocolates and sweets are not allowed due to their high sugar content and dairy products.
Pigs are not able to digest any dairy product and mostly will make them suffer from stomach upset.
Nuts and seeds are dangerous too, as they may cause injury to their digestive tracts and be stuck between their teeth.
Crackers and cereals are also bad for our guinea pigs as these types of food absorb much liquid causing unpleasant feelings to them.
What is the Best Way to Serve Kiwi to Our Guinea Pigs?
Serving kiwi to you pigs should be done as follows:
- First, you should choose the right kiwi
- The right one must be ripe and fresh. If you neglect this, your guinea pigs may suffer from digestive disease as they ate unripe or stale kiwi
- Then, you must wash kiwi fruit properly to clean kiwi skin from chemicals and pesticides that can cause harmful effects to your pigs
- After that, it’s time to peel off the skin to be on the safe side, then slice kiwi fruit into four small parts to make it easy for digestion
- It’s up to you whether you remove seeds from kiwi or not, although in most cases it isn’t harmful, to be on the safe side is the best choice
- In the end, serve one or two parts of kiwi to your pigs
- Don’t forget to remove the remnant of any fruit pig’s cage to keep it clean and avoid the attraction of rats and flies and creating a bad smell
What is the Essential Guinea Pig Diet?
Hay is the most essential part of our pets’ diet.
Hay must be clean, dry, and fresh every time you serve it to your pets.
It enhances the health of their digestive system.
Without a suitable amount of hay in our pigs’ diet, the digestive system may be negatively affected and shut down.
What Are the Common Types of Hay in Guinea Pigs’ Diet?
Alfalfa Hay
It is a legume, not grass.
It is suitable for young pigs up to one-year-old – nursing period- Due to the high content of protein and calcium.
In this period the body of guinea pigs grows rapidly and they need extra calcium and protein to help their body grow.
Also, pregnant pigs need to supply them with needed nutrients.
But don’t forget that everything in excess is bad, too much alfalfa hay with high calcium amounts may cause bladder stones so take care and keep a balanced diet.
Timothy hay
Best grass for adult guinea pigs and should be served to our pets as a regular diet.
Must be fresh and free from dust to protect your pets from respiratory diseases.
Here are the top trending guinea pig products right now:
Last update on 2023-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Final Thoughts
Now we have enough knowledge and realize that kiwi isn’t dangerous to your guinea pigs as long as you are careful and serve it to your pets within limits.
Yes, guinea pigs can eat kiwis.
It’s rich in many useful ingredients especially vitamin c, antioxidants, and fibers.
The best thing you can offer to your pigs is a balanced diet that contains all kinds of nutrition, so make sure to feed them with different types of allowed fruits and veggies.
In case your guinea pigs are diabetic or you don’t have kiwi, you can use alternatives of kiwi like mango, banana, and celery.
Maintain suitable amounts of kiwi and don’t let your emotion affect the rate of pigs eating, two or three times per week is more than enough.
You mustn’t forget to clean kiwi and peeling off the outer layer to protect your guinea pigs from the harmful effect of chemicals and pesticides.
This way, you can be confident and never worry about your guinea pig’s health.
