Can guinea pigs eat nuts?
It is important to understand what to feed your guinea pig.
Almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and other types of nuts can either be beneficial or harmful to your guinea pig.
Before deciding what to feed your guinea pig, it’s best to research what type of foods they can eat.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Nuts?
Although guinea pigs can eat nuts, it’s best to avoid them in high quantities.
Nuts are high in carbohydrates and fat, and guinea pigs require a diet high in fiber and low carbohydrates.
You can give your guinea pig nuts, but it’s best to avoid them together.
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Health Issues in Guinea Pigs
Nuts are harmful to guinea pigs as they could lead to some chronic health problems.
Recognizing which foods to avoid strictly is also important to know that your guinea pig’s health and probably their life relies heavily on it.
Guinea pigs are grazers who are in the process of developing their entire biological system, from their teeth to their digestive system.
So nuts don’t form a part of the diet for guinea pigs.
The digestive system of a guinea pig is very fragile and cannot digest salty, fatty, and sugary foods.
Major disorders are bloating, diarrhea, GI Statis, and some are as follows:
Poor Digestion
Nuts are highly nutritious having complex carbohydrates and unsaturated fats, which can destroy the digestive system of guinea pigs.
Feeding nuts completely compensate for the delicate balance of healthy bacteria and their digestive tract.
These complex nutrients can also cause inconsistent intestinal motility.
And eventually, nuts contain sugar, too.
It would not be in large quantities, but when combined with other harmful nutrients for guinea pigs, it will cause damage to their digestive health.
Allergies
Some guinea pigs could show an allergic reaction to nuts.
Some typical symptoms of allergies include breathing difficulties, sneezing, itching, etc.
If your guinea pigs have any similar symptoms, you need to visit the vet instantly.
Bladder Stones
Nuts contain a lot of calcium that can accumulate in the kidneys and the bladder resulting in kidney stones in the long run.
Kidney and bladder stones are excruciatingly painful for guinea pigs, and it’s best to treat our guinea pigs with a low-calcium diet instead of a high-calcium one.
Urinary complications
Nuts are made up of mineral calcium.
Such minerals are harmful to the development and growth of guinea pigs.
As long as they are young, it is suitable for their bones.
But, later, it’s just a pile in their urethra.
Problems with this include bladder or kidney stones, recurrent urinary tract infections, urinary pain, or blood in the urine.
If left untreated, it may lead to kidney failure.
Obesity
Nuts are rich in calories, and their regular intake can cause obesity in guinea pigs.
It also makes a lot of fat that may accumulate in the organs and arteries of guinea pigs.
A high-fat diet can cause a wide range of health problems for guinea pigs.
Fat can accumulate in the bloodstream, clot blood vessels, and often affect weight shifts and exhaustion.
What is the Nutritional Value of Nuts?
Almonds
Almonds, at least for humans, are sometimes described as a superfood.
That raises the question: are almonds good for guinea pigs too?
Find the advantages of feeding the pig almonds.
Dietary fiber is one of a variety of nutrients found in almonds.
Almonds have a total of 12,5 g of dietary fiber, a key ingredient in the digestion of guinea pigs.
This is because dietary fibers keep the digestive system of the pig clean and healthy.
After this, the guinea pig used to keep without problems for proper digestion of food and absorption.
You will also find that when you are on a high fiber diet, your guinea pigs will not be constipating.
Advantages
Almonds have 26.2 mg of vitamin E as well.
It is one of the most essential nutrients believed to assist in blood sugar regulation.
Vitamin E stimulates the reaction of insulin in guinea pigs, which helps regulate blood sugar, thus stopping the pigs from developing diabetes.
Vitamin E also protects against oxidative damage to guinea pig cells, which if unattended, is a significant health concern.
It is beneficial to feed the guinea pigs almonds once in a while.
The explanation is that almonds are known in guinea pigs to avoid cholesterol spiking.
The nut greatly decreases the level of cholesterol, avoiding the production of cholesterol-associated disorders by guinea pigs.
A few almonds can help Guinean pigs who have weight gain issues.
Almonds are also known as satiety and have a sense of fulfillment.
It is in this region where the guinea pigs feel complete sometimes, reducing their daily intake of food.
The diet of almonds is regarded as an efficient method of ensuring that Guinea pigs lose weight.
This is because of the 21.22g of almond proteins.
Disadvantages
The size of almonds is very small which makes small animals such as guinea pigs dangerous.
These nuts stick to the throats from time to time.
If it is not taken care of as quickly as possible, this may be fatal.
This is the primary reason why, if you plan to feed them with almonds, you really should supervise your pigs.
Try to drink the water to wipe out the almonds, should they get surprised.
If it happens, get the support of a veterinarian.
Guinea pigs can’t eat almonds with high salt contents.
Almonds contain fat and lead to obesity and hence to heart attacks.
Salt is another food that is harmful to heart wellbeing, so it’s not a smart choice in combination.
So, no salted almonds or other salty foods should be served to your guinea pig.
Bitter almonds have been found for guinea pigs as poisonous.
This is because they are very toxic to guinea pigs and contain a cyanide compound.
Walnuts
No, guinea pigs cannot consume walnuts because they can induce allergic reactions.
There is also another possibility that walnut can cause dangerous wounds in the guinea pig’s digestive tract if the sharp portion of the walnut is eaten.
But it is wrong to write off any food item as bad, without trying it out in limited quantities, under proper observation.
It doesn’t mean they are safe for guinea pigs either because the walnuts are vegetarian-friendly.
Health Benefits
It’d be an advantage for guinea pigs if they could eat walnuts.
They can be healthy satiety with the caloric, protein, carbohydrates, and fats that are found in walnuts.
Because of the fibers, walnuts are natural and good for digestion.
And a source of a healthy cardiovascular system and vast amounts of healthy fats.
They have a decent amount of C-vitamin and walnuts are beneficial to avoidance of a condition called scurvy.
Walnuts contribute to copper and iron healthy blood.
Health Risks
There’s plenty of calcium in walnuts.
The mineral can cause severe damage to guinea pig’s urinary systems.
The risk of kidney-bladder stones, painful urination, urine blood, or even common urinary infections occurs when excess calcium is present.
Guinea pigs species are very gentle, and so you can’t tell if guinea pigs have an aversion to the walnut or not but they are allergic to the walnut very often.
Brazil Nuts
No, guinea pigs cannot have brazil nuts.
Too much calcium in nuts can lead to milky or white urine, which is the result of calcium deposits in the urinary tract of the guinea pigs.
It is difficult to digest the complex carbohydrates and nutrients in the nuts and can cause problems with the urinary tract.
Excess of vitamin A and folic acid will weaken and damage your pig’s joints.
Most nuts also possess an antinutrient rich in oxalates.
Oxalates are nutrients that can disrupt the guinea pig’s digestive and urinary tract.
Cashew Nuts
A lot of water, a large amount of ammonia, fat, acidic, and a little calcium are found in the cashew nut.
This means they may have at most one or two, but they are too acidic and fat to treat.
Cashews are not a nut nor a seed.
Cashews should be offered occasionally as a treat.
Give your piggy a piece of broth, a dandelion, or fresh herbs if you like some fun.
Cashews are safe to be eaten moderately.
But, to be honest, I wouldn’t bother if you want to make him better with a slice of red capsicum or a little parsley that helps him with his regular intake of vitamin C.
Peanut Derivatives
Peanut butter is common but is much too sweet and sticky for your guinea pig so it can be a chilling threat.
It also brings more complications to those already listed so that a guinea pig can never be fed.
The peanuts’ shells may not have much nutritional benefit and can harm them and they will be empty calories if you think of roasted nuts, which may also contain too much salt so that you can keep the animal’s derivatives safe.
They are not recommended raw or roasted for a pig because of their high level of fats and should not be fed to them deliberately.
Do Guinea Pigs Eat Pistachio Nuts?
Well, these nuts may contain nutrients, but they are not suitable for guinea pigs.
Although pistachio does not necessarily kill them, it is best to avoid nuts and nuts of any kind.
They’re not poisonous enough to kill them, however.
In contrast, the digestive system of the guinea pig is weaker and smaller than that of other animals.
At the same time, their digestive system cannot digest a variety of foods.
Well, nuts can be very difficult to digest for guinea pigs, and there’s no point in eating them.
Feeding your guinea pig with some nuts, especially pistachio, can increase the risk of health problems.
Like any nut, pistachio contains a lot of carbohydrates, fats and even calcium, and then phosphorus.
These are very harmful to your lovely guinea pig.
And, as you know, guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C on their own.
They, therefore, need to eat healthy foods containing this type of vitamin.
However, pistachios do not have enough vitamin C, which is very worrying.
Do Nuts Affect the Digestive System of Guinea Pigs?
Fats and carbohydrates are high in nuts, while pigs require a diet high in fiber and low carbs.
Though nuts contain many useful vitamins and minerals, it is best not to feed our guinea pigs with nuts.
Guinean pigs have a sensitive mechanism of digestion and can’t absorb complex carbohydrates and fats properly.
Because nuts are abundant with large carbs and fats, guinea pigs may have trouble digesting the same.
Certain guinea pigs often suffer from intestinal issues when fed foods like this.
Nuts have a lot of fats and carbohydrates, but fibers and other essential nutrients are not available in them.
Feeding nuts to the pigs will lead to obesity and other medical problems.
Some researches also indicate that a high-fat diet can lead to severe health disorders such as fatty liver, large arteries dysfunction, etc.
Therefore, make sure that the guinea pigs are not given nuts.
What Effect Do Nuts Have on Guinea Pigs?
Feeding our guinea pigs with dried nuts will quickly disrupt their healthy bacteria’s fragile balance and offset their digestion.
This allows the beneficial bacteria in the intestine to suffer and gives bad bacteria a chance to spread.
These harmful bacteria feed on oxalates and sugar and induce unhealthy enzymes in the organism.
This enzyme is life-threatening for our guinea pigs in some situations as well.
On the other side, the guinea pig’s digestive system equilibrium requires good cercal development.
Guinea pigs typically develop a fluffy stool that is often known as night healing or cecotropes.
What Is the Effect of Nuts on a Guinea Pig’s Nervous System?
A short span of combined vitamin E and C deficiency causes deep central nervous system dysfunction in guinea pigs.
As per the research conducted, groups of guinea pigs were formed.
One group got a complete balanced meal, the other was given food with complete vitamin C deficiency, the next was fed food with vitamin E deficiency, and the last group was given food deficient in vitamins E and C.
From the 5th to the 11th, 9 out of 12 guinea pigs became paralyzed after the diet was doubled, and 2 more died.
What Should I Feed My Guinea Pigs?
Okay, if nuts aren’t a preferred part of your guinea pigs’ diet, then what’s it?
Guinea pigs are genetically herb eaters and spend all their time grazing in small flocks in the forest.
They need to be fed the kind of food they’ve adapted to eat.
Their teeth are constantly growing, which is one of the main reasons why they need a lot of grit to grind.
This helps their teeth to go down and prevent serious dental problems.
The preferred staple diet for guinea pigs is unlimited amounts of thyme or other low-calcium grass, which is a small addition to commercial, high-fiber, thyme-based guinea pig pellets.
Vitamin C (see below) should be given daily.
Grass should be offered free selection throughout the day.
What if My Guinea Pig Eats Too Many Nuts?
It is easy to overfeed a guinea pig.
If your guinea pig is healthy and has a healthy and balanced diet, it may be worse because of short-term diarrhea, abdominal pain, or similar health problems.
If you notice any signs of discomfort in your guinea pig, it is recommended that you see your doctor immediately.
Besides being high in carbohydrates and fats, nuts are also high in vitamins and minerals that can harm them, if eaten in excess.
- Excess folic acid can damage the nervous system
- Too much vitamin A can damage the joints
- These deposits form crystals, cause urinary tract infections and harm internal organs
- Many vegetable foods (including nuts) contain an antioxidant called oxalate. Oxalates are naturally occurring toxins that damage the urethra of your rabbit and cause itching in the mouth or skin
Are Nuts Good for Guinea Pigs?
Nuts are not toxic to guinea pigs, except for almonds, but come with a variety of problems.
The main drawback is the high-fat content in the dry fruits.
This means that if the guinea pigs are fed nuts regularly and if they continue to do so, they will also be deficient in most of the essential nutrients that they will need to live on.
Even if they are amazing to humans and give us a lot of health benefits, our pets are very small organisms, which means they can eat less unnecessary food.
You should focus on things that ensure their survival and well-being and think only about behavior after going beyond that.
The main diet of guinea pigs should include high-quality Timothy grass, clean fresh water, and guinea pig pellets that are also high in vitamin C.
Supplying these elements will mean that you will have a pet that improves immunity and care.
If peanuts are given in small quantities, they will not hurt, but will not help them in any special way.
Nuts are rich in calories and serving nuts can contribute to obesity in our pigs regularly.
It contains even a great deal of fat that can be stored in our guinea pig’s lungs and arteries.
The ingestion of high-fat diets in our guinea pigs will lead to different problems.
Nuts are abundant in dense foods, like unsaturated fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, which can destroy our digestive system.
These complex nutrients can also contribute to erratic bowel movement leading to other health problems, such as diarrhea, blowing, GI stagnation, and more.
Some guinea pigs may respond allergically to some nuts.
Respiratory difficulty, scratching are some of the typical symptoms of allergies.
You must see a doctor immediately if the guinea pigs have any related symptoms.
Nuts contain a lot of calcium that can be put into their kidneys and urinary bladder and cause the formation of stones in the long term.
Kidney and bladder are particularly strenuous for our guinea pigs, and our guinea pigs should be fed on a reduced calcium diet instead of a heavy calcium diet.
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
If you’re thinking about sharing nuts with your guinea pigs, we advise you not to do that.
Nuts are high in fat and have no significant nutritional benefits for guinea pigs.
As a pet owner, you should keep a close eye on what you’re cooking for your guinea pig.
Make sure your cuddly pet is safe and avoid complications.
