Guinea pigs need a balanced diet to stay healthy, and they cannot digest all fruits and vegetables. Can guinea pigs eat watermelon? How often can guinea pigs eat watermelon? Can they eat watermelon seeds? What about leaves? There are many questions that we need to answer so let’s dive in right away!
Guinea pigs can eat watermelon in moderation. The recommended serving size of a watermelon is two to three bite-size cubes once or twice per week. Too much watermelon causes digestive issues and diarrhea as well as obesity due to high sugar content and water content.
However, you can feed your guinea pigs watermelon every day in minimal quantities (one bite-size cube) to satisfy their need for sweets. Yet, ideally, watermelon should be just an occasional treat for your pet on a hot summer day.
Juicy watermelon is a refreshing and healthy summer fruit. It is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.
Watermelons also contain lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to various health benefits, such as the reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
As watermelons are low in calories and fat-free, they make a great snack for people trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
However, watermelons are not as healthy for guinea pigs as they are for human beings.
Jucy watermelon is a sugary fruit and guinea pigs cannot digest sugar well. Thus, guinea pigs can eat watermelon in limited quantities. Apart from the flesh, they can also eat watermelon rind.
The high water content in this low-calorie fruit accompanied by several beneficial nutrients is great for you during hot summer days but not as much for your guinea pig pet.
Apart from vitamin C, watermelon contains vitamin A, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium and all are vital for normal body functioning. Yet, guinea pigs shouldn’t eat much of this fruit because their sensitive digestive tract cannot deal with sugar well.
Is Watermelon Good for Guinea Pigs?
Guinea pigs can eat a fair amount of watermelon because watermelons are low in calories and are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.
Too much watermelon can negatively affect your guinea pig’s health.
Excessive intake of watery fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumbers can cause loose stool and other digestive issues in our guinea pigs.
Although watermelon is mostly water and sugars, it can’t replace fresh and clean water in your guinea pig’s bowl. Besides, excessive amounts of any fruit and vegetable are not good for your guinea pigs.
Therefore, feeding watermelon to your guinea pig has a few health benefits but your pet can eat it only in moderation.
Always stick to small portions, tiny bite-sized cubes, not more than two to three cubes every three to four days, or one tiny cube every day.
What Is the Nutritional Value of a Watermelon?
Watermelon Nutrition Facts
The following nutrients can be found in raw, 1 cup, diced watermelon:
- Protein (g) 0.93
- Total lipid (fat) (g) 0.23
- Carbohydrate, by difference (g) 11.48
- Energy (kcal) 45.6
- Sugars, total (g) 9.42
- Fiber, total dietary (g) 0.61
- Calcium, Ca (mg) 10.64
- Iron, Fe (mg) 0.36
- Magnesium, Mg (mg) 15.2
- Phosphorus, P (mg) 16.72
- Potassium, K (mg) 170.24
- Sodium, Na (mg) 1.52
- Zinc, Zn (mg) 0.15
- Copper, Cu (mg) 0.06
- Manganese, Mn (mg) 0.06
- Selenium, Se (mcg) 0.61
- Vitamin A, IU (IU) 864.88
- Carotene, beta (mcg) 460.56
- Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) (mg) 0.08
- Cryptoxanthin, beta (mcg) 118.56
- Lycopene (mcg) 6888.64
- Lutein + zeaxanthin (mcg) 12.16
- Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid (mg) 12.31
- Thiamin (mg) 0.05
- Riboflavin (mg) 0.03
- Niacin (mg) 0.27
- Pantothenic acid (mg) 0.34
- Vitamin B-6 (mg) 0.07
- Folate, total (mcg) 4.56
- Vitamin K (phylloquinone) (mcg) 0.15
- Folate, DFE (mcg_DFE) 4.56
- Fatty acids, total saturated (g) 0.02
- Fatty acids, total monounsaturated (g) 0.06
- Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated (g) 0.08
Vitamin C
A healthy guinea pig’s diet consists of unlimited amounts of timothy hay (fiber), and fresh fruits and vegetables (minerals and vitamins). Vitamin C is a vital factor in your pet’s diet because guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C naturally.
Yet, vitamin C ensures the healthy functioning of your guinea pig’s body and immune system.
If your guinea pig doesn’t get its daily requirements of vitamin C, scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) can occur as soon as within 60-90 days.
Scurvy is a potentially fatal illness in guinea pigs.
According to experts, humans need 75 – 90 mg of vitamin C per day to prevent scurvy. However, to prevent scurvy in guinea pigs, you should include at least between 30-and 50mg/kg of vitamin C in your guinea pig’s daily diet.
Considering the amount of vitamin C in this fruit, when your guinea pigs eat watermelon, they cannot satisfy their daily requirements for this vitamin.
Guinea pigs can eat fruits and vegetables in limited quantities.
Sugar
Watermelon is a good organic source of important nutrients but it’s also high in sugar.
You should also note too much sugar is not good for guinea pigs. That is one of the reasons why you should give your guinea pig watermelon only in moderation.
A good idea is to carve the watermelon rind in a way that only a small amount of watermelon flesh remains as a refreshing treat for your guinea pig.
An even better option is if you remove the outer green layer of the rind and serve only the yellow parts to your pets.
That way, you will have better control of the amount of sugar your guinea pig eats.
Otherwise, your guinea pigs can develop diabetes and obesity, which cause other serious health problems, just like in humans.
Therefore, the best guinea pig diet includes less sugar and fats but more vitamin C and fiber.
Fiber
Fiber is the main source of a healthy guinea pigs diet. Don’t forget that, in the wild, a guinea pig’s diet rests on grasses, plants, herbs, twigs, and, occasionally, roots and barks.
Watermelon has traces of fiber, which is okay for a tasty treat. Of course, the tiny cube of watermelon you will give to your guinea pig is insufficient for your guinea pig’s daily dietary needs.
Nonetheless, the fiber content in watermelon is another reason why you should feed your pet with it albeit occasionally and in small amounts.
Again we have to repeat that excessive amounts of fruits and vegetables can cause harm to your guinea pig.
Will My Guinea Pig Like Watermelon?
Most guinea pigs like watermelon.
If this is the first time you’re introducing watermelon to your pet, observe your guinea pig’s reaction. If your furry friend eats that cube of the tasty fruit, you can offer another one.
However, if your guinea pig doesn’t eat the first cube of watermelon you offer, it’s okay. Don’t force it. Not all guinea pigs like watermelon.
Remember that guinea pigs should only eat small amounts of fruits and vegetables combined.
In other words, make sure never to feed your guinea pig with more than 1/4 – 1/2 cup of mixed fresh fruits and vegetables per day.
Cubes of watermelon already count towards that amount, so be careful.
How Much Watermelon Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
As much as your guinea pig might love watermelon, it’s important to not overdo it. The serving size of this fruit should never be larger than a tiny cube per day because of its high sugar content.
While watermelon is a healthy treat packed with vitamins and minerals, too much of anything can upset your guinea pig’s delicate stomach. The recommended serving size is one or two small cubes once or twice a week during the summer months.
Your guinea pigs can also enjoy a small slice of watermelon every day, but don’t let them gorge themselves on the fruit. Doing so could lead to an upset stomach or diarrhea.
A general rule of the thumb is that, per day, your guinea pigs should only consume 1/4 or 1/2 of a cup of mixed veggies and fruits cut into small bite-size chunks.
Therefore, never give your guinea pig a whole slice of watermelon!
Can Young Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon?
Don’t give very young guinea pigs watermelon.
Because of the high sugar content, it’s best if you first introduce watermelon to your guinea pig when they are already a few months old.
While baby guinea pigs feed only on their mother’s milk, by the time they are three weeks old, they can start consuming water and alfalfa hay, and guinea pig pellets.
Alfalfa hay is the best for your young guinea pigs as it contains protein and calcium, important for growth and development.
Gradually add other types of hay to your guinea pig’s diet and eliminate alfalfa hay.
The calcium in alfalfa is beneficial for babies but can be harmful to adult guinea pigs.
By the time they can eat alfalfa, they can start eating small amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon Rind?
Is watermelon rind safe for guinea pigs?
Both watermelon rind and flesh have nutritional value for guinea pigs. The hard watermelon skin is a much better option for your guinea pig because the fleshy part of this fruit contains a lot of sugar and water.
On the other hand, the rind contains potassium, zinc, vitamin A, and iodine, as well as digestion aiding enzymes.
Many pet owners will confirm that their guinea pigs eat watermelon rind and are crazy about it.
For that reason, wash the watermelon thoroughly before cutting the watermelon rind into small pieces and feeding it to your guinea pigs.
Eliminate the green part and serve only the yellow part of the watermelon, also cut into small cubes.
Guinea pigs eat watermelon rind, and some guinea pigs love it much more than they do the red part.
You can try feeding your pet with some other fresh fruits such as peaches, which are also a great source of fiber, minerals, and vitamins, especially vitamin C.
Is Watermelon Juice Healthy for Guinea Pigs?
Don’t give your guinea pig watermelon juice.
Offering watermelon juice to keep your guinea pig’s body hydrated is strictly forbidden. Guinea pigs should never have anything else to drink but clean and fresh water.
Watermelon juice is rich in sugar content, and much sugar is bad for the health of your guinea pig. Other reasons for not giving your guinea pigs juices are the risk of obesity, hypertension, diarrhea, etc.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Although watermelon seeds are not toxic and won’t cause digestive problems to your guinea pigs, all seeds present are dangerous for guinea pigs.
Never feed watermelon seeds or seeds of any kind to your guinea pigs because they present a choking hazard.
Guinea pigs can eat only the fleshy parts of fruits and vegetables and sometimes the rind or the skin, so always remove the seeds.
Therefore, before serving watermelon to your guinea pigs, take all the seeds out.
Make sure that none of the seeds is left in the watermelon cube you are giving to your guinea pigs.
Likewise, you can buy watermelon without seeds.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon Leaves?
Never offer watermelon leaves to your guinea pigs because they are toxic to them.
All parts of watermelon (leaves, vines, roots, and seeds) except for the flesh and the rind pose a danger to your guinea pig’s health.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Yellow Watermelon?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat watermelon of any color, including yellow watermelon.
The lack of lycopene, which is the pigment responsible for giving the red color to watermelon, causes the yellow color of watermelon.
There are also yellow seedless watermelons.
Yet, this watermelon is much sweeter than red watermelon so many guinea pigs find it tastier compared to red watermelon.
So, give your guinea pigs even smaller quantities of yellow watermelon than you would normally feed them the red fruit.
How To Serve Watermelon To Your Guinea Pig?
Serving watermelon to your guinea pig is an easy task. All you need is a cutting board and kitchen knife.
Take the fresh watermelon, place it on the cutting board, cut it open, and remove the seeds, as they present a choking hazard to your guinea pig.
Ideally, when you’re giving your guinea pigs watermelon to eat, you will offer them a seedless watermelon.
Guinea pigs eat watermelon in small amounts, so cut the watermelon into small cubes.
Although you would only eat watermelon flesh, the red juicy part of the watermelon, you can feed watermelon rind to your guinea pigs as well.
So you can include the watermelon rind and leave only a tiny layer of red flesh, which is high in sugar.
Store the cut watermelon in a tightly closed bag.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat All Fruits and Vegetables?
Guinea pigs cannot eat all fruits and vegetables. To prevent diseases, take care of your guinea pig’s healthy diet.
Some produce is toxic to your furry friend (potato or avocado), while others don’t have any nutritional value for guinea pigs (iceberg lettuce). And then again, some are very healthy for piggies (kiwi, apples, oranges, etc.).
Vegetables that are bad for guinea pigs include those high in calcium, as it is responsible for the creation of kidney and bladder stones, which is very dangerous for your furry friends.
Often, the removal of kidney stones requires surgery, and every surgery carries its own risks.
Also, foods high in potassium can be dangerous for piggies with kidney issues. Too much potassium prevents piggies with kidney issues from filtering the excess from their body, which can kill them.
Also, avoid feeding your pets with a combination of fruits and vegetables with very similar nutrients. The key to a healthy guinea pig diet is moderation and balance.
Final Thoughts
Base your pet’s diet on fiber and pellets, designed to provide the best proportion of nutrients your guinea pig needs daily. The recommended amount that guinea pigs eat is between 1/4 and 1/2 of a cup of mixed vegetables and fruits per day.
Regardless of the type of fruit that’s on the safe list for your guinea pig, never feed your pet the same foods every day. Instead, mix different types of fresh tasty fruits as sweet treats, and vegetables daily.
Watermelon (or some other fruit) should be on the menu only once or twice a week.
Now you know that all parts of watermelon (watermelon leaves, watermelon seeds, and watermelon vines and roots) are toxic to guinea pigs.
Also, never give your guinea pig watermelon juice to keep your guinea pig hydrated. Piggies need only clean and fresh water at all times.
Feeding guinea pigs watermelon two to three small cubes every few days is safe for these small animals.
