Can guinea pigs have mango?
Mangoes are rich in vitamin C and vitamin A, which are essential for our guinea pigs’ health.
A guinea pig requires a healthy and balanced diet that’s high in fiber and low in sugar and fat to lead a longer and healthier life.
Can Guinea Pigs Have Mango?
Guinea pigs require special nutrition and giving them certain fruits can cause more damage than good.
However, you should offer mangos to your guinea pig only occasionally because they contain a high amount of sugar.
Just like people, guinea pigs shouldn’t eat much sugar because it can cause many health problems.
Continue reading to find out how much mango is good and safe for your guinea pig.
What Do Guinea Pigs Eat?
Guinea pigs are cavies, representatives of the Caviidae family that includes many other rodents from South America.
All cavies are social animals that live in groups.
Guinea pigs that live in the wild on grassy plains feed on vegetation, including grasses and leaves.
Domestic guinea pig species, Cavia porcellus, do not exist in the wild.
However, their needs in captivity have not changed compared to the time when they lived in the wilderness.
The main source of food for your guinea pig is timothy hay or any other grass hay that’s rich in fiber and low in other substances that can be harmful to your pet.
Crucial for digestion, hay is also important for your guinea pig’s teeth as by munching on it, your pet keeps the teeth trimmed and prevents them from growing too much.
Let’s see which are the most important parts of a guinea pig’s diet.
Water
A continuous source of fresh (ideally purified, but not distilled) clean, room-temperature water is a must.
Bottles of water should be cleaned, rinsed, and refilled daily.
If you keep your pet’s water in water bowls, make sure to change it a few times a day and replace it with fresh and clean water.
Grass Hay
High-quality grass hay (such as timothy hay) should be available to your guinea pig at all times.
Hay contains fiber that is necessary for your guinea pig’s healthy digestion and dental wellbeing.
Without a regular intake of fresh hay, the digestive system of guinea pigs will stop.
Plus, hay helps guinea pigs keep their teeth clean and at an appropriate length, preventing the teeth from growing too long.
Guinea Pig Pellets
Start providing your guinea pig with about a 1/4 – 1/8 cup of simple, corn-and seed-free guinea pig pellets to eat each day.
Guinea pig pellets provide additional vitamins and nutrients that your guinea pig does not get from hay alone.
Besides, most guinea pig pellets are fortified with vitamin C and vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients your guinea pig needs.
Guinea pig pellets should be made only of hay and served in a ceramic cup, which is wide enough not to tip over.
Vitamin C
Like humans, guinea pigs can’t produce vitamin C naturally and depend on external sources of this vitamin.
To avoid health problems, a guinea pig should get 10 to 30 milligrams of vitamin C every day; young, sick, nursing, and/or pregnant animals need extra vitamin C.
While many guinea pigs may get an appropriate portion of vitamin C from fruits, vegetables, and pellets, you may wish to add more vitamin C to your cavy diet, either in powder or tablet form.
Raw and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
You should feed your guinea pig with up to 1 cup (240 ml) of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
However, it is ideal for you to limit their consumption of vegetables.
Just because they can have up to 1 cup, that doesn’t mean they need it.
Please note that the diet of your guinea pig should not consist of fruits and vegetables only.
And watch their consumption of calcium!
Foods high in calcium can contribute to the development of kidney and bladder stones and other health problems.
What Are the Nutrients in Mango?
Scientifically mango is called Mangifera indica.
Generally, people call mango “the king of fruits.”
It’s a pod or stone fruit, with a large seed in the center.
Mango is native to India and Southeast Asia and has been cultivated for over 4,000 years.
There are hundreds of types of mango.
Each of the species has a different shape, size, color, and unique taste.
This fruit is not only delicious; it also has an impressive nutritional profile.
Mango contributes to improved immunity, digestive health, and vision, and lowers the risk of certain cancers.
On average, a mango contains:
- Calories: 99
- Protein: 1.4 grams
- Dietary fiber: 2.6 grams
- Copper: 20% of the RDI
- Vitamin B6: 11.6% of the RDI
- Vitamin E: 9.7% of the RDI
- Vitamin K: 6% of the RDI
- Fat: 0.6 grams
- Carbs 24.7 grams
- Vitamin C: 67% Of RDI
- Folate: 18% of the RDI
- Vitamin A: 10% of the RDI
- Vitamin B5: 6.5% of the RDI
- Niacin: 7% of the RDI
Is Mango Good for Guinea Pigs?
Mangos have a delicious taste.
That’s why many domesticated pets love to eat mangoes, but animals don’t know that mango is really good for their health.
Mango is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C.
Since guinea pigs can’t make their vitamin C and get scurvy without it, mangos are a great choice you should include in your guinea pig’s diet.
Mangoes are also brimming with antioxidants.
It is an excellent treat for your guinea pig.
However, as with all fresh fruits and vegetables, you should give your guinea pig only limited amounts of mangos.
When feeding your guinea pig mango, make sure to give only one to two small cubes once or twice a week, as an occasional treat.
This is sufficient to balance your guinea pig’s diet, make your pet happy, and keep it healthy.
Vitamin C
Mango is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is an essential part of a guinea pig’s diet.
A lack of t his vitamin can cause serious health issues such as scurvy, a very dangerous disease for guinea pigs.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is critical for the development and nutrition of guinea pigs and their health.
It protects your cavy from conditions such as Xerophthalmia, an irregular dryness of the conjunctiva, and cornea of the eyes.
Noticeable intolerance to noise and weight loss are other symptoms.
Xerophthalmia caused by vitamin A deficiency can lead to death within a few days.
Vitamin B6
Mango is rich in nutrients, especially vitamin C, A, and B6.
All these vitamins are important for your guinea pig’s development and health.
Calcium
The mango fruit contains a small amount of calcium.
However, foods high in calcium can create health problems in your guinea pigs.
Calcium is responsible for the formation of kidney and bladder stones, which are very painful and life-threatening to your small animal.
Antioxidants
Mangoes are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that make them very important to reduce the possibility of cancer and other very fatal infections.
Antioxidants have the power to fight free radicals and reduce the chances of cell damage.
In the same way, antioxidants can help your pet recover from injury or heal faster.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Skin?
No, you should never let your pets eat mango skin.
Mango skin may have traces of pesticides and other chemicals that may contribute to serious health problems in your guinea pig.
Besides, mango skin is not nutritional, and the rough and hard texture of the skin represents a choking hazard if guinea pigs try to swallow it.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Seeds?
No, never give mango seeds to your guinea pig.
They are extremely hard and slippery, which is quite dangerous for your pet.
Never give any kinds of seeds to your pets.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Mango?
No, never let your guinea pigs eat dried mango.
Dried mango loses all of its nutrients.
While fresh fruits have an excellent nutritional value and provide health benefits to your pet, dried fruits have high sugar content, which is bad for guinea pigs.
Always offer only fresh and raw fruits and vegetables to your pets because the digestive system of guinea pigs cannot process cooked, fried, frozen, or roasted foods.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Frozen Mango?
No, guinea pigs shouldn’t eat frozen mango.
Cold food creates an imbalance in the guinea pigs’ digestive tract.
Simply, it’s not healthy for their tummies.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Mango?
No, don’t give canned mango to your guinea pigs.
Canned food is processed and has high sugar content, which is bad for your cavy.
Never give processed food to your guinea pigs as they cannot digest it.
In this case, mango juice, canned and dried mango is extremely bad for a guinea pig’s health.
Is Mango Safe for Guinea Pigs?
Yes, fresh and raw mango is safe for your guinea pigs!
The many nutrients, minerals, and vitamins contained in mango are great for your pet’s wellbeing.
However, as mango has high sugar content, you should feed your guinea pig mango in limited amounts.
In other words, one to two small cubes, given once or twice a week, are just enough for your pet.
Too much mango may cause digestive discomfort, so stick to the suggested serving size even if your guinea pig does seem to be pleading for more!
Before serving mango to guinea pigs, make sure to wash the mango thoroughly, peel off the skin, and cut it into small cubes.
Can Guinea Pigs Have Mango Juice?
No, mango juice is not good for your guinea pig even if you’ve made it on your own.
Mango juice, especially commercial juice, has high sugar content and other additives, which are dangerous for your pet.
The only liquid your pet will ever need is fresh and clean water.
Don’t attempt to give your guinea pig anything else to drink.
How Much Mango Can I Give to My Guinea Pig to Eat?
The indicated feed is developed bearing in mind that guinea pigs rip the benefit of minerals and vitamins in the fruit but at the same time do not suffer from diseases caused by the high sugar levels in the mangoes.
Fruits and vegetables work as a supplement to vitamins and minerals in the guinea pig diet.
The quantity of these should not exceed a great deal.
In general, 80 percent of guinea pig diet consists of hay, while 10-15 percent contains fresh vegetables and only 5 percent of the fruit.
Well-balanced nutrition for any Guinea pig normally contains more Hay, some veggies, and occasional treats such as mangoes.
We can feed our guinea pig mangoes every week or so.
But make sure that the quantity is limited to one or two slices.
You might get in love watching those cute little pigs chewing happily on the mangoes, but remember that nothing more than the amount recommended should be fed to them as it could be bad for their health.
How Should I Feed my Guinea Pig with Mango?
Making meals for your Guinea pig in the correct way is also an important part of the process that you’ll have to learn.
You cannot casually throw a mango into their cage and look at it.
There’s a simple food prep process for them that you need to follow.
First, just choose the right mango for them.
Mango must be ripe and sweet and not sour, as sour fruit can often lead to health problems in guinea pigs.
Second, you need to make sure that you wash your skin properly.
This is to ensure that you get rid of any pesticide or chemical that is present in it.
Any harmful chemicals can lead to serious health problems if they are consumed.
Third, entirely peel off the mango skin.
The mango skin is not something you want to feed your guinea pig.
Cut the mangoes in small sizes.
It must not be a big one.
If the size of the slice is too large, the guinea pig may have trouble getting it.
Also, you could end up feeding them too much.
Now that you can put the mango in a fruit or veg container or a bowl.
Always ensure that any untapped fruits are removed from their cage after a few hours as they may be home to bacteria blooming.
Are There Hazards To Feeding Mango to Guinea Pigs?
Although mangoes are soft, tasty, and full of many essential vitamins and minerals, and your piggy loves their taste; too much is not beneficial to them.
You may get heartthrobs when you feed your piggy mangoes as they seem content and excited; this may result in you feeding them more when you’re not supposed to.
Be sure to hang on, stop their joyful squeals, and note that too much can prove fatal!
Excess Sugar
Mangoes are richer in sugar (14 gm/100 gm.)
Although small food is fine with our guinea pigs plenty of the time.
But we are beguiled by the personality of guinea pigs when they are anxious for more food and risk ending up feeding them much more than we should.
A high sugar diet also contributes to diseases such as obesity, which further progresses into diabetes, diarrhea, and causes the ill health of our guinea pigs.
Allergic Reactions
There are certain things that guinea pigs may be allergic to.
Some parts of mango have unsanitary oils.
Symptoms of allergic reactions include vomiting, stomach upset, and sneezing.
If you find any of these, seek the assistance of a specialist right away.
The knowledge provided is a danger that might happen to your little friend.
Often study before offering such foods to guinea pigs to prevent them from endangering their lives.
Obesity
Like humans, guinea pigs are likely to be overweight and can also suffer extreme diabetes if they eat too many sugary foods.
Because they are unable to gulp down the nutritional value properly, this helps to ensure that your guinea pig should decrease the number of fruits it eats to prevent obesity.
Kidney Problems
Guinea pigs are susceptible to kidney and bladder, and phosphate stones.
They seem to make it when they have too much calcium in their diet.
Calcium is essential in promoting strong bones and teeth, but it is much less important when your guinea pig is fully mature.
If this happens, they have to get more vitamin C than calcium, otherwise, the calcium crystallizes in the urethra and causes phosphate rocks.
The stones are very painful and unpleasant.
They can stop your guinea pig from urinating properly, and they can even prove fatal if left untreated.
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs are sensitive organisms with equivalently sensitive diets, so keep this in mind and do extensive research on whatever food you want to feed your cavity.
They are very ferocious in the texture of fructose, so they may prove hazardous to your small pet’s body if ingested in monstrous amounts.
Even so, they are also highly nutritious and more than worthy of supplementing your cavy with many minerals and vitamins required for a long, healthier lifestyle filled with a heart-throwing sweetness.
So yes, guinea pigs can have mangoes as a great experience, once per week.
Prepare your mango properly before nourishing it to your pet, making sure it’s fully ripe and delicious.
Finally, take very good care of your little partner and try to catch out for indications of vitamin/mineral insufficiency.
If you seriously doubt any of them, take your guinea pig to the veterinary behaviorist, as it may demonstrate to be intolerable and life-threatening to the tiny body of your guinea pig.
