Welcome to our full information to guinea pigs and raspberries! Giving you the data you want about feeding guinea pigs this tasty fruit. And answering that every one essential query – can guinea pigs eat raspberries safely?
Guinea pigs and raspberries
Red, plump, and juicy raspberries can tempt anybody into consuming this beautiful fruit. Not solely do they appear delicious, raspberries are packed stuffed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory vitamins.
Raspberries are an exquisite deal with for folks, so is it any surprise why we need to deal with our pets to those berries?
Today, we’re going to debate whether or not or not raspberries are protected for guinea pigs and the professionals and cons of raspberries for guinea pigs.
Are raspberries protected for guinea pigs?
For probably the most half, guinea pigs needs to be consuming a food regimen that’s much like what they’d eat in nature. Their pure food regimen consists of recent grass hay, herbs, greens and fruit.
Keep in thoughts that fruit and greens within the wild have a decrease quantity of pure sugar than farm recent fruit and greens. The motive for it’s because folks have chosen for fruit and greens for his or her measurement and sweetness.
Therefore, guinea pigs really need much less of the identical fruits and veg that they’d usually get within the wild.
Most of your guinea pigs food regimen ought to encompass recent grass hay.
This is important to holding your little furry buddy wholesome. It accommodates a excessive quantity of fiber, which is important for correct digestion.
Fresh hay additionally retains your guinea pig’s enamel clear and prevents them from getting too lengthy.
In phrases of greens, they need to be getting round 1 cup of recent greens per day, which ought to embody darkish leafy greens.
But what about fruit? Can guinea pigs eat raspberries? The quick reply is, sure.
Fruit is okay on the whole, though it needs to be given sparingly. However, in small portions, raspberries are protected for guinea pigs to eat.
Do raspberries comprise xylitol?
You have most likely heard of the candy compound xylitol, which happens naturally in some fruits, and can be made synthetically as a sugar-substitute.
It will be extremely harmful in non-primate species, together with guinea pigs. Why is it harmful?
Xylitol is shortly absorbed into the bloodstream, which causes a launch of insulin. This sudden rise of insulin causes a big lower in blood sugar ranges, often called hypoglycemia.
Raspberries are one of many fruits that comprise a excessive quantity of xylitol in comparison with different fruits. Giving a guinea pig too many raspberries may trigger hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which might be deadly relying on the dose.
Although it isn’t identified precisely what number of raspberries are poisonous to your furry little buddy, it’s best to feed only a few raspberries as a deal with right here and there.
Start by feeding your guinea pig a single raspberry, then wait an hour to see how your pet responds.
If it’s effectively tolerated, then attempt once more in a few days time. When you have got fed this small quantity you will be assured it’s okay to present your guinea pig one or two raspberries now and once more. As a tasty deal with!
Are raspberries dangerous for guinea pigs?
Raspberries are stuffed with pure sugar, are acidic, and have low calcium to phosphorus ratio.
First, let’s handle the sugar content material. Just as it’s true for human beings, an excessive amount of sugar could be a dangerous factor for guinea pigs. In excessive portions, sugar consumption can result in weight problems and diabetes.
That is why you must feed your guinea pigs with small portions of raspberries as a deal with, and not make it a major staple of their food regimen.
Second, raspberries have low calcium to phosphorous ratio, which might result in bladder issues. Guinea pigs are susceptible to urinary tract issues to start with, since they’re low to the bottom and simply decide up micro organism from unclean bedding and droppings. Too many raspberries will solely exacerbate the issue.
Third, fruit acids can irritate the liner of their mouths, so it’s best to restrict them to only a few of the juicy crimson berries. Some guinea pigs will discover the berries too tart, whereas others could benefit from the style.
Are raspberries good for guinea pigs?
Just like people, guinea pigs are unable to fabricate their very own Vitamin C. Vitamin C is important to create and preserve connective tissue, together with blood vessels, bone, and pores and skin.
Studies have even proven that guinea pigs who obtain much less vitamin C usually tend to endure from heart problems.
Lack of Vitamin C has even been proven to trigger issues with the regulation of iron and copper in your guinea pigs blood.
Guinea pigs have to get their Vitamin C by way of dietary consumption identical to us. If your guinea pig doesn’t get sufficient Vitamin C, he may get scurvy. Scurvy leads to the breakdown of connective tissue, which impacts each folks and guinea pigs.
Raspberries comprise a excessive dose of Vitamin C, which might complement your guinea pig’s consumption of this important nutrient. Guinea pigs want between 10 to 30 milligrams of Vitamin C per day.
This mentioned, guinea pigs can get most of this by way of their guinea pig full meals and each day vegetable consumption.
So though it appears useful, it isn’t really a good suggestion to present numerous raspberries to your guinea pig simply to complement Vitamin C.
Can guinea pigs eat raspberries?
As now we have seen, guinea pigs want a diverse food regimen that features greens and some fruit.
But the quantity of fruit that your tiny pet requires may be very small, particularly when you think about that the fruit now we have grown for us is increased in sugar than that which they’d have discovered naturally.
So the reply to can guinea pigs have raspberries is sure, however sparsely.
Since raspberries comprise antioxidants, fiber, and Vitamin C, it’s completely nice to present your little cavy this scrumptious deal with sometimes. But should you feed him them too typically or in bigger quantities then it may have well being implications you’ll relatively keep away from.
One or two raspberries a couple of times every week as a particular deal with can be rule of thumb.
What about you?
Do your guinea pigs love raspberries? Or did the attainable issues with the excessive sugar put you off giving fruit as a deal with? Why not tell us within the feedback part beneath!
References
- Brutlag, Ahna. Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs. VCA Hospitals. December 13, 2010.
- Chojkier, M et al 1983. Specifically decreased collagen biosynthesis in dissociated from an impact on proline hydroxylation and correlated with physique weight reduction. In vitro research in guinea pig calvarial bones. Journal of Clinical Investigation
- Crosta, P. Scurvy: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Medical News Today.
- Drs. Foster and Smith. Nutrition in Guineas: Why Vitamin C is Essential. Doctors Foster and Smith.
- Guinea Lynx. A Medical and Care Guide for Guinea Pigs.
- Marshall Findlay, G. 1921. The blood and blood vessels in guinea pig scurvy. Journal of Pathology.
- Milne, DB & Omaye, ST. 1980. Effect of vitamin C on copper and iron metabolism within the guinea pig. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research.
- Simon, J.A. 1992. Vitamin C and heart problems: a assessment. Journal of the American College of Nutrition