Understanding the way we feed the animals in our homestead is of great importance. It helps us to avoid giving much of a certain diet that might cause harm to them whereas on the other hand give the animals what it deserves in the correct ratio.
In our case, we would want to give appropriate answers to the question, “can guinea pigs eat pineapples?”. As we all know that pineapples are a diet that is commonly known to belong to humans, the same can be used for guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapples?
Yes is the answer to this question. We can feed our guinea pigs with pineapples but in a moderate amount. The treat is known to serve the guinea pig with vitamin C which is of importance to the pet.
However, there are some hazards associated with too much fruit. Some of the body organs of the pet such as the kidney and the urinary system can be affected as well as causing obesity and diarrhea. It is therefore advisable to feed the guinea pig with the treatment once a week.
Expert Tip: The other precaution that should be taken into consideration is that you should avoid feeding the pet with canned or ground pineapples. The treat should be prepared properly before it is given to the animal.
The main food that is given to the guinea pig with confidence is Hay. It is the staple food of the pets only that supplements such as carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, and many other vegetables have to be included.
Pineapple Nutrition
It is no doubt to say that pineapples are a one-stop feed that a guinea pig can acquire all the desired vitamins. In addition to the many vitamins in the pineapples, the main focus lies in the vitamin C which our pets require in substantial amounts.
Despite that the animals can acquire these vitamins from other fruits and vegetables, pineapples stand to offer the right amount of it. In addition, the treat provides vitamins and minerals to the animals in the appropriate amount.
Such nutritional contents would have forced for the combination of many fruits and vegetables in order for the guinea pigs to acquire them. This might not be possible but thanks to the pineapples which serve as a remedy. For cases of aged guinea pigs, it requires several nutrients in their diet to keep them strong.
These, therefore, calls for the use of pineapples other than any other fruit the fruits provide nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Niacin, and Folate which is essential to the pets. This however should not lead you to give it in large amounts. Moderate amounts work well.
Expert Tip: It’s advisable to make your guinea pig used to eating pineapples. It provides the exact amount of Vitamin C which other fruits would not provide the exact level.
Once they are used to eating the pineapples, the need for the supplements that provide Vitamin C can be avoided at times.
Benefits Of Pineapples For Guinea Pigs
There is so much importance in giving pineapples to your guinea pigs so long as it is served in moderate amounts. To be specific, let’s see the importance of each part of the animal’s body.
1. Heart Development
The worst nutrient that any creature’s heart is against is fat. It hinders the way the heart develops and functions. Eating fruits especially pineapples are very recommendable due to their low-fat content. The fruit offers magnesium nutrients that are of great importance to heart development.
It ensures that the heart muscles are strong enough to provide for the pumping of oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
2. The Immune System
A guinea pig’s immune system should be strong enough in order to fight against diseases. This calls for the consumption of food with nutrients that helps to strengthen the immune. The most important nutrient is beta-carotene which is largely acquired from orange fruits and vegetables.
Pineapples also offer the same nutrient when it is incorporated into the guinea pig’s diet but in moderate amounts. In addition, the fruit offers Vitamin C which is essential for strengthening the immune system.
3. Disease Prevention
Apart from having Vitamin C which helps to boost the immune system, the pineapple has manganese which is a natural antioxidant. These nutrient helps to combat free radicals which cause disease such as cancer. The nutrient also helps to keep your pet younger and strong so that it lives longer.
4. Cardiovascular Health
The cardiovascular of your pets need to be healthy and stable in order to perform their duties effectively. Therefore, calls for the need to feed them on low-calorie food which the pineapple is one of them. Other than being lowly caloric, pineapples provide magnesium which keeps the heart’s muscles strong.
5. Blood Formation
The overall survival of a guinea depends on blood cells which ought to be healthy. In order to attain a healthy state, you need to feed the guinea pig with pineapples which provide pantothenic acid that is essential for blood cells formation. The presence of Vitamin K in the treatment also is useful in enhancing effective blood clotting.
6. Prevention Of Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease that affects guinea pigs and can be prevented by facilitating sufficient amounts of Vitamin C in the pet’s body. The nutrient can’t be produced naturally by the animal’s body instead, it calls for the use of pineapples which is a rich source of it.
The disease is associated with the animal facing excess diarrhea, losing appetite, losing weight, rough coat, bleeding internally, and generally becoming weak. By simply feeding the pet with fresh and ripe pineapple, you secure it from the disease.
Hazards Of Eating Pineapples By Guinea Pigs
Despite the fact that pineapples are of importance to your pets, problems arise when it is given in large amounts. It is advisable to give it once per week or at most twice a week. However, when in large proportions, this leads to issues such as:
1. Obesity
When consumed in large proportions, pineapples have a sugar content that contributes to obesity in pets. This condition is associated with diabetes which is very risky to the animal. Therefore forces a limitation in the amount of sugary food which is given to the pet.
2. Diarrhea
The digestion of sugar by the guinea pigs is very complicated. The pets require little amounts of sugar content which is recommended for digestion issues otherwise excess of it leads to stomach upsets which are followed by diarrhea and loss of body weight.
3. Problems In The Kidneys
Americium is an important nutrient for the guinea pig. However, excess consumption might lead to problems for the kidneys. MS can be adverse especially for the fully matured guinea pigs which only require more Vitamin C than Calcium.
The calcium on the fully matured guinea pigs crystalizes to form phosphate stones in the pet’s urinary tract which are unpleasant and painful during urination.
4. Mouth Sourness
The acidic content in pineapples can cause the guinea pig’s mouths to be sour. This happens especially when it is consumed in large amounts.
How To Serve Pineapples
Cleanliness of the highest order should be maintained when serving the guinea pig with the pineapple. In addition, you should ensure that a small amount of the pineapple is given in which case one cubic foot is advisable per week. It is also recommendable that you should avoid giving tinned pineapples to your pet.
This is due to the chemical content that is used to preserve the tinned fruit which finally brings complications to the pet. Similarly, it is not recommended to give the pet juicy pineapple. Ripe pineapples are the best for pets especially organic ones.
It has to be trimmed to remove the outer part completely and then chop into small pieces that the animal can consume with ease.
Expert Tip: To avoid flies that are not healthy to the guinea pigs, you should remove all the uncovered traces of the fruit after feeding it.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Leaves And Cores Of Pineapples?
For clarity purposes, it is not recommended to feed the guinea pigs with leaves and the core of the pineapples. If you still want to keep the petto build interest in eating pineapples, avoid giving it the leaves and cores. The leaves have some sorts of hairy thorns which when consumed then get stuck in the throat causing shock.
In addition, the existence of the bromelain enzyme in leaves poses threats to the pet’s health as they might be allergic to it. Similarly, the outer covering of pineapples might be harmful to the pet’s health.
Other than being coarse, chemical contents that were used while it was on the farm including the wax that was used during storage would be found on this outer layer. These chemicals and wax are harmful to the pet’s health. The thorns on them also cause the pets to bleed on their mouth and throats.
If for any reason you want to include leaves in your pet’s diet, it is advisable to go for leaves such as those for apple trees. These leaves offer the required nutrients instead of the pineapple.
How Often Can You Serve Pineapples To Guinea Pigs?
As earlier stated, it is recommended to feed your pet with pineapples once per week. If there is a need for an addition, do not exceed the limit of two for every week. This is because of the acidity and the high sugar level that the fruit has. This content when consumed in large proportions is harmful to the health of the guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapples And Pineapple Skin?
There is no problem when you give your pet the pineapple flesh so long as the correct amount is served. Otherwise, giving the skin is not recommended. This is due to the choking effect that shall be caused by the thorns that lie on the skin.
The thorns make it hard for the pets to chew it and in case they chew, they might cause bleeding in the gums and might even choke the animal. Whenever the guinea pig gets choked or its gums bleed, it might develop a bad attitude towards eating the pineapples.
To build its interest in the fruit might be difficult yet, that is the main fruit that is rich in nutrients.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Pineapples?
It is not advisable to give your guinea pig dried pineapples. These fruits have their calories, calcium, and sugars at a higher level which is subject to some threats to the pet’s health. In addition, the level of Vitamin C in dried pineapples is low. This is in contrast with the level of the nutrient that is required by the pets.
If you allow them to feed on the dried pineapples, you shall not be accomplishing the required level of the vitamin. As earlier stated, guinea pigs require fresh and ripe pineapples. Such fruits have all the required nutrients at the appropriate level.
Expert Tip: Nutrients such as Vitamin C is required in large amount especially for the fully matured guinea pigs. It not only helps in the growth but also helps to maintain it look younger and energetic. Such a higher level of vitamin is only obtained from the fresh and ripe pineapple fruit.
Conclusion
Constituting pineapples in the guinea pig’s diet is of great importance. The pet requires all the nutrients that are present in the fruit, however, do not forget to strictly follow the guidelines for feeding it with the fruit in order to avoid any complications.
In case you have any questions, do not hesitate to comment for we are there to guide you. However, it is highly recommended to feed your guinea pig with fresh and ripe pineapple fruits. It works well with their health provided small amounts are provided especially on a weekly basis.
