Can Guinea Pigs Eat Strawberries? Are Strawberries Safe for Guinea Pigs?

You probably know this already, but strawberries are a popular fruit. They’re rich in vitamins and taste so sweet you could eat the whole tray with no problem. However, they’re also among the most perfect fruits on earth for your guinea pigs!

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Strawberries? The short answer is Yes! Strawberries contain great nutrition and provide a bevy of health benefits for your guinea pig. As long as you keep a watchful eye on them, there are few risks associated with their diet.

Are Strawberries Good for Guinea Pigs?

Strawberries have a lot of health benefits and are relatively low in sugar compared to other fruits.

They can help regulate your guinea pig’s blood pressure

Strawberries are a wonderful and healthy way to keep your guinea pig going. They provide a level of potassium that is essential for balancing your pet’s blood pressure.

Strawberries don’t have as much sugar as other fruits

Despite being succulently sweet, strawberries have very little sugar. It takes 100 grams of strawberries to have approximately 7-8 grams of sugar, while 100 grams of bananas contains 15-17 grams. When you need a fruit that provides low levels of risk for oral diabetes, strawberries might be the candidate.

Strawberries have a huge amount of vitamin C

Guinea pigs and Capt. Blackbeard are both highly susceptible to scurvy, which is linked to vitamin C deficiency. Pirates would have experienced this due to a lack of fresh food while on board their ships, meaning they were reluctant to cannibalize crew members!

So, Guinea pigs need vitamin C, and they are happy when they have plenty of it. Luckily, they get their fill with strawberries’ abundant supply of vitamin C.

Are Strawberries Bad for Guinea Pigs?

photo: the_furr_squad

Strawberries might not be the most high in sugar content, but they’re still delicious and can be dangerous when eaten in large amounts.

Excess sugar can give guinea pigs an imbalance in intestinal bacteria, diarrhea, or even health conditions like diabetes and obesity. It’s recommended you take them out of your diet fully and start feeding them healthier options instead.

Strawberries are great for consumption, but there have been some concerns about safety. Pesticides and chemicals in the soil might be on the fruit itself or left behind after harvest. Strawberries also tend to get dusty & dirty over time.

As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, it’s important to wash all your fruits and vegetables that you prepare for yourself & your animal.

How Many Strawberries Can my Guinea Pig Eat?

It’s good to only feed your pet a single serving of strawberries a week. The goal is not to replace their diet with strawberries, but simply a light snack.

They don’t need much food and can survive on a single strawberry. Make sure to give them only a few pieces & reduce their intake if they get too full or experience nausea. Cut back on giving them when they beg, since they’ll learn faster than you will.

Can My Guinea Pig Eat Strawberry Tops?

Strawberry tops have a lot of potassium and fiber than fruit – yet they contain less sugar than the fruit. Your cavy may prefer fruit, so it’s just a matter of personal preference for them.

Conclusion

Strawberries are amazing for guinea pigs! Not only can it help prevent a bunch of diseases and keep your pig healthy, but you just need to make sure you only give your guinea pigs small amounts at a time and that the fruit is thoroughly washed afterward.

So if possible, promote your guinea pig to eat the tops, leaves, and stems of the fruit instead of just the fruit itself. It helps that they’re more appealing to them and poses even fewer health issues than a whole piece of the fruit.