High in vitamin C and containing a host of other essential nutrients, the cantaloupe can be a beneficial addition to the human diet, but how about for guinea pigs? Can cavies eat cantaloupe? How much should they eat? Can they eat the skin and the seeds?
Guinea pigs can safely eat a small amount of cantaloupe and other melons. However, this fruit is high in phosphorous, compared to vitamin C, and a diet with this ratio can lead to phosphate stones. However, when fed in moderation as an occasional treat, they are not only considered safe for your guinea pigs to eat but can actually prove a beneficial addition to their diet.
Benefits of Cantaloupe
Not only is cantaloupe considered safe to feed your guinea pig, but when fed in moderation it can offer the following health benefits:
Potential Dangers
For all of the benefits that cantaloupe has to offer, though, there are some potential pitfalls. Most of the disadvantages and health concerns that come from this fruit tend to be associated with its overfeeding, however, and it is considered safe in moderation. When feeding this tasty treat, do bear the following in mind:
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cantaloupe Skin and Seeds?
You should never feed a guinea pig the seeds of a cantaloupe, because they are a choking hazard. Their size means that the seed can easily become lodged in the throat of your pet, preventing them from being able to breathe. If your cavy does mistakenly eat a seed, and there is no sign of choking, however, you have no need to fret. The seed itself is not toxic and is actually quite high in fiber so is otherwise considered quite a healthy addition to a diet.
Similar to the seeds, cantaloupe skin is considered high in dietary fiber. As such, small pieces of it that remain on the cantaloupe are safe. However, it has a rough and quite dry texture, so has a similar choking hazard to the seeds. You should also remember that the skin will still be home to any chemicals and waxes that were used during the growth and preparation stages. It is best to avoid feeding this part of the melon to your pet.
Cantaloupe Preparation
To feed cantaloupe to your guinea pig, you should prepare it first, rather than simply cutting off a chunk and throwing it in the cage. However, preparation is relatively easy. Cut the cantaloupe, remove the rind, and get rid of any seeds. Cut the melon into slices and then into pieces and feed it like this.
You should not give your guinea pig juices, so avoid juicing the melon before feeding it.
Also, remember that old and rotting fruit can attract flies and other pests, so if you find that your guinea pig does not eat all of the melon you feed, remove it at the end of the day. It will have lost most of its attractive scent and flavor by this point, and you can prevent their cage from becoming a hotbed of flies.
Serving Size and Frequency
So, cantaloupe is considered healthy, even beneficial, when fed to guinea pigs in moderation. This means that it should not make up entire meals and you should not feed too much of this sweet treat to your cavy. However, you can feed a small slice to your pet every week. You can either feed the whole slice in one go or feed half a slice two times during the week. Cantaloupe really should only be considered a treat and feeding any more than this could lead to those painful phosphate stones, as well as obesity.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Other Types of Melon?
Melons, in general, are considered a healthy snack and a tasty treat for guinea pigs, and there are plenty of varieties of this fruit that are readily available on the market. Although you should check the vitamin and nutrient contents of each type, it is generally safe to feed your pet any type of melon in moderation. Honeydew melons have more sugar and less vitamin C so are not considered as beneficial but are still tasty and healthy in moderation. Winter melon actually has lower sugar and fewer calories than the cantaloupe, which is why some owners prefer to feed this type of melon as a juicy snack.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cantaloupe?
Giving your guinea pigs a varied diet is important. It helps ensure that they are getting the right levels of vitamins and nutrients to keep them healthy, while offering a little treat occasionally is always a positive experience for you and your pet.
Melons, in general, and cantaloupes, are a great source of vitamin C and, compared to a lot of sweet treats, they have minimal sugar and calorific content. However, you should take care to remove the rind and seeds, never juice the melon before feeding, and only provide a couple of cubes of the treat over the course of a week, otherwise the cantaloupe you feed could lead to illness and even obesity.
Featured Image Credit: PublicDomainImages, Pixabay
