If you’ve got some spare peaches, you may be wondering if it is okay to share them with your guinea pig. You’ll be glad to know that your fluffy friend can enjoy a few peach slices as a treat.
Although guinea pigs thrive on high-quality pellets and hay mostly, you can also eat small amounts of fruits like peaches from time to time. Be careful, though, just like with other fruits; you should limit how much peaches your piggy eats.
Keep reading for more significant insight on everything about peaches for guinea pigs.
What Are the Health Benefits of Guinea Pigs Eating Peaches?
One thing about peaches is they are richly colored fruits and life-sustaining powerhouses for both guinea pigs and their owners.
1. Peaches Are High in Vitamin C
Just like humans, guinea pigs have a mutation that makes them not produce vitamin C naturally. For this reason, guinea pigs have to outsource this vital vitamin from the foods they ingest. Guinea pigs require about 10 to 30 mg of vitamin C every day, or they can develop scurvy, a lack of vitamin C.
Thankfully, peaches are a great source of vitamin C. This vitamin is essential because it helps maintain healthy cartilage, coat, fur, and cell function in the pet’s body. It also helps regulate body metabolism, prevent the pigs from getting too cold, aid in digestion, and boosting immunity.
Although peaches shouldn’t make the animal’s major vitamin C source, it is a fun and healthy treat.
The good thing is that peaches won’t cause any problem if you accidentally feed your piggy too much of it at first. After all, guinea pigs can’t produce or store the vitamin-meaning; the pet will eliminate the excess through urine.
2. They Are Rich in Antioxidants That Can Combat Certain Cancers
Peach skin and flesh are packed with antioxidants, which help prevent free radicals from forming, protect the pet’s body against diseases and delay the aging process. Peaches also reduce the cancer risk, thanks to the anticancer antioxidants known as caffeic acid and carotenoids.
Allow your piggy friend to eat peach skin as long as you wash it thoroughly to eliminate germs and bacteria. Aim to give them organic peaches as they are free from pesticides.
3. These Fruits Contain Low Amounts Calcium and Phosphorus
Although calcium and phosphorus are vital minerals in any animal’s body, high doses of these nutrients can harm the animal.
Peaches have little calcium and low phosphorus levels, making them safe for your piggy to eat. Since most pet store snacks pack high amounts of these minerals, you can replace them with peaches.
4. Peaches Are Low in Fat
Unfortunately, guinea pigs are prone to obesity and heart diseases if they feed on excess fats from plants such as nuts. For this reason, these pets require a low-fat and high-fiber diet.
Your pet will enjoy peaches without you worrying about its weight because these fruits have no saturated fats and have low cholesterol levels.
5. They Are a Source of Hydration
If you want to help boost your piggy’s fluid intake, use peaches. These fruits are refreshing and hydrating because they are 80 % water.
6. This Fruit Is Rich in Nutrients
Peaches pass the test of being nutrient-dense fruits. Besides vitamin C, they have vitamin K, E, magnesium, manganese, folate, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, iron, niacin, and choline.
Also, baby guinea pigs can benefit from this composition plus the fruit’s calories to acquire sufficient energy required for growth and development.
Similarly, you can take advantage of these nutrients to treat a sick or anorexic piggy and help it gain sufficient energy to survive.
Risks to Consider When Feeding Peaches to Guinea Pigs
1. High Amounts of Sugar
As much as peaches are safe for guinea pigs to eat, parents should not allow their pets to overfeed them because of their sugar content (8–100 grams).
Although it may not appear like a big deal for humans, it poses threats to guinea pigs. First off, pigs are intolerant to sugar, and their intestinal tract has trouble digesting such foods.
Too much sugar can also expose guinea pigs to weight-related issues like obesity and diabetes, especially since they are prone to overweight.
2. High Amounts of Acid
Along with high sugar content, peaches are also acidic, making the fruit not suitable for pigs. Unfortunately, guinea pigs are allergic to acidic foods, and peaches contain a decent amount of this substance.
The natural acid in a peach fruit can cause mouth and lip sores and fungal infections, suggesting that peach should be more of an occasional treat than a primary meal.
3. Chemicals
Although peach skin packs many antioxidants, this plant can harm your pet guinea pig, especially if you don’t wash thoroughly beforehand. Unless you grow peach fruits in your own garden and never spray with pesticides, peel the skin off and only provide your pet the flesh.
You should do this if you don’t trust the source you bought the fruits since most farmers lase fruits with pesticides. These chemicals are problematic, unsafe, and toxic to any pet.
It would still be best to wash these fruits thoroughly before feeding your pet, even if they are organic and from a reputable source. Any bacteria on the peach skin can intoxicate your pet and affect its digestive system.
How Much Peach Is Safe for Guinea Pigs?
Guinea pigs don’t often overeat, and if they do, it is not life-threatening. However, responsible piggy parents should set a strict limit on how much fruit their pets can eat.
Do not makes peaches a guinea pig’s staple or leading food, as you do not want your pet to develop stomach flu or pack on weight.
How you introduce your pig to peaches depends on the pet’s activity levels, dietary needs, and underlying medical conditions. Avoid peach fruits if your guinea pig is on the chubbier side.
Introduce your animal to peaches bit by bit every week to allow it to adjust to the new food. Once it does, it is safe to feed it a few slices once or twice per week but not in succession.
You should also serve depending on age, as young guinea pigs require small sizes while the adult can get a chunkier portion.
It would also be best to remember not to serve the seed in the pitch to your animal. Always remove the pit and only offer the flesh as pits contain high amounts of harmful cyanide.
Final Thoughts
Establishing a safe diet for guinea pigs can be difficult since they are picky eaters. However, almost all guinea pigs crave peaches, and it is safe to offer them these fruits. Nothing can go wrong if you treat it as an occasional snack, probably once a week.
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