Peanut butter holds nutritional benefits for humans. Pure, additive-free peanut butter may help lower bad cholesterol, promote good blood vessel function, improve heart health, and even reduce the risk of developing diabetes 1. But what about your guinea pig? Can guinea pigs eat this nutritional food?
Unfortunately, the answer is no, you should not feed your guinea pig peanut butter. Given that peanut butter holds nutritional value for humans, it does not do the same for guinea pigs. Read on to learn why you should avoid giving your guinea pig friend peanut butter.
The 4 Reasons Why You Should Not Give Peanut Butter to Your Guinea Pig
For starters, peanut butter can be a choking hazard to guinea pigs. The thick consistency is hard for guinea pigs to swallow and can stick to the roof of their mouths or the back of their throats. That alone is a reason not to give peanut butter. Let’s look at more reasons why you should never give your guinea pig peanut butter.
1. Causes Gastrointestinal Problems
Peanut butter is high in fats, sugars, and some fiber. Guinea pigs do require a good amount of fiber in their diets, but it should come from a healthy source, such as hay and vegetables 2.
Guinea pigs require both digestible and indigestible fiber, and peanut butter only provides one. The result is an imbalance that causes loose stools, stomach pain, and gas, which could stop gut motility, which is a very life-threatening situation for a guinea pig. Fats and sugars are not meant for a guinea pig to consume, and peanut butter is high in both.
2. Can Cause Obesity
Peanut butter is high in calories, which can make your guinea pig obese. A teaspoon of peanut butter has approximately 32 calories. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s a lot for a guinea pig to consume just from one source.
3. Can Cause Bladder Stones
Peanut butter is high in calcium. A tablespoon of peanut butter contains around 8 milligrams of calcium3. Which is a lot for a guinea pig. While guinea pigs require calcium to prevent calcium deficiencies, which is a common problem, too much can cause kidney and bladder stones. If left untreated, too much calcium can lead to renal failure 4.
4. Can Cause Diabetes
As we’ve mentioned, peanut butter is high in sugar, and anything high in sugar can cause diabetes in guinea pigs 5. Though guinea pigs require carbohydrates in their diet, they don’t handle the rapid blood spikes associated with peanut butter well. Therefore, they should obtain their carbohydrates from species-appropriate sources, such as hay.
What Snacks Can You Feed Guinea Pigs?
Now that we know peanut butter is out of the question, what snacks can you feed your guinea pig? Luckily, you can provide plenty of safe and healthy foods as snacks that you probably already have around the house. However, one important thing to remember is to always provide treats in moderation.
That said, here are some snacks your pig will surely love:
Guinea pigs require a cup of fresh mixed vegetables on a daily basis. When offering your guinea pigs vegetables, it is best to incorporate a very high variety of raw vegetable mixes (consider a mix comprising at least 5-7 types of vegetables) rather than offering just one or two vegetables each day.
Only feed fruits three to four times per week as a treat due to high sugar content.
Final Thoughts
Processed food such as peanut butter is not healthy for guinea pigs and should not be offered to them.
Always feed your guinea pig a well-balanced diet of hay, guinea pig pellets, and vegetables. Hay should be offered in unlimited amounts, and the other parts of their diets should be portioned and served with a morning and evening feeding schedule. Guinea pigs are herbivores, meaning they eat plants for a healthy diet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them fruits as snacks.
Guinea pigs will overeat if you let them, so ensuring you don’t overfeed is critical for their overall health. Remember to always provide fresh water for your pig, and avoid peanut butter at all costs.
- Related Reads: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Crackers? Vet-Approved Risks & FAQ
