Guinea pigs are herbivores that feed on grasses and foliage in their natural environment. Therefore, these pets do not consume meat but should instead receive daily pellets, hay, fresh green vegetables & herbs in small amounts for nourishment.
Potatoes, belonging to the nightshade family, can be harmful for guinea pigs as they contain too many alkaloids and solanine that cause diarrhea, stomach upsets and in some instances even death.
Potatoes
Are You New to Guinea Pig Ownership and Wondering Whether Potato Peelings Are Safe? Unfortunately, no – and it is essential that new owners understand this before beginning feeding their cavies any type of vegetable foods (ie potatoes).
Reasons that potato peelings should not be fed to guinea pigs include their high concentration of starch and carbohydrates that could damage their digestive systems as well as their high concentration of alkaloids, which could be toxic and lead to serious health problems for their inhabitants.
Potato peelings should never be given to guinea pigs to ingest because they contain highly poisonous solanine toxins that could potentially wreak havoc with their digestive systems.
Even when cooked, potato peelings should never be fed to your guinea pig as they do not contain enough carbohydrates for proper nutrition and may contain added pollutants that harm their health.
If your guinea pig is overweight or underweight, feeding cooked potatoes in small amounts could help them gain weight with no harmful side effects. Make sure to use a clean towel or kitchen roll to remove any extra water from peels before offering them to your guinea pig for eating.
Guinea pigs are herbivorous animals, meaning that they enjoy eating plants and fruits such as grass. Their daily diet usually consists of hay, fresh veggies and guinea pig pellets.
Sweet potatoes can also provide extra vitamins and minerals while helping prevent scurvy.
But sweet potatoes should not be consumed in large amounts by guinea pigs as they contain too many carbohydrates and fats that could potentially be hazardous for their health, possibly leading to chronic illness or even leading to their demise.
When feeding a Cavy cooked sweet potatoes, make sure they’re fully-cooked without their skin in order to prevent it from choking and inflicting serious injury to their throats. This will keep them safe.
Potato peels contain vitamin C, potassium and fiber; additionally they’re an excellent source of iron – essential for red blood cell production!
Although potato skin contains plenty of beneficial nutrients, giving your cavies large quantities may not be safe due to it being too difficult for them to digest. The main reason is they’re just too tough.
Blockages in their digestive system may result in them becoming sick or developing other health issues.
Guinea pigs can get the vitamins and minerals they require through other safe means, including hay, vegetables, or a special pellet food made just for them.
Your only way to guarantee that your cavy is receiving all the vitamins and nutrients they require is through providing it with a balanced, nutritional diet – this may involve feeding it timothy hay, grasses and herbs, fresh veggies or pellets.
