Apples have some of the highest amounts of sugar compared to other fruits but guinea pigs can eat them. It’s vital you feed your guinea pig apples in moderation.
Lets dive right in to look at what types and parts of an apple you can feed a guinea pig, how much and how often you should feed them and more.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples?
Yes, they can eat apples.
Apples can be a great source of nutrients and vitamin C for your guinea pig. However, apples contain some of the highest amount of sugar compared to other fruits so you need to be careful with how much apple you’re feeding your pet. You should try and maintain a balanced diet for your guinea pig.
Benefits & Hazards of Feeding Guinea Pigs Apples
A guinea pig can eat multiple parts of the apple but there are some parts you need to watch out for.
The most important part of an apple to feed a guinea pig is the skin. The skin contains all of the nutrients whereas the other parts are mostly sugar. To get the best nutritional value out of apples, do not peel them. The skin of the apple is high in fiber, vitamin C and several other vitamins and antioxidants vital to keeping your guinea pig healthy.
The vitamins found in apples will greatly benefit your pig’s nervous system, bones and fur. An apple can provide your guinea pig with the following vitamins:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A, K & E
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Folate
- Beta Carotene
Even though apples can provide a lot of value to your guinea pig, it does come with some downsides. As mentioned, apples have tons of sugar in them and sugar can be deathly for guinea pigs in large amounts. You’ll want to monitor your guinea pig’s sugar intake and weight gain or loss. If they start to drastically gain or lose weight you should get your pet to the veterinarian.
You should avoid giving your guinea pig any of the fruit seeds or core of the apple. The seeds in an apple contain a poison called cyanide and it can be deathly to your guinea pig.
Along with sugar and poison in the seeds, apples can be very acidic to your guinea pig and you should feed them in moderation and with small chunks. Too much apple can make your guinea pig sick and cause diarrhea.
You should never give your guinea pigs cooked apples or processed apples. You should only feed your guinea pig raw apples. As apples are cooked it introduces other chemicals to the process that can hurt your guinea pig and make them very sick.
When Can Guinea Pigs Start Eating Apples?
You shouldn’t feed newborn or baby guinea pigs apples as they are continuing to develop. A general rule of thumb is to wait until the guinea pig is at least 6 months old for small chunks and amounts and over 1 year for anything larger than a few chunks.
As a newborn guinea pig they should only be eating hay, pellets and drinking their mother’s milk. Food high in sugar can hurt their developing digestive system.
Recommended Serving Sizes & Methods
It is very important to not overfeed your guinea pig. You should not feed your guinea pig apples every day. Instead you should save them for a special occasion.
A guinea pig’s digestive track won’t have enough time to digest and store all the sugar provided in apples. If you continue to feed them apples the sugar will compound and they will gain weight.
You should not feed your guinea pig a full apple and instead only give them a half a cup of apple chunks. As you feed them you’ll want to watch for diarrhea or bloating.
If your guinea pig gets diarrhea or bloating after eating apples it shouldn’t last long. If it lasts beyond a normal time period you should speak to your vet. Make sure your guinea pig is drinking plenty of water as they eat the apple to help digest it.
Best Type of Apples for Guinea Pigs
Not every apple is good or even safe for guinea pigs. Generally, most apples you can buy from a store are good enough for a guinea pig to consume in small amounts.
You should try to feed your guinea pig green apples, or “Granny Smith Apples”. These apples are healthier for them and contain antioxidants and vitamins. Be careful with green apples as eating too much of them can cause stomach problems because of the acidity.
If you don’t have green apples, red apples can be just as good. These apples are usually sweeter and juicier than green apples so your guinea pig may like them more causing them to over eat. These apples are just as good as green apples and are filled with antioxidants and vitamins.
You should avoid crab apples, apple cider vinegar and apple juice. A crab apple won’t hurt your guinea pig but they aren’t as rich as other apples with vitamins and antioxidants. You should avoid apple cider vinegar and apple juice as the liquid is too acidic for them.
If your guinea pig is having troubles eating apples or having troubles after eating an apple you should speak with your vet. In small moderation, apples can be a great treat for your guinea pig and provide several antioxidants and vitamins to keep them healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Cores?
No, guinea pigs should not eat the core of an apple. The core of an apple contains the seeds which are very poisonous to guinea pigs, especially if they eat too many.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Seeds?
No, guinea pigs should not be eating apple seeds. The apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide which can become toxic if they eat too many. It’s best to just avoid feeding them apple cores entirely.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Applesauce?
No, you should not feed your guinea pigs applesauce. You want to avoid giving your guinea pig any processed foods as they typically contain other ingredients not healthy for pets. Plus, as the apples are cooked it will change the molecular structure of the apple adding in other contaminants to the process that can make them sick, such as vinegar.