Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango?

How Often Can Guinea Pigs Consume Mangoes?

Your guinea pig can consume mango a few times per week but you should be cautious with how much you’re feeding them since mangoes have tons of sugar in them.

You should try to keep your guinea pig’s diet as balanced as possible and full of hay and grass to help balance out any special treats.
Try to feed your guinea pig only one or two small cubes of mangoes at a time. If your guinea pig is already overweight you should avoid mango and feed them something a bit healthier for their diet. Giving your guinea pig zucchini is a great alternative to mango.

Benefits Of Mangoes For Guinea Pigs

Mangoes are one of the richest fruits in terms of valuable nutrients such as vitamins and antioxidants.

Guinea pigs can get the following from eating mango:

1. Vitamin B6 – Mangoes are one of the best sources of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 helps lower stress and is a great snack for female guinea pigs during pregnancy.
2. Vitamin A – The flesh of a mango is very rich in vitamin A to help boost the immune system, vision and reproductive aspects of guinea pigs.
3. Vitamin C – The most important vitamin a guinea pig needs is vitamin C. Guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C and require it through their diet. It’s crucial you give your guinea pig vitamin C through their diet or they will get sick often.
4. Low Calcium – The low calcium content of mangoes makes them a great choice as a treat. Having low calcium makes mangoes less likely to lead to bladder or kidney stones in your guinea pig.
5. Antioxidants – Mangoes provide a lot of antioxidants to guinea pigs. These are special chemical compounds that help the body fight infections, improve tissue health and help detoxify the body from unwanted substances.
6. Low Fat – Mangoes have very little fat in them helping to control the cholesterol level of cavies.
7. Magnesium & Potassium – Mangoes are packed with these two minerals that help with inflammation, the nervous system, blood sugar levels and several other common bodily functions.
8. Fiber – By eating a mango your guinea pig will consume around 2 grams of fiber. The fiber will help your guinea pig’s digestive system just like it would a human.

Health Risks with Mangoes and Guinea Pigs

Even though mangoes can come with tons of value for guinea pigs, they do have a few watchouts you should keep in mind.

Compared to other fruits, mangoes have some of the most sugar. If your guinea pig has too much mango in their diet it can lead to high levels of blood sugar and even obesity. The fastest way to shorten your guinea pig’s lifespan is for it to have weight issues.

The other health risks with mangoes are tied to general care. Mangoes can sometimes be tough for guinea pigs to mash through so try to feed them mango in sizable chunks. Just like with every other food you will want to watch for any allergic reactions your guinea pig may have.

How to Prepare Mango for Your Guinea Pig

Before giving your guinea pig mango you will need to properly prepare it. Proper preparation is important to avoid potential hazards or health risks as guinea pigs can get sick very easily.

You should prepare your mango by:

1. Thoroughly washing the mango and rinsing with water. Do not use soap or other chemicals and just rinse with basic water to help remove any chemicals that the farmers spray on them.
2. Remove the peel and leaves of the mango before cutting it.
3. Cut the fleshy part of the mango into 1 inch or smaller cubes that your guinea pig can chew. Use your best judgment on size.
4. Proceed to give your guinea pig their mango in their cage like you do other food. If this is the first time, make sure to watch them for any choking or allergic reactions.
5. After your guinea pig has finished eating you’ll want to remove the extra mango to avoid any fungal growth or insects showing up like ants or flies.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Skin?

Guinea pigs can eat mango skins but there are some health risks associated with it so it is best to avoid it. If you do feed it to your guinea pig you should do so in small chunks and only small amounts.

Common risks associated with eating mango skin:

• Risk of choking
• Low digestibility 
• Toxicity (due to chemical sprays on mango skins)
• Urinary problems due to high concentration of minerals 
• Allergic reactions

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Seeds?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig the seeds of a mango. The seeds are hard and can become a choke hazard if ingested.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Unripe Mangoes?

Yes, you can feed your guinea pig unripe mangoes but you should likely avoid it. An unripened mango contains sap that can cause irritation and make it hard to swallow. It can also lead to digestion and stomach issues.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Mangoes?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig canned mangoes. During the canning process a lot of preservatives are added to help keep the fruit fresh that can harm your pet. To keep the fruit sweet and tasty they will also add quite a bit of sugar that can lead to weight issues and diabetes.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Frozen Mangoes?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig frozen mangoes. The frozen mangoes will likely be too hard for them to mash through causing damage to your guinea pig’s teeth and can cause cold burns in their mouth or tongue leading to sores.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Tree Leaves?

No, you should never let your guinea pig eat the leaves of a mango tree. The leaves have a chemical compound called Urushiol that will cause a reaction in guinea pigs similar to if they had an allergy to mango.

This chemical can lead to a severe skin allergy causing blisters to form all over the body.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Mangoes?

No, you should avoid feeding your guinea pigs dried mangoes. During the drying process a lot of preservatives are added to them and they typically have up to 5 times more sugar than fresh mango. You should alway try to feed your guinea pig fresh mango.

Article Sources & Research

1. Cosgrove, N. (2022, July 18). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango? What You Need to Know! Pet Keen. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://petkeen.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-mango/
2. Jess. (2021, May 17). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango? Vet Explains Pets. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://vetexplainspets.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-mango/
3. Moolbrock, C. (2022a, January 6). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango? (Benefits, Risks, Serving Size & More). Guinea Pig Tube. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.guineapigtube.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-mango/
4. Moolbrock, C. (2022b, January 6). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Skin? (Risks, Nutrition Facts & More). Guinea Pig Tube. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.guineapigtube.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-mango-skin/
5. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango (n.d.). Squeaksscalesandtails. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://squeaksscalesandtails.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-mango/
6. Rhodes, T. (2022, March 31). Can Guinea Pigs Have Mango (Serving Size, Hazards & More)? My Pet Guinea Pig. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://mypetguineapig.com/can-guinea-pigs-have-mango/