Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple?

How Often Can You Feed Your Guinea Pig Pineapples?

Pineapples should be fed in small amounts on an occasional basis to avoid health issues in guinea pigs.

Pineapples can be used to add balance to your guinea pig’s diet. A few little cubes less than an inch is enough for a single guinea pig once or twice a week. Any piece of pineapple that is left uneaten in the cage should be removed once they are done feeding to keep the cage and environment clean.

Benefits of Pineapple for Guinea Pigs

Pineapples provide a lot of benefits for guinea pigs but keep in mind you want to do small portions. A key benefit to pineapple is that it has less sugar in it that some other fruits.

By giving your guinea pig pineapple you can:

1. Help build a strong & active immune system.
2. Promote cardiovascular health.
3. Help prevent disease.
4. Help improve blood clotting.
5. Help prevent scurvy.
6. Provide antioxidants.
7. Help with digestion.
8. Help with arthritis.

Pineapples are full of vital nutrients that boost your guinea pig’s immune system. This can help them fight any diseases or illnesses they may run into. The magnesium in pineapple is great for their cardiovascular health and helps keep their heart and other main organs functioning.

Just like with other fruits, pineapple is a great source of vitamin c for your guinea pig. Guinea pigs, like several other small animals, can not product their own vitamin c. They will need to get vitamin c from their diet.

Health Risks with Pineapples & Guinea Pigs

Even though pineapple is one of the better fruits for guinea pigs, you’ll want to be careful with how much pineapple you’re feeding them. If you feed them large quantities of pineapple it can lead to some major health issues.

Too much pineapple can lead to:

• Kidney problems. Kidney problems are actually very common in guinea pigs. Pineapple has a large amount of calcium in it and a high amount of calcium can lead to kidney stones as guinea pigs have a hard time breaking down all the excess nutrients.
• Diarrhea. Guinea pigs have a weak digestive track compared to other small animals. They can’t handle large portions of many foods and they have a hard time processing sugar. Diarrhea can become a serious problem if untreated and cause dehydration making your guinea pig even sicker.
• Obesity. For any food, overfeeding your guinea pig can lead to weight issues and unhealthy lifestyles. Guinea pigs can gain weight very easily and being overweight will diminish their health greatly and lead to many health problems such as heart issues, high blood pressure, arthritis and more.
• Bloating. Bloat is the formation of gas in your guinea pig’s stomach and can occur from overeating. Bloat can be very painful and even deadly to guinea pigs if it hinders their ability to breathe.
• Mouth sores. Since pineapples are more acidic than other fruits it can lead to irritation in your guinea pig’s mouth which can turn into lesions. If your guinea pig has lesions they will be less likely to eat which can cause issues with their weight and overall health. You’ll likely have to provide your guinea pig with a liquid diet and should talk to a vet immediately.

How to Prepare the Pineapple

You’ll want to choose a pineapple that is ripe and soft. You’ll want to avoid any pineapple that isn’t ripened or is well beyond the suggested date to consume.

Try to only use fresh fruit and nothing canned or processed already. This allows you to thoroughly wash the pineapple to remove any pesticides and it helps you control what your guinea pig is eating.

Steps to prepare the pineapple for your guinea pig:

1. Thoroughly was the entire pineapple to remove all dirt and debris.
2. Remove the top of the pineapple and discard.
3. Remove the skin of the pineapple and discard.
4. Remove the core of the pineapple and discard.
5. Chop up what is left into a quarter inch size and serve it to your guinea pig.

Make sure you taste test the pineapple before giving it to your guinea pig. You want to give the pineapple that is sweet and tangy. If the pineapple is unripened or tastes sour it can update your guinea pig or be hard for them to process.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple Skin?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig the skin of a pineapple. It is very rough and dry and causes irritation in their mouths.

The skin can also cause problems with your guinea pig’s digestive system as it will be hard for their bodies to work through it. Because it’s so rough and dry, they may have trouble swallowing it and it will lead to choking.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple Leaves?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig the leaves from a pineapple. The leaves are very coarse and contain sharp edges that may damage the mouth or digestive system as your guinea pig processes them causing internal bleeding.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple Core?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig the core of a pineapple. The core is very thick and tough to chew through. You could end up damaging your guinea pig’s teeth and their stomach may not be able to break down the core. This will lead to constipation and can hurt their intestines.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple Sage?

There is no research or data saying if pineapple sage is safe to eat for animals or not. It is generally considered safe to eat in small quantities. You should feed it to your guinea pig in small amounts and monitor how they react and rush them to a vet if they get sick or are having problems.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple Tops?

No, you should not feed your guinea pig the top of a pineapple. The leaves of the pineapple are very coarse and can cause irritations in your guinea pig’s mouth and digestive track.

Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple?

You should avoid giving your baby guinea pig any special food or treats until their body has developed. This is typically around 9-12 months. It’s recommended to wait until they are at least a year old before giving them any food outside of a normal diet with hay and pellets.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Pineapple?

Yes, they can eat canned pineapple but you should avoid it and choose fresh pineapple. As pineapple is canned more sugar is added to the mix to help preserve it and make them sweeter. Many companies will also add other preservatives to help keep the pineapple fresh which can hurt your guinea pig.

Article Sources & Research

1. Cosgrove, N. (2022, July 18). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapples? What You Need to Know! Pet Keen. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://petkeen.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-pineapples/
2. Jess. (2021, May 17). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple? Vet Explains Pets. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://vetexplainspets.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-pineapple/
3. Rhodes, T. (2022, March 31). Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pineapple? (Serving Size, Hazards & More). My Pet Guinea Pig. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://mypetguineapig.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-pineapple/