Guinea pigs are among the furriest and most adorable pets kept by many individuals. And maintaining their health, you need to nourish them with healthy foods. Generally, celery is a fresh vegetable that is rich in many different kinds of nutrients. Many guinea pig owners disagree on whether to offer them celery or not.
So, can a guinea pig feed on celery? The simple answer is yes. Feeding celery to our guinea pigs is typically good and safe. Besides, it comprises an ample amount of vitamins and other valuable minerals to enhance their overall health. According to the veterinarians, they commend feeding our pigs celery on an occasional basis since it contains a lot of oxalates.
Without further ado, allow me to take you through a quick guide to answer your burning question about feeding guinea pigs celery.
Is Celery Safe For The Guinea Pigs?
As I have said earlier, celery is safe and beneficial to guinea pigs in many ways. Celery is hydrating, and rich in different categories of minerals such as vitamins C, K, and A. Furthermore, it’s a good source of fiber.
Generally, guinea pigs cannot create or store their vitamin C., and this means they require a constant source of vitamin C to improve their health. Vitamin C aids maintain connective tissue and is also an essential element for keeping organs healthy.
What Are the Benefits of Feeding Guinea Pigs Celery?
Celery is rich in nutrients that the guinea pigs can benefit from. Below are some benefits of feeding celery to them:
Lowers inflammation: Naturally, celery is rich in beneficial anti-inflammatory compounds which benefit our guinea pigs. It can aid them to prevent inflammation of cells, vital organs, and blood vessels.
Enhances eyesight: As celery is rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, this is vital for maintaining overall healthy vision in guinea pigs. Generally, this type of pig has degenerating eyesight; thus, offering them nutrition rich in vitamin A will aid slow down their degeneration procedure and maintaining healthy vision.
Fights against diseases: The vitamins and antioxidants in celery can help fight against different diseases that may attack guinea pigs. It contains around 22 compounds that tend to prevent various diseases and strengthen the immune system.
What Are Some Drawbacks of Feeding Guinea Pigs Celery?
Like most vegetables, celery does have some drawbacks for guinea pigs. However, it is usually in excess amount to cause them issues.
Below are some issues your guinea pigs may have when eating celery:
Diarrhea: This is among the most known health problem diagnosed among guinea pigs. This is because these pigs are unable to digest complex food appropriately. However, adding nourishment rich in complex minerals and vitamins into our guinea pig’s diet might often cause diarrhea. Thus, ensure you introduce celery slowly and also feed them a small amount to avoid health problems.
Stone formation: Besides, bladder stone is another common issue of diagnosis in guinea pigs. Celery is rich in oxalic acid and calcium, which can cause the formation of bladder stones, specifically when fed in excess. Thus, make sure you mix them with other related low-calcium veggies to avoid such health problems.
Urinary problems: Naturally, celery contains oxalic acid and calcium, which lead to urinary issues in guinea pigs. Therefore, it would be better to feed your pig’s small amount of celery too.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Celery?
Baby guinea should not be fed any celery. Their digestive system has not developed enough to be able to digest the vegetable.
Instead of giving them celery, baby guinea pigs should be fed mostly Timothy hay and their mother’s milk. This will continue until they are about 3 weeks old.
Once they are about 3 weeks a week, you can start to feed them celery. Give them a piece of celery that’s mashed. Make sure to remove the fiber from the celery as it is too tough for them to eat it.
Let the baby guinea pigs eat the celery and wait 24 hours to see if they have any allergic reactions. If they do, they will have diarrhea or an upset stomach. You should stop feeding them celery from this point on.
On the other hand, if there is no allergic reaction, you can continue to feed them celery. Only give them a small piece of celery that’s mashed, once a week until they are an adult.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cooked Celery?
Basically, guinea pigs are herbivores. Thus, they nibble on leafy greens and grasses, and it is very rare for them to encounter any cooked food. Besides, veterinarians advise nourishing your pigs with raw and fresh vegetables since they offer them dental wear, a lot of nutrients, and are also essential for oral health.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery Stems or Leaves?
Both leaves and stems are safe for your guinea pig. However, experts commend on leaves, offer them the recommended amount, and remove the uneaten portions right from their cages.
How Much Celery Can a Guinea Pig Eat?
Due to celery nutrients, it would not be great as an everyday food for our cavies. But feeding them 2 and 3 times per week is typically acceptable.
Consider mixing small celery pieces (1/6 size of stalk) right in plenty of leafy vegetables, a small amount of fruit when feeding your pig to ensure a balanced diet.
How To Prepare Celery For Your Guinea Pigs
It is clear and straightforward; below are immediate steps to follow:
- Get a new slice of celery and cut it
- Wash the remaining leaf and stalk under running water to remove all toxins
- Besides, remove it by making a slight cut at the top and peel off the celery stalks with fibrous threads.
- Cut the celery into small pieces. If it’s for baby guinea pigs, you need to mash them first.
Recommended feed is 1/6 the leaves and stalks, combine with other vegetables when preparing.
Lastly, to deter rat and flight infestation in a cage, you should remove all uneaten celery from the cage.
What Other Vegetables Can Guinea Pigs Eat
Carrots
Carrot can a good amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and beta-carotene, which is all essential for healthy growth. Due to a moderate amount of sugar, carrots should be fed to the guinea pigs in moderation.
Spinach
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that contains many nutrients that the guinea pigs can benefit from. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C, which is important since guinea pigs are not able to synthesize or store it. However, spinach also contains calcium and oxalate acid, which can be harmful to them if fed in excess. For that reason, you should only serve spinach to the cavies in moderation.
Radishes
Radishes are great for guinea pigs since it’s nutrient-rich, yet low in calories. With this vegetable, you can feed the radishes along with their skin and leaves. Avoid feeding them radishes in large amounts. It contains a decent amount of calcium and oxalate, which can harm guinea pigs.
Conclusion
Are you among guinea pig owners always looking for fun ways to provide them small treats to eventually enrich their overall health? A perfect and healthy way to do this is by giving them celery. Consider the above guide to ultimately understand the right and healthy way to feed your guinea pigs celery.