Guinea pigs can safely eat peaches.
While peach is healthy, it doesn’t mean you can let your pet have a large bowl of peaches; it can negatively affect your guinea pig’s health.
So, it’s best to feed peaches in moderation to avoid facing any health problems.
Read to learn more about peaches and the potential risks of feeding them to your guinea pigs.
Table of Contents
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peaches?
Guinea pigs can eat peaches, but they should be in a small amount. Peaches are high in sugar content which is not good for your cavy.
Sugar can negatively affect your guinea pig’s health; it can cause obesity, diabetes, and other health issues.
Another reason is that a significant amount of sugar in a guinea pig diet can damage the gut flora of guinea pigs result; in digestive issues such as upset stomach and diarrhea.
Moreover, peaches contain more acidity than any other fruit, which is harmful in excess quantity and can cause sores in the mouth and other serious health issues.
So, feel free to share some pieces with your little cavy but make sure you do not feed more than 1-2 slices of peaches that are sufficient for the day!
Is Peach Healthy For Guinea Pigs?
Peaches are rich in essential nutrients and quite popular for their sweet flavor. They can be eaten raw, used in salads or in cooking.
Peaches are not only sweet and delicious, but also it has several health benefits like, it aids in digestion, prevents scurvy, protects from cancer, reduces inflammation and boosts immunity.
Peaches have many nutritional benefits such as:
A medium peach (100g) contains vitamin A, C, E and K, niacin, potassium, magnesium, folate, iron, choline, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper.
Peach is lightweight, and a fresh medium raw peach has only 39 calories (100g peach), and the flesh is 89% of water, 10% carbohydrate with little protein and no saturated fat [Source].
Antioxidant Properties:
Peach is packed with antioxidant properties, especially in their skin and flesh. This antioxidant property (carotenoids and caffeic acid) plays an important role in protecting your pet from cancer.
Scurvy Prevention:
Most mammals can make their own vitamin C except humans and some other mammals like guinea pigs, so they rely on foods like peaches and other sources to fulfil their daily requirements.
Vitamin C is crucial for guinea pigs; it prevents scurvy. It’s a medical condition that usually occurs due to vitamin C deficiency.
Symptoms may include lethargy, joint pain, weakness, weight loss, dental issues, diarrhea, and a rough coat.
Moreover, vitamin C helps them to regular their metabolism, aids in digestion and prevents them from getting cold.
Reduce Inflammation:
The anti-inflammatory compounds of peaches are highly effective in fighting different types of inflammation inside the body.
Two major plant-based polyphenols and prebiotics can decrease inflammation, slow ageing and other chronic diseases.
Boosts Immunity:
Peach contains some critical vitamins like A, C, E, and K, which are essential to keep your pet’s body healthy and functioning.
The high amount of vitamin C and A of peach protects guinea pigs from several diseases and strengthens their immune system.
Good For Digestion:
Peach contains a moderate amount of fiber (amount 2 grams of fiber) which is essential for the digestive system of your cavy.
It prevents constipation, helps maintain their digestive tracts, and improves bowel movement.
Risks To Consider
While peaches are healthy for guinea pigs, they do have some downside as well. Peaches contain a moderate amount of sugar; ingesting excess sugar is not good for guinea pigs.
Their digestive system is somehow similar to ours, but they struggle to digest sugar, resulting in constipation, diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Peaches are high in sugar content, leading your pet to diabetes, overweight, and other related health issues.
Besides, peaches contain acids that are not suitable for guinea pigs; eating a certain amount of peaches can have side effects like mouth and lip sours, fungal infections, and other health issues.
Lastly, peaches gown for commercial use often contain harmful chemicals and pesticides that are unsafe, and some are even more dangerous.
So, it would be best to wash the fruit thoroughly, peel the skin off, and only feed your pet the flesh to avoid facing any medical issues.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peaches With skin?
Guinea pigs can safely eat peaches with their skin on. They are non-toxic and edible.
The skin of the peach is soft, and your pet shouldn’t have any problem digesting it.
In fact, they contain several healthy vitamins, which make them healthy.
Some peaches, most likely bought from supermarkets, are often grown with harmful chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides that could potentially harm your pets.
In this case, you should wash the fruit thoroughly to remove dirt, chemicals or pesticides that might be used while farming.
However, if the peaches are grown organically, then you can feed peaches with their skin for the most health benefits.
Can Guinea Pigs eat Peach Stem And Leaves?
Not really!
Guinea pigs shouldn’t eat raw stems and leaves of the peaches. They contain a chemical compound called amygdalin which turns into cyanide once ingested.
Peaches stems and leaves can get stuck in their mouth and can be a choking hazard.
So, I highly recommend you avoid these and opt for other healthy options for your guinea pigs to chew on.
Can Guinea Pigs Chew On Peach Pits?
Guinea pigs won’t likely chew on peach pits. The seeds are quite large and hard and don’t taste as good as a peach.
The peach seed is quite large and slippery, which could be a choking hazard, and you should never offer it to your pets.
Lastly, the size of a peach seed is relatively large and not that appealing or tasty, so your pet won’t even try to eat it.
How To Serve Peaches To Your Guinea Pigs?
Guinea pigs will eat peaches the way it is, but to ensure safety, I recommend preparing it for them.
Always choose a ripe peach; otherwise, your pet will not eat it. Unripe or half-ripe peach is too bitter and acidic for them.
Caution: while peaches have many health benefits, anything in excess can be harmful.
So, it would be best if you don’t feed peaches more than twice or thrice in a week moderately.
Here are simple steps:
- Firstly, wash the peach thoroughly to remove harmful chemicals or pesticides used during the farming.
- Next, you will need to chop the peach in half and remove the skin and seeds.
- Cut the flesh into several bite-size pieces so that your guinea pig can safely eat it.
- Serve it to your little cavy.
- If your cavy doesn’t eat all of their fruits within 12 to 24 hours, you should remove and dispose of it.
If you are feeding peach for the first time, offer them a smaller piece and see if they like it or not.
This will also ensure whether they have any kind of allergies to this fruit. If you notice constipation, diarrhea or upset stomach, immediately stop feeding them.
However, if everything is fine, you can treat your little cavy with delicious sweet peaches once a while in a week.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Peach?
No, guinea pigs shouldn’t eat canned peaches.
Canned peach may contain added sugar to increase its sweetness which is dangerous for your pet.
Too much sugar can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and other health issues.
Another reason is that they contain additives and many preservatives to keep them fresh and increase their shelf life, but it can cause several short and long-term health complications.
So, if your guinea pig loves eating peaches, always opt for fresh and organic peaches.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Frozen Peaches?
Not really!
While frozen peach is not toxic, I do not recommend feeding it to your pet. Frozen peach may become hard due to cold, which is not good for your guinea pig.
And frozen fruits often absorb more water than usual which could be harmful to your pet as too much water can cause bloating and diarrhea.
However, if you even plan to give frozen peach to your cavy, give them a tiny piece and make sure they are at room temperature and not cold.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Peach?
Guinea pigs can eat dried peaches, but I don’t recommend it. Dried peaches may not be that nutritious due to exposure to the sun.
And once the peaches are dried, they become hard, which could be hard for your pet to chew down and might choke your little cavy.
It’s best to feed fresh ripped peaches to your pet rather than dried or canned ones.
Alternatives Foods For Guinea Pigs
Veggies and fruits are great additions for guinea pigs. While fresh fruits only comprise a small part of guinea pig’s diet, they still provide essential nutrients required for their health.
Here are some healthier alternatives of peaches in their food.
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Cantaloupe
- Green peppers
- Parsley
- Green and red leaf lettuce
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
You can offer these treats to strengthen the bond between you and your pet or as treats while training them.
Some guinea pigs may like fruits more than vegetables, but they are like sweet poison that can harm your pet in the long term.
So, it’s best if you offer them vegetables more often than fruits and be sure to take away any uneaten fruits or vegetables at the end of the day.
Summing Up!
Guinea pigs can eat peaches, but it should be in moderation. It has some cons and pros which should be considered beforehand.
Peaches contain a significant amount of sugar which is not good for guinea pigs and can result in obesity, upset stomach and diabetes.
Guinea pigs should have around ½ cup of fresh fruits combined every day, not only peaches!
And the rest of their diet should consist of guinea pig food and hay. Fresh fruits and vegetables are only a small supplement in their diet.
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