Guinea pigs are able to eat various kinds of greens and they mostly enjoy eating the different colored and flavored greens. Leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, mustard greens, etc. are supposed to be much healthy and tasty food for the guinea pigs. But not everything that we think is good is actually healthy for the guinea pigs. This needs more discussion and information.
Contents
Can guinea pigs eat spinach?- Is it safe?
Yes, spinach does not harm the guinea pigs if it does not contain any pesticide. You must wash the leaves of the spinach when you are going to offer it to the pet guinea pig. You should always remember that pesticides can cause toxicity and severe health issue for your pet.
Also, make sure to offer spinach in a limited portion, and then it will only do well for the health of the pet guinea pig. However, when offering the guinea pig, do not trust the pet, as guinea pigs are voracious eaters and they would eat as much as you will offer them. That has a high chance of getting obese. So you should control their eating portion to keep them healthy.
Can you give spinach to your guinea pig?
Guinea pigs love the crunchy green leaves of spinach but they should be given it only in a restricted way. A few leaves only once a week are the amount safe for them. There is too much calcium in spinach which is not safe for the guinea pigs thus, regular intake of spinach or a great portion at one-time eating, either way, can be toxic for the guinea pigs.
What is the goodness of spinach?
Spinach is counted among the healthy vegetables and it contains various nutrients and minerals. Along with vitamin A, it also contains vitamin C and minerals like iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc. It will improve the eye and heart health of the consumer and also will take care of the skin condition. it can boost the immunity of any creature who eats it.
Which kind of spinach is good for the guinea pigs?
There are two kinds of spinach found in nature, one is baby spinach and the other is the regular kind of spinach. The regular one contains a good amount of vitamin C. Your pet guinea pig can eat both these types of spinach but the portion should be small. Also not more than once or twice can you offer them the spinach.
Can you offer cooked spinach to your guinea pig?
We, humans, eat spinach mostly when it is cooked. We like the taste of spinach but it is not safe for the guinea pigs. They should be given only raw spinach and that too in a small portion. Their digestive system is not adequate for digesting anything that is cooked and they can only take in raw vegetables and greens.
Why spinach is important for the guinea pigs?
Leafy greens like spinach contain a good amount of nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Especially the vitamin C present in spinach makes it a great food item for guinea pigs. Vitamin C protects the pet from any kind of cold and also keeps them immune to various kinds of diseases.
There is magnesium in spinach which helps the guinea pig to break down and absorb calcium in their body. Calcium is much necessary for the bone health of guinea pigs and they often suffer from bone-related diseases when they age. Thus spinach is much helpful and should be added to their diet.
Spinach contains, like any other green vegetable, a good amount of fiber. Fiber is such a nutrient that keeps the digestive system in good condition. Thus when you offer spinach to your guinea pig, you ensure that it will have a healthy tummy.
Fiber also helps in the growth of good bacteria and that is why the stool of the guinea pig forms regularly. This is also a great cause for feeding spinach to your guinea pig.
How much spinach is good for the diet of guinea pigs?
As we have mentioned earlier that spinach is beneficial only when it is offered to the guinea pigs in a limited amount. You should not give the guinea pig too many leaves of spinach as that can result in toxicity in the body of your pet.
You should provide only two to three leaves of spinach at a time. This serving can be repeated only once a week. The spinach that you get for the guinea pig should be fresh, free from pesticides, and most possibly organically grown. You can chop the leaves but if the leaves are intact then also it will be fun for the guinea pigs to gnaw and bite the leaves by small bits.
Why too much spinach is harmful to the guinea pigs?
Spinach contains a good amount of calcium and oxalate acid. Calcium is good for the bone strength of the guinea pigs but the oxalate acid, along with calcium and creates bladder stones in the body of the guinea pigs. This is why the intake of calcium should be limited for guinea pigs.
The oxalate actually binds calcium with other minerals present in the daily diet and this forms the stones in their bladder. Thus the presence of oxalate turns a safe green vegetable like spinach into a villain.
When it is good for the guinea pigs to have spinach?
As we mentioned that spinach contains a good amount of calcium, and it can help the guinea pigs when it is suffering from bone density problem or weakness problems. It is a common ailment among guinea pigs and they suffer from such issues when they get aged.
Their movement becomes minimal and they do not roam around in the house or ride the foliage or stones for fun. To cure this condition you can give it some spinach once or twice a week. If you want to cure the guinea pig, spinach will offer great help. The calcium content of spinach is high and thus it will be much beneficial in compensating for the lack of calcium and increasing bone strength in your pet guinea pig.
Scurvy is a problem that occurs in guinea pigs when they are deprived of vitamin C. This vitamin is not formed or stored in their body and thus, they need to take some source of vitamin C in their diet regularly. Scurvy affects the blood flow of the guinea pig and also it affects the skin of the pet. The bone joints also hurt when the guinea pig suffers from scurvy.
To get rid of this problem spinach can help you. Spinach is a natural source of vitamin C and it offers a good amount of this vitamin to the guinea pigs. Also, this is much better than the medicines as it does not contain any side effects.
You should provide some amount of spinach to your guinea pig when the vet declares that it is suffering from scurvy. The amount of the leaves will be few per serving and you should not give it more than two times a week. The regular intake of spinach will surely cure the guinea pig of vitamin deficiency.
Can spinach be used as a treat for the guinea pigs?
Yes, spinach can be used as a treat for the pet guinea pigs as it contains all the goodness of natural green leafy vegetables. Along with other features, it is low in sugar. Thus you can give it to the guinea pigs when they are being trained or just to lift their mood. This is a crunchy and leafy vegetable that will enhance their health.
More:
