Guinea pigs eat various kinds of fruits and vegetables and yet the owners often get confused about which ones they should eat and which ones are not good for them. Their taste in vegetables and fruits is quite varied for the guinea pigs but they should not be given every kind of fruit or vegetables.
So is there anything wrong with guinea pigs if you get those cherries to eat? Let us probe into that.
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Are cherries harmful to the guinea pigs?
Sour and sweet cherries are not harmful to guinea pigs. They are a source of minerals and different vitamins. Only do not try to feed the cherries along with the twigs and leaves. The parts of the cherry part are not edible by the guinea pigs.
Which parts of the cherry are not good for the guinea pigs?
As we have already mentioned, the stems, leaves, or branches are not good for guinea pigs. They can result in toxicity which can become lethal for small pets. So do not experiment with these parts of the cherry plant and restrict the feeding to only the fruits.
How many cherries could be given to the guinea pigs for the first time?
As the guinea pigs can respond to the cherries individually, they may or may not like the cherries. Or else their body may react to the cherries in different ways. So it is best to provide them with one or two cherries at a time and then see the effect for at least one week. If they suffer from diarrhea or any kind of allergy then you can contact the vet to know if you will further give them cherries or not.
How many times in a week can you offer cherries to the guinea pig?
Guinea pigs usually love cherry, so whenever you give them one or two, you will see them eating those with great vigor. But their health condition does not permit them to eat this fruit in great quantity or in good numbers.
That is why offering cherries should be restricted to thrice a week and not more than that. Each serving should contain one or two cherries particularly.
What can be the problems of feeding too many cherries to your guinea pig?
It has been seen that most of the guinea pigs like to eat cherries and they may end up eating too many cherries at one go. Owners may find it exciting to see how these little rodents enjoy their cherries, and out of love, they can offer five or six cherries to the guinea pigs.
But cherries contain sugar at a high level and that is not exactly a healthy meal for the guinea pigs. They have the tendency of gaining weight very fast and that results in some other types of health complications.
How cherries can be helpful for the guinea pigs?
Cherries are tasty and always liked by humans as well as various pet animals. Not only for taste but also for its different nutrients, this fruit has been liked and cherished by consumers. The vitamins and minerals concentrated in cherries will do well for the pet guinea pigs.
The main nutrient which is rather helpful for the guinea pigs is vitamin C that is contained in cherries.
Vitamin C is always needed by almost all living things, and this vitamin cannot be produced from its own system. The source of vitamin C should always be included in the daily diet. The body always stays in healthy condition when there is an ample amount of vitamin C in the food. This vitamin also keeps respiratory problems and cold-related issues like cough and fever at bay.
There is a polyphenol which is a highly useful antioxidant and it usually helps the guinea pigs to stay immune to various diseases. Along with vitamin C, the cherries also contain vitamin B complex that combines B1, B2, and B9 as well as vitamin K.
Also, it encourages the metabolism of the guinea pig and that will keep them energetic all the time. It will also take care of the liver functions and that is why there will be no chance of fatty liver or any such disease.
The blood pressure also stays in check when you keep feeding cherries to your guinea pig in limited numbers. That is how this fruit will keep the pet guinea pig healthy altogether. Though there is an obesity issue in guinea pigs, still eating cherries will control the belly fat and thus the weight management can be done with the moderate feeding of cherries.
The water level of the cherries will help the guinea pig to retain some water in their system. The usual food that is provided to the guinea pig almost always does not contain any water. Neither do the guinea pigs drink a lot of water. So when they are given cherries to eat, the water level in their bodies gets balanced.
It has been found recently that cherry helps the guinea pigs in their sleeping cycle. Some nutrients present in cherry make the nervous system of the guinea pig calm and that is why the sleeping is improved in them. If your guinea pig has been just brought to the new house and it is showing signs of restlessness then feed it with one or two cherries, and see that it calms down slowly. It will help them to settle down in their new habitat more positively.
How can cherry damage the health of the guinea pig?
Dietary fiber, which is essential for the creation of poop, is present in good amounts. That is why, if you feed cherries regularly to your guinea pig, it can cause gastroenteritis among the guinea pigs. Also, it can cause bloating and cramps along with gas in the stomach of the guinea pig. This fruit can be given to the guinea pigs as treats and that too, not on an everyday basis.
Too much consumption of dietary fiber also can cause constipation. So you must check the number of the cherries when they are being given to the guinea pig. No owner would like their pet to suffer from any kind of illness due to the consumption of any fruit.
There can be mouth burning of guinea pigs due to the consumption of cherries. Cherries contain a good amount of acids and that acid can burn the mouth of this small rodent when eaten in high amounts. When their mouth gets burned, which is a rather sensitive place, they will feel difficulty in eating other food. Cheilitis is another problem that is caused due to the mouth burning problem.
Diarrhea can be caused by the overeating of cherries as we have already mentioned. This mostly happens when the guinea pig eats the cherries for the first time and they eat too many at once. This is new food to them and suddenly they eat too much, which causes problems with their digestion system.
How cardiovascular health of the guinea pig can get better with cherries?
Cherries contain some element that takes care of the glucose metabolism and that is why the cholesterol in the body stays at a safe level. If your vet mentions that your pet guinea pig is about to get some cardiovascular disease then you can start feeding cherries to your guinea pig and thus your pet will get rid of the blood circulation problems.
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