Yes, guinea pigs can eat corn but in moderation, because corn is something that lies in the middle of something which means it is not toxic or very healthy. You can eat it and have no other side effects. Guinea pigs are herbivores in nature and can eat both plants and animals. But not all the things are suitable for them so you have to be very careful about their diet. Corn is something that does not harm your pet when you are feeding them in moderation.
The reason is corn contains lots of starch so excessive consumption of starch is not good for the health of guinea pigs. Another reason is guinea pigs’ digestive system is very sensitive and complex and cannot easily digest the carbohydrates and grains that corn contains.
Also, it does not have a good Ca: P ratio. The best thing about the corn plant is that guinea pigs can almost eat most of the parts of the plants easily without harming the digestive system. But there are some things you need to be careful about before feeding guinea pigs. All those things will be discussed in this article.
Contents
Nutritional value of corn
Here are some nutritional facts about corn:
- 2mg per 100g
- PhosphoroEnergy – 85 kcal
- Protein – 3.3g per 100g
- Water – 73%
- Sugar – 4.5g
- Calories – 94 calories per 100g
- Carbohydrates – 20g per 100g
- Calcium –us – 89.0mg per 100g
- Fiber – 2g
- Fat – 1.5g per 100g
- Vitamin A – 8µg
- Vitamin C- 6.8µg per 100g
- Vitamin K – 0.2µg per 100g
- Ca: P – 1:44.5
There are many other nutrients present in the corn that is offered to guinea pigs and acts as a good treat to your pet. It also contains carbs, proteins, fat, magnesium, thiamine, vitamin B9, and potassium. All these nutrients help to keep your pet healthy and active.
Protein:
Protein is essential for the overall development of guinea pigs and also strengthens their muscles. Corn provides around 4-5g of protein required by guinea pigs.
Water content:
Corn is rich in water content and contains around 65-70% of water in it. It helps to keep the pet hydrated all the time therefore corn is a good option to keep guinea pigs hydrated.
Potassium:
Potassium present in corns helps to boost a healthy nervous system in the pigs and also helps to maintain their blood pressure. This means potassium plays a vital role in the proper functioning of guinea pigs’ bodies.
Fiber:
Fiber present in the corn helps in the proper digestion of guinea pigs. There is some food consumed by guinea pigs that are hard to digest so the presence of potassium helps to digest and therefore helps in digestion in all possible ways.
Can guinea pigs eat canned corns?
No, you should not feed canned corns to guinea pigs ever because the high amount of salt is mixed with the corns to preserve them for a longer period of time which proves to be very harmful to your guinea pigs. Another reason is that canned corns are cooked too much and you should avoid too much-cooked food for your pet.
One more reason to avoid canned corns is they are high in calories and water content which can lead to weight gain and bloating in the pigs. Dehydration can also be occurring due to excess consumption of water through corns. Therefore as a pet owner, you should be very careful what you are adding to the diet of your guinea pig.
How much corn you should feed to guinea pigs?
There are different kinds of corn that a guinea pig can eat and the quantity depends totally on the type of corn you are feeding to the pet. The amazing part is guinea pigs can eat almost all the parts of the corn plants that including raw kernels, corn hairs, the inner husk, and stalks.
Raw kernels:
You can feed raw kernels but as a treat like once in a week and not more than that because of the presence of the high amount of starch. Also, avoid canned kernels as they contain lots of salt in order to preserve them.
Corn hairs:
Corn hair can be served on a daily basis to guinea pigs as they have a good amount of vitamins and minerals which makes corn hair a good option for guinea pigs.
The inner husk:
Like corn hair, the inner husk can be given daily to guinea pigs but you have to avoid the outer husk as they come in contact with pesticides. A husk is also a good option for guinea pigs as they are equally nutritious as hay and grass for guinea pigs.
Stalks:
Stalks are also good for pigs as they enjoy munching which also helps them to keep their teeth in proper size and shape.
Best ways to feed corn husk to guinea pigs
You should feed fresh corn husk to the pigs and store it for a longer time, put it outside to make it dry and it comes like hay and you can also feed them like this. Another way to feed husks is by shredding them into small thin pieces so guinea pigs can easily eat them.
If you want to entertain your guinea pig then put the husk without shredding so that it will take a longer time for them to eat and also they will play with it too.
Can guinea pigs eat cracked corns?
When the kernels of corn are dried and then cracked into small pieces with the help of a grinder then cracked corns are made. But feeding cracked corns to your guinea pigs is not safe for them. There are several reasons why you should not offer cracked corns to your guinea pig.
Create digestive issues:
One of the reasons behind avoiding cracked corns is that they are hard to digest due to their hardness and density which can create serious digestive issues.
Can cause choking in pigs:
The small pieces of cracked hard corn can get stuck in the throat of guinea pigs which makes it difficult for pigs to breathe. Therefore it is better to not feed cracked corns to them.
Cause teeth problems:
Due to the hardness of cracked corns, it can create teeth issues in the pigs and can crack their own teeth while eating them. Therefore they can cause dental issues in the pets.
What about feeding corn flakes to guinea pigs?
Yes, it is okay to feed corn slake to your guinea pigs but in limited quantity and after the proper duration of time. Too much consumption is not safe as it has lots of starch in it which is not healthy.
Remember not to feed corn flakes with milk like humans to your guinea pigs because it can cause digestive issues in the pets as they are lactose intolerant which can cause a negative effect on the health of guinea pigs. One more reason is they have a high amount of salt and flour which creates problems in the consumption of corns for guinea pigs.
Some health benefits of corn
Helps to boost the immune system:
Vitamin C proves to be very helpful for the immune system and corn contains a good amount of vitamin C in it. Therefore consumption of corn helps to strengthen the immune system of your pet and due to this, it decreases the possibility of guinea pigs falling ill. During illness, corn is good food to feed as it contains vitamin C which helps in speedy recovery.
Helps to keep hydrated:
Corn helps to keep guinea pigs hydrated as it is a good source of water for pets. Corn contains a good amount of water content so keep your pet hydrated all the time.
Some health risks of feeding corn to guinea pigs
Calcium to the phosphorous ratio:
For guinea pigs. Food must have a balanced calcium phosphorous ratio which comes out to approximately 1:1 or 1:1.5. But in the case of corn, this ratio is highly unbalanced which does not make corn a staple food for guinea pigs.
Feeding corn in large amount can be dangerous for your pet as a high amount of phosphorous present binds the absorption of calcium by pigs and which cause many health issues in them. Calcium is essential for the proper development of bones and strengthens them so lack of calcium can cause metabolic bone disease (MBD).
Increase the risk of choking:
Choking is very often in small guinea pigs as they can get easily choked themselves if eat any big piece of food. They are very prone to such kinds of things as impactions and choking. So always feed with care your pet and it is advisable always to feed only small and thin pieces of kernel and corns to the pigs.
Final thoughts
It is clear that guinea pigs can eat corn but as a treat in moderation only because it has some side effects too for them. So t is better to feed carefully by the pet owners as any new addition to the diet of the pets can upset their stomach ad heath too.
Corn should be fed once or twice a week and not more than that and should be served most of the time in raw form. Cracked corn is harmful to pigs otherwise can eat almost all the parts of the plant except the inner part which is the cob of the plant.
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