Some owners give their pets everything that they themselves eat, but when it comes to guinea pigs, this needs to be avoided. Always inform yourself before giving your guinea pig something exotic or new to eat. Now let’s talk about apples and guinea pigs. This looks like a simple answer but there are different types of apples and things are sometimes not as simple as they seem to be.
Can guinea pigs eat apples? Guinea pigs can eat apples. Apples are a healthy and nutritious snack for guinea pigs and they really enjoy eating them. Be cautious when giving apples to guinea pigs because if they are consumed in large serving sizes, they can cause stomach problems as they have high sugar content.
Lots of sugar is bad for your little guinea pig. Also, you need to avoid green apples because they are sour and have a more acidic taste when compared to other types of apples. They can cause discomfort in your guinea pig’s mouth and stomach.
Now that you know the answer, you should probably learn more about why apples are good for your little guinea pig, what kind of apples can guinea pigs eat, and how often you should feed them apples. Let’s start first with the benefits!
Table of Content
Are Apples Good for Guinea Pigs? | Health Benefits
Apples are beneficial to both humans and animals. Guinea pigs benefit from apples too. On average, guinea pigs require around 10 mg of vitamin C per day. Apples have the right amount of this vitamin for your guinea pigs’ health.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is well-known for blocking free radicals as well as boosting resistance to diseases and infectious agents. A guinea pig eating an apple once in a while is more likely to be resistant to disease-causing microorganisms as compared to ones that don’t receive any apples.
Apples are a rich source of B-complex vitamins which include thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6. These vitamins help in the regulation of the nervous system and general good health for the guinea pig.
Apples are also a great source of dietary fiber which is present in the peels. Fiber is useful for digestion among other benefits. In addition to all of this, the leaves found on apple trees are great for the guinea pigs. They supply them with sufficient amounts of calcium.
Some of the other minerals that you can also find in apples include potassium and phosphorous. Apples can also lower the levels of bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is harmful to both human beings and animals.
Nutrition Facts of Apples for Guinea Pigs
Apples are safe for guinea pigs because they contain nutritional content that is valuable to them. They are dietary powerhouses as apples are quite abundant in various nutrients.
The following are some of the nutrients found in 100 g of apples:
- Energy – 48 kcal
- Protein – 0.27 g
- Total Lipid (fat) – 0.13 g
- Carbs – 12.8 g
- Dietary Fiber – 1.3 g
- Sugars – 10.1 g
- Calcium – 5 mg
- Iron – 0.07 mg
- Magnesium – 4 mg
- Phosphorus – 11 mg
- Potassium – 90 mg
- Sodium – 0 mg
- Vitamin C – 4 mg
- Vitamin B-6 – 0.037 mg
- Vitamin A – 2 µg
- Vitamin E – 0.05 mg
- Vitamin K – 0.6 µg
- Folate – 0 µg
- Carotene, beta – 17 µg
- Lutein + zeaxanthin – 18 µg
- Thiamin – 0.019 mg
- Riboflavin – 0.028 mg
- Niacin – 0.091 mg
Risks to Consider When Feeding Apples to Guinea Pigs
Generally, apples are quite safe and healthy fruits for both human and animal consumption. However, some studies have shown a few risks that come with the apples. Although these risks are not so severe, it is worth knowing what they are. The following are some of the risks for guinea pigs:
- Apples are quite sweet fruits and they add sugar to the body when consumed. Too much sugar is harmful to guinea pigs and therefore should be regulated if possible.
- Seeds that are found inside the apples contain a powerful poison known as cyanide. Eating too many of these seeds can pose a potential risk for your guinea pig. To avoid this, remove the seeds before giving the apple to the guinea pig.
- They are slightly acidic and that can be harmful to guinea pigs. When feeding your guinea pig with apples, be sure to give it just enough and not too much of it.
Too much of anything is harmful, and this is something that you need to have in mind even when feeding your guinea pig with apples.
Serving Size and How to Feed Apples to Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs can eat apples and they love them. But it’s very important to know can you feed guinea pigs apples every day and in what serving sizes. So, in the following section, find out all you need to know about how to feed apples to guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples Daily?
Guinea pigs shouldn’t eat apples every day. In essence, apples should just be used as a treat for your guinea pigs. They are quite tasty and contain useful nutrients that can boost the health of your pet, but apples will still become harmful if given often.
You should also keep in mind that apples are sweet and excess sugar isn’t good for the guinea pig. If the sugar levels are too high, your guinea pig might get health complications and in some cases even gain unnecessary weight. The suggested number of times that you can give apples to your guinea pig is once or twice a week.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat an Entire Apple?
Never give an entire apple to a guinea pig. In order to keep it safe, give your guinea pig only half a cup of apples per one serving.
If you give your guinea pig too much apple at once, not many problems can occur in this case except that you will notice that the guinea pig is bloated or slightly having diarrhea. All this usually lasts shortly but if the case persists for too long, then you can opt to visit a veterinary practitioner to help you with the situation.
A quick remedy would be to give it sufficient amounts of water to neutralize everything. You should, however, keep in mind that too many apples are not good for your guinea pig and you need to learn how to regulate the intake of apples.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Apples?
Guinea pigs definitely like apples and they enjoy eating them. But, no matter how much guinea pigs love apples, you need to be careful when you feed a guinea pig with apples because of the sugar content.
Guinea pigs like to eat fruits. In general, they enjoy eating bananas, grapes, oranges, pears, and others, but all of these fruits contain sugar and need to be given only as a treat and in small amounts.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Apples?
Baby guinea pigs shouldn’t eat apples because in that period of their life, they need to be fed with the mother’s milk, hay, and pellets. It is especially recommended to give baby guinea pigs alfalfa hay because it’s good for growth.
More Information About Guinea Pigs and Apples
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Skin (Apple Peels)?
Apple skin contains around 50% more nutrients than the inside of the peeled apple fruit. Guinea pigs can eat apple peel or apple skin, but only in moderation because of the fiber content. Fiber is good for digestion but too much fiber can cause loose stool or diarrhea.
Apple skin is also high in antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients that are good for lowering the risk of cancer. So apples with the peel can be a benefit for guinea pigs’ health.
Also, guinea pigs should eat the skin of an apple that hasn’t been treated with pesticides. But you should always wash the skin of any fruit thoroughly before giving it to the guinea pig. The best option is if to have your own grown apples without any chemicals.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Apples?
Green apples are healthy, they are less sweet than red apples and have a sour and acidic taste. Guinea pigs can eat green apples, but only in moderation, like any other type of apples. If guinea pigs eat a lot of green apples, they can cause stomach problems and gases.
However, green apples have many beneficial nutrients for guinea pigs, such as different vitamins and minerals. The most important thing is that green apples have less sugar than red apples.
Also, when we say green apples, you surely have in mind Granny Smith apples. This is the most popular type of green apple and this apple is cultivated by Maria Ann Smith in Australia. Guinea pigs can eat Granny Smith apples, but only in small amounts and not every day. Granny Smith apple is also high in good nutrients for guinea pig’s health, such as vitamin C and vitamin K, it’s low in calories and contains high antioxidant activity.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Red Apple?
Red apples are full of sweetness and juiciness. You can feed guinea pigs with red apples, but because of the high amount of sugar, you need to be careful with the serving sizes.
Red apples also have many healthy nutrients for guinea pigs and are also rich in antioxidants, especially their skin. Guinea pigs will love red apples because of their sweet taste and they are really delicious for them. Just be sure to give them red apples only as a treat and not very often.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cooked Apples?
Don’t give guinea pigs cooked apples because they can cause serious stomach problems. Guinea pigs can’t eat any type of cooked food, they love to eat only fresh fruits and vegetables. So, avoid giving guinea pigs cooked apples or cooked apple peel.
Guinea pigs are herbivores, their digestive system isn’t made for any type of cooked food. It will be hard for them to digest cooked apples, cooked apple skin, or any other cooked fruits.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Crab Apples?
Crab apples are small apples that are very sour and bitter in taste and are mostly used in cooking. There are some stories that crab apples are toxic, so you surely want to know are crab apples poisonous to guinea pigs. Crab apples aren’t poisonous to guinea pigs and they can eat them but you need to be sure to avoid crab apple seeds and the core.
Seeds and the core of crab apples can contain some nutrients that are toxic to guinea pigs, but also to humans. It’s better to remove seeds and core before giving a crab apple or any other type of apples to guinea pigs. A huge amount of crab apples and their seeds or core can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other digestive problems.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Apple Cider Vinegar?
Guinea pigs can’t drink apple cider vinegar, it’s too much acidic for them and can cause some stomach problems. But, some people have said that a few drops of apple cider vinegar in the water can help in healing some urinary diseases in guinea pigs. We recommend discussing this with your guinea pig’s vet before adding apple cider vinegar in their water.
If you mix a few drops of apple cider vinegar with hot water, it is then safe for the cleaning of their cage. It’s better if you use white or apple cider vinegar instead of some chemical cleaners. You can put some white vinegar in the washing machine when you wash guinea pig’s fleece bedding. It’s good for removing urine smell from the fleece.
Also, some guinea pig owners use a small amount of apple vinegar cider baths to treat mites on guinea pigs. Guinea pigs have very sensitive skin and we’re not sure if you can use apple cider vinegar for guinea pig baths. You need to use a very sensitive shampoo that is made for guinea pigs or pets when you’re bathing them. For treating mites in guinea pigs, it’s better to take advice from your pet’s vet.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Apple Juice?
If we talk about conventional apple juice that we can buy in the store, guinea pigs shouldn’t drink it. Guinea pigs can only drink a small amount of homemade apple juice. That means fresh apple juice diluted with water and without any added sugars or supplements.
Apples already contain sugar which isn’t good for guinea pigs in huge amounts. Conventional apple juice has even more added sugars and supplements that can be harmful to guinea pigs’ digestive systems. So, only unsweetened fresh apple juice with water (heavily diluted) is the option.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Cores?
The apple core is the central part of an apple together with the stem and seeds. Guinea pigs can eat the apple core, but only when you remove the apple seeds because they can be bad and even toxic for them.
Moreover, apple seeds can be toxic to guinea pigs if eaten in large amounts. These seeds contain amygdalin, a substance that can produce cyanide in the digestive system, which can be very toxic and cause serious health problems.
So, feeding guinea pigs with core and seeds can be dangerous and they will enjoy the outer layer and skin of an apple more. It’s best to feed them the parts of the apple that you are most comfortable with.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Tree Leaves?
As we have said guinea pigs enjoy eating apples. Thus, guinea pigs can eat apple leaves. Apple tree leaves are very delicious for guinea pigs and have many nutrients that are a benefit to their health.
It don’t contain too many sugars apple tree leaves are rich in antioxidants and also they are good for the digestive system. You need to be careful only with the serving sizes because apple leaves can contain a lot of calcium, which isn’t good for guinea pigs in large amounts.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Wood?
Guinea pigs can safely chew on apple wood or apple branches. It’s safe to give them and they have benefits for guinea pigs’ teeth. When guinea pigs chew on apple tree branches or wood, this whole process can help to keep their teeth healthy and at an appropriate length because as we know, their teeth continuously grow.
Make sure to prepare apple tree branches for guinea pigs. You need to wash it thoroughly. The applewood or apple tree twigs for guinea pigs can be like a toy for them. They can chew on them and play with them, so they will not feel bored. Also, if you don’t have an apple tree near you, there are some apple sticks for guinea pigs that you can buy in pet stores, and these apple sticks are safe for guinea pigs as well.
- Apple Sticks Branches: great for small pets teeth molar and chew toys for small animals.
- Suitable for Guinea Pigs, Chinchilla, Squirrel, Rabbits, Parrot, hamster, degus, gerbil and other small animal teething.
- Easy to Carry and Store: these apple sticks were packed with kraft paper after multiple procedures to ensure they are clean and maintain the original fragrance of fruit trees.
- Perfect Gift For Small Animal: the apple chew sticks are great treats and teeth grinding chew toys for your pets like rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, rats, squirrels and Other Small Animals.
- Weight: 250g / 500g for choosing according to requirements, length: about 6 inches.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apple Chips?
Guinea pigs cannot eat apple chips, because they can’t eat any food that was previously cooked or processed in some way. It’s best to give them only fresh vegetables and fruits. Apple chips or any other type of chips can be very harmful to guinea pigs’ stomachs because they have a very sensitive digestive system and they can’t digest cooked food.
Quick Facts on Apples
There are many amazing facts about apples, these are just some of them:
- Apples are popular. Apples are one of the most eaten fruits on the planet. Studies have shown a whopping 81 million metric tons of apples are consumed every year all over the world. This is just an estimate as the numbers might even be higher than this.
- Apples are grown by people all over the world. Of the total number of fruits grown all over the world, apples account for 15% of this number.
- They have many varieties. Apples have quite many varieties, around 2500 different types.
- The first apples were grown in Asia. The first apple fruit was planted in Kazakhstan, Central Asia. After that, they spread all over the world in stages.
- Today, apples are planted the most in China. China has the majority of the apple production, being responsible for 49% of the world’s apple production.
- Apples are used for various purposes. Around 61% of apples in the world are eaten fresh, while 21% of apples are used in apple juice and cider. The remaining 18% is used for different products such as cosmetics, medicine, and others.
With food, you should be careful what to choose. If you are not sure what to feed them but believe your little piggies deserve some great treats, check our Helpful Guide to the Best Guinea Pig Treats to get some ideas.
We have also made a full list of foods that guinea pigs can and can’t eat (150+ Types of Foods). Be sure to also check our recommended products page for everything you will ever need to assure a happy life for your guinea pigs. Hope this information was helpful and you have found the answer you were looking for.
List of Sources
Vitamin C Requirements of the Guinea-Pig
Diet Composition and Mineral Balance in Guinea Pigs
Dietary Requirements of the Guinea Pig With Reference to the Need for a Special Factor