Nature offers many different super-tasty foods. For example, honey is heavenly nectar which has an amazing taste and texture. People that crave for something sweet, can always go for some honey, regardless of what we feel like eating. The honey is such a versatile product, but what about our guinea pigs? Is honey safe for guinea pigs and can guinea pigs have honey in their diet?
So, can guinea pigs eat honey? Guinea pigs cannot eat honey because this type of food mostly consists of sugar. Honey could cause major digestive problems for guinea pigs as they have a different digestive system that’s unfit for sweet foods. Also, honey is liquid, sticky, and can present a choking hazard to guinea pigs.
The nutritional value of honey doesn’t also match the guinea pig’s daily needs. So, it is quite clear that guinea pigs cannot eat honey, or in other words, they shouldn’t. In the following sections, you will find detailed nutrition facts of honey, more reasons why honey is bad for guinea pigs, and a list of possible risks that can occur if we feed them with honey. Let’s begin!
Table of Content
Nutrition Facts of Honey
So, in 100 g (3 oz) of honey, there is:
- Energy – 304 kcal
- Protein – 0.3 g
- Total lipid (fat) – 0 g
- Carbs – 82.4 g
- Dietary fiber – 0.2 g
- Sugars – 82.12 g
- Calcium – 6 mg
- Iron – 0.42 mg
- Magnesium – 2 mg
- Phosphorus – 4 mg
- Potassium – 52 mg
- Sodium – 4 mg
- Zinc – 0.22 mg
- Copper – 0.036 mg
- Selenium – 0.8 µg
- Vitamin C – 0.5 mg
- Vitamin B-6 – 0.024 mg
- Vitamin A – 0 µg
- Vitamin E – 0 mg
- Vitamin K – 0 µg
- Riboflavin – 0.038 mg
- Niacin – 0.121 mg
- Folates – 2 µg
Risks to Consider When Feeding Honey to Guinea Pigs
Too Much Sugar
One of the risks is the high amount of sugar. Honey also has natural sugars, which still doesn’t make honey a good type of food for guinea pigs! But, considering white sugar foods are worse than natural sugar, we can say that honey is better. However, the amount of sugar in honey is way too much for them to digest. Guinea pigs cannot digest such sugary foods and will get serious health problems.
Bad Digestion
Sugar that we have mentioned above can be very bad for guinea pig’s digestion. Also, there is a lack of fibers in honey. Fibers are important for digestion. They help with better bowel movement and improve overall digestion. Guinea pigs are herbivores, and their digestive system is made to process only fresh and raw hay, fruits, and vegetables.
Lack of Vitamins
There isn’t a lot of vitamins and minerals in honey. For guinea pigs, the most important vitamin is vitamin C, and there is a small amount of this vitamin in honey. With vitamin C, guinea pigs are protected against the disease called scurvy that manifests itself with symptoms such as swollen joints, loss of appetite, diarrhea, rough coat, internal bleeding, and more. Some fresh fruits and vegetables have more vitamin C, and due to that, they are more beneficial and healthier for guinea pigs. Also, there is a zero amount of vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin E, which are usually very beneficial to guinea pigs as well.
Weight Problems
Honey is high in calories, carbs, and sugars and with honey, in their diet, they may gain more bodyweight. That can be very dangerous for guinea pigs and lead to many health problems which may shorten their lifespan.
Choking Hazard
Guinea pigs eat fresh, non-sticky foods that grow from the ground. The honey’s stickiness is a moderate choking hazard for guinea pigs, as they would need a ton of water to push the honey down the throat. They wouldn’t also be able to throw it up if it gets stuck!
More Information About Guinea Pigs and Honey
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raw Honey?
Raw honey comes directly from the honeycomb and isn’t processed like regular honey that goes through the process of pasteurization and filtration. Guinea pigs can’t eat raw honey, and this type of honey is even more dangerous than the regular one. Raw honey can contain bee pollen, beeswax, and dead bees, making it more sticky and more dangerous to guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honey Nut Cheerios?
Guinea pigs can’t eat Honey Nut Cheerios because they can be dangerous to them for many reasons. Honey nut cheerios are processed food with added sugars and other additives, which can upset the guinea pig’s stomach. Guinea pigs can’t eat cheerios in general, especially the ones with honey.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honey Bunches of Oats?
Honey Bunches of Oats is a brand of cereal, and they are not safe for guinea pigs. So, guinea pigs can’t eat Honey Bunches of Oats, and also every other type of oats are forbidden to them. There are too many additives in Honey Bunches of Oats that can be harmful to guinea pig’s digestion. Maybe you will hear that some vets recommend giving plain oats to your guinea pigs if they are underweight or have no appetite. This is good in some cases, but you should never give them oats without vet recommendation and especially the Honey Bunches of Oats.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honey Crisp Apples?
Honeycrisp is a type of apple that has a balanced sweet and acid flavor. Guinea pigs can eat Honeycrisp apples but only in moderation. Apples are healthy for guinea pigs, but it’s not recommended to feed them with apples every day and in huge amounts due to sugar content. It’s also important to remove Honeycrisp apple seeds and wash the apples carefully with water before giving them to guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honey Melon?
Honey melon is also known as honeydew melon, and this is a green version of melons. Guinea pigs can eat honey melons or honeydew melons, but also only in moderation. In general, melons are safe for guinea pigs, and honeydew melon has some beneficial nutrients for them, such as vitamin C.
You need to be careful when giving honey melons and other types of melons to guinea pigs because of the possible presence of bacteria on their skin. So, it’s essential to wash melons thoroughly with water before serving them to guinea pgs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honey Roasted Peanuts?
Guinea pigs can’t eat honey-roasted peanuts. These peanuts or peanuts in general have many nutrients that may be harmful to them. Peanuts are high in calories, fat, carbs, sugars, and calcium which isn’t good for guinea pigs. Also, honey roasted peanuts contain zero amount of vitamin C. These peanuts don’t have any health benefits for guinea pigs, can only upset their stomach and develop serious health problems.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kaytee Honey Treats?
There are some customized special treats for guinea pigs sold in pet shops or stores for pet food. These treats apparently are made with honey or have used honey as “glue” for two crackers or two biscuits. Honey in these treats is allowed because the amount of honey is extremely low. So, guinea pigs can eat Kaytee Honey Treats but remember only as a treat. That means not very often and not in large serving sizes.
Quick Facts on Honey
- Honey is known as a food that never spoils.
- One beehive can produce around 30 to 100 pounds of honey in one year.
- Worker bee usually makes 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its entire life.
- Honey is the only food made by insects that humans eat.
- People use honey as a natural medicament.
- Different types of honey differ in taste and color.
- On average, one American consumes around one pound of honey per one year.
Before I let you go, one final thought on food. With food, you can’t ever be too careful which is why I get all guinea pig food from a reliable source such as Amazon. If you are not sure what to order but believe your little piggies deserve some great treats please 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.
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List of Sources
Norman, R., Wills, A. P., An Investigation into the Relationship between Owner Knowledge, Diet, and Dental Disease in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus), Animals: an open access journal from MDPI, 2016.
National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on Laboratory Animal Nutrition, Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals: Fourth Revised Edition, 1995., Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1995.
Witkowska, A., Price, J., Hughes, C., Smith, D., White, K., Alibhai, A., Rutland C. S., The Effects of Diet on Anatomy, Physiology and Health in the Guinea Pig, Journal of Animal Health and Behavioural Science, 2017.
Khan, F. R., Ul Abadin, Z., Rauf, N., Honey: nutritional and medicinal value, International journal of clinical practice, 2007.