Can guinea pigs eat avocado? Every day, every guinea pig owner faces the same confusion about what to feed their furry friend. If you are also one of them, consider adding some fruits to the guinea pig’s diet. But here is the problem, all fruits are not okay for guinea pigs to eat.
You indeed love to enjoy your avocado toast in the morning. But have you ever thought, can guinea pigs eat avocado? Let us answer this for you. Guinea pigs should not eat avocados as they contain a high quantity of a chemical called persin which is toxic.
If you consider feeding avocado to your pet, it is essential to know that this fruit can be a little problematic. If you want to find out the reason behind avocado toxicity, keep on reading till the end. You will find answers to your questions.
Is Avocado Beneficial For Guinea Pigs?
Can guinea pigs eat avocado? Though avocados are full of benefits for humans, the case is not the same for guinea pigs. There is no doubt that avocado has many nutrients that can impart several advantages to guinea pigs’ health.
But there is another toxic constituent in the avocado. This compound called persin is present in high concentrations in several parts of avocado, such as leaves, pit skin, bark, and flesh.
Persin is not harmful to humans because we can digest this compound. In contrast, guinea pigs cannot digest this substance because they have sensitive stomachs. In case guinea pigs eat avocado, persin causes diarrhea and other digestive issues in them.
Is Avocado Harmful For Guinea Pigs?
As said earlier, avocado contains a high quantity of persin, which is toxic for guinea pigs. A high dose of persin can even kill a guinea pig. Moreover, avocados flesh is rich in fatty and oily substances, thus a high source of calories.
These fatty substances can cause health problems like obesity and diarrhea in guinea pigs. Therefore we do not recommend adding avocados to your pet’s diet. Here are some of the problems that avocado can cause in guinea pigs.
1. Digestion Problems
If guinea pigs eat many avocados, the fat content in the fruit upsets the stomach and even causes diarrhea. You will notice changes in your guinea pig’s poop after they have consumed avocado.
Their poop will be watery and full of mucous and blood. If you spot these symptoms, feed your furry friend a pellet diet and take them to the vet as soon as possible.
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2. Kidney and Bladder Problems
Avocados’ nutrition profile has a high amount of calcium. If guinea pigs munch on excessive avocados, they will be at higher risk of developing kidney and bladder stones.
Cavies develop stones because their digestive system can’t absorb calcium, resulting in the deposition of calcium in their urinary tract.
3. High Toxicity Level
Some parts of avocado are highly toxic for guinea pigs. Though the toxic chemical persin is found in all, some parts have an excessive amount. If guinea pigs eat the pit, leaves, or the skin of the avocado, it can lead to severe illness or even death.
Persin causes health issues that include weight loss, heart enlargement, bloating, respiratory distress, loss of appetite, stomach congestion, liver damage, and death.
4. Weight and Heart Problems
The high-calorie calorie content of avocado flesh causes guinea pigs to gain weight. You might love the balloon look of the guinea pig, which is cute but is the cause of so many health problems. Extra weight is harmful to cavy’s heart resulting in serious cardiovascular issues.
What Happens if Guinea Pig Eats Avocado?
First thing first, keep avocados away from the reach of guinea pigs as they are super harmful. If guinea pigs eat avocado, get ready as they can develop any of the symptoms mentioned above. The consequences will be severe if the amount eaten is large.
If you still intend to feed avocado to your pet, thinking it might benefit them. Then, we recommend you feed them a very minute quantity of avocado flesh. Don’t give skin, pit, or leaves even small amounts, as the consequences can be deadly.
Conclusion – Can guinea pigs eat avocado?
Can guinea pigs eat avocado? The answer is NO. Avocados are beneficial for humans but harmful for guinea pigs.
The high amount of toxic chemical persin and fatty content causes health issues like diarrhea, obesity, respiratory congestion, and cardiovascular issues in guinea pigs.
If you want to feed avocado to guinea pigs, feed in a small amount. Otherwise, there are many other safe alternatives available out there.
