Every guinea pig owner wants to share almost everything with their piggie. He often wonders, can guinea pigs eat avocados? It is very loud and clear that guinea pigs can’t eat avocados.
Avocados are not safe to feed to guinea pigs. Guinea pigs suffer from digestive problems, and they can develop life-threatening problems if they eat avocados; because avocados are toxic for guinea pigs.
Avocados are almost an essential part of the human diet. Humans love to eat avocados as it is very tasty and nutritious. Avocados are full of essential nutrients and vitamins, and they are a part of our cuisine.
Being so many benefits in mind, would it not be difficult to believe that avocados are toxic to guinea pigs. No matter how difficult it is to understand, you must understand that not everything good for humans is good for guinea pigs.
Especially in the case of avocados, you must keep in mind not to let your guinea pigs anywhere near the avocados. Read on to know the exact cause of eliminating avocados from your guinea pig’s life.
Is Avocado Good for Guinea Pigs?
Can guinea pigs eat avocados? No, avocados are not good for your guinea pig’s health. Despite being healthy and nutritious for humans, they pose a serious threat to your piggie’s life.
The main ingredient that is responsible for the toxicity of avocado is persin. This toxic substance is present in large amounts in the leaves, skin, bark, and pit, and a small amount is accumulated in avocado’s flesh.
Persin is not toxic for humans. The human digestive system is adapted to deal with persin. However, the guinea pig’s digestive system is sensitive, and it cant neutralize persin.
This statement clarifies why avocado is safe for humans but harmful for piggies. In guinea pigs, persin can cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.
What are the toxic effects of avocado?
You have to understand why avocado is not safe for guinea pigs. Looking at the facts about avocado, we don’t recommend you to add it to your piggie’s diet plan. Your piggie’s diet must be free of toxic substances.
Avocados can cause an accumulation of fluid around the heart and lungs of your piggie. The toxic agent, persin, is an oil-soluble compound that has enormous adverse effects on guinea pigs and other species.
The toxic effects of avocado do not end here. Avocado toxicity can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.
You can observe avocado toxicity by observing above mentioned symptoms. If you observe these symptoms in your guinea pig, you need to visit a veterinarian.
Do You Know About Raisins?
Lots of snacks are safe for guinea pigs, but some snacks you should not give your pet. We sat down and did some research, and our vet has verified it: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raisins?
What Happens When Guinea Pigs Eat Avocado?
Can guinea pigs eat avocados? Ingesting avocado by your guinea pig can be life-threatening. A small amount of avocado may not cause severe symptoms in your piggy.
But still, you should not give avocado to your guinea pig. However, if the amount of avocado exceeds the safe limits, the following adverse effects can happen.
Avocado Slows Down The Digestion Of Guinea Pigs
The guinea pig’s digestive system gets affected by the ingredients present in the avocado. Avocados contain an excess amount of fatty acids.
The digestive of your piggie is not adapted to digest this many fatty acids. Therefore, the digestive system gets upset by it.
Not only guinea pigs but most pets also are not adapted to digest high-fat contents. Avocado also slows down the digestive process, which impedes digestion.
Avocado Affects Weight
Feeding excess avocado can build weight, and your piggie can become obese. Avocado contains carbohydrate and fatty acids in high amounts that can be harmful to developing weight. Obesity is a problem; additionally, it can make your piggie develop secondary diseases.
Obesity increases heart problems, kidney problems, and metabolic diseases. It is another reason you should avoid adding avocado to your piggie’s diet.
Avocado Creates Urinary Problems
Avocado is high in minerals such as calcium and sodium. Excess minerals can cause urinary problems such as kidney stones. Pancreatitis is another condition that can develop because of excess feeding of avocados.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Avocado Skin?
Can guinea pigs eat avocados? What about the avocado skin? No, your guinea pig can’t eat avocado skin because it contains toxic ingredients harmful to your guinea pig.
As I mentioned above, avocado contains persin accumulated in the leaves, bark, and flesh in the skin of the avocado. Therefore, it is not recommended to feed avocado skin to your guinea pig.
Conclusion – Can guinea pigs eat avocados?
If you still wonder, can guinea pigs eat avocado? It is clearly no. You should not feed avocado to your guinea pig because it is toxic.
