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Can guinea pigs eat pears? Guinea pigs love to eat pears as they are beneficial for their whole system. Pears are sweet and contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. More than 3000 pear varieties are found worldwide. Can guinea pigs eat pears? The answer is yes, but it needs more discussion than a simple yes.
Being herbivores, guinea pigs can eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Because of the plethora of food options available, it isn’t easy to decide what to feed your pet and what not. Humans love to eat pears at any time, and they might be favorites for many of us.
Can guinea pigs eat pears? But do guinea pigs like pears? Yes, they do. Do pears have health benefits for them? Are there any side effects of pears for them? Read further to figure out all the answers to your questions.
Do Guinea Pigs Love Pears?
Guinea Pigs like to have pears, although they are not a necessary part of their diet. Well, it’s fine to serve pears to them. It’s worth mentioning here that the life expectancy of guinea pigs is related to the diet they get.
Considering guinea pigs provide small pieces of pears rather than large ones. As a result, they consume small amounts of pears, saving them from becoming overweight.
However, a moderate amount of pears are given to guinea pigs because they belong to the sugary and acidic fruit category.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pear’s Skin?
Yes, guinea pigs can consume pear’s skin as well. But the important thing to remember is that the surface of pears is rich in sugar content. So, the quantity should be limited.
To avoid the intake of pesticides and harmful chemicals, you should properly wash the pear before feeding them.
How Many Pears Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
As discussed above, it’s important to offer a moderate amount of pears to guinea pigs. Letting them consume pears more than one or two times a week can negatively affect their health.
In case of any side effects, you should reduce the amount, but if everything goes smoothly, you can continue regardless. Usually, 1-2 small pieces of pears per week are ideal.
However, you should serve them in a minute quantity first to check if they like it or not.
Why Should Guinea Pigs Eat Pears?
Although fruits aren’t a major part of their diet, pears offer numerous benefits to guinea pigs. These include,
1. Healthy Blood
The copper in pears is beneficial for blood purification and lowers the risk of anemia.
2. Enhance Immunity
Besides blood purification, the 4% copper element increases red blood cells, enhancing immunity. Moreover, vet visits also get reduced when you serve them a moderate amount of pears.
3. Healthy Cardio System
The lower amount of fat found in pears reduces the risk of heart diseases. In addition, the cardiovascular system works well because of lower cholesterol.
4. Improve Digestion
Being a good source of fibers, the moderate amount of pears is valuable in improving digestion.
5. Hydration
Pears contain 84% of water, which is quite helpful to keep them hydrated as it’s not easy for pets to drink enough water.
Do You Know About Potatoes?
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 Potatoes?
3 Possible Risks OF Feeding Pears to Guinea Pigs
Besides pros, there are also some risk factors of consuming excessive pears for guinea pigs. Some of them are:
1. Weight Gain
Pears are rich in carbs and sugars that result in weight gain. It also affects the long lifespan of guinea pigs.
2. Digestive Problems
The excessive consumption of pears leads to digestive problems in piggy. For instance, you might observe mouth sores and diarrhea in them.
3. Urinary Issues
Overeating pears having calcium gives rise to bladder and kidney stones. It’s time to see a vet when you notice blood in their urine.
What Kinds of Pears Aren’t Safe for Guinea Pigs?
Well, cavies like all varieties of pears as they contain vitamins and minerals. But following are the pear varieties that you should avoid giving them:
- Frozen Pears can risk their nutritional effectiveness for cavies.
- Canned Pears contain additives along with added sugar and fruit juice. Furthermore, they have less nutritional importance than fresh ones.
- Juiced Pears have plenty of sugar that is not good for your cavies’ health.
Final Thoughts – Can guinea pigs eat pears?
Can guinea pigs eat pears? Are pears good for a guinea pig? Yes, they are. Pears aren’t a part of the guinea pig’s natural diet.
But they can be a healthy addition when served in a moderate amount. Although its benefits dominate the risk factors, pears aren’t safe for cavies in excess.
It’s better to wash pears thoroughly before feeding your pet. It’s not safe to offer frozen, canned, or juiced pears to your guinea pig. Strawberries, apples, melons, pumpkin, and carrots are some good alternatives to pear for them.
