Guinea Pigs are usually cute little pets that can have hair or be hairless. They make ideal first pets for families with young children. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Walnuts? No, they can’t. Their diet is relatively limited, but they cannot eat walnuts or other nuts in general. Walnuts can bring on digestive issues, but your guinea pig can develop a life-threatening allergy to nuts.
What is a Guinea Pig?
A domesticated species of South American rodent, the guinea pig, belongs to the cava family (Caviidae). It shares characteristics with others in the same rodent family with its strong body, large eyes, head, and short ears and limbs. They can weigh anywhere from one to three pounds in their domestic life.
The guinea pig can live up to eight years if cared for properly. They grow to be eight to ten inches long when they reach adulthood. Interestingly enough, guinea pigs like to socialize, and you should count on interacting with them at least once a day. They will come out of hiding if they sense someone is there with whom they can play!
An issue with the growth of guinea pigs into healthy adults is that their teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime, so they constantly need to use chew sticks, mineral sticks, hay to avoid problems with the teeth. Guinea pigs do not live in the wild.
What Should You Feed Your Guinea Pig?
Before feeding anything to your pet guinea pig, you should do extensive research into what is good and what is bad for your little critter. You can also consult a local vet, and he or she will also fill you in.
To answer the question, can guinea pigs eat walnuts? The answer is no; they cannot. Some people try to feed them nuts of all types, but that is not a wise idea. If your pet would eat an occasional nut, it probably would not kill them, but since there is no nutritional value for guinea pigs, why would you do that?
Peanuts, almonds, and walnuts are all high in carbohydrates and fats, and because a guinea pig’s diet should consist of foods low in both, it is just best to keep them out of your pet’s diet.
Do You Know?
Guinea Pigs can eat a variety of foods, we have researched lots of them. Check out this One: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eat Mandarins?
What Should Your Pet Guinea Pig Eat?
The best food to feed your pet is pelleted food specially formulated just for guinea pigs. This food should be very high quality and should be about three-quarters of a cup daily. The number one best food to feed you guinea pig is Timothy Hay. It is available at most stores that carry pet food.
They should also be given an unlimited amount of timothy hay or other grasses. They include meadow hay, oat hay, or orchard grass. In addition, your guinea pig can eat limited and small amounts of vegetables. Guinea pigs need Vitamin C, and fruits and vegetables in small amounts can provide that necessary nutrient.
Are Nuts Ever Okay to Feed Guinea Pigs?
As discussed, it is not okay to feed guinea pigs nuts for the following reasons:
- Nuts like peanuts and almonds are not a responsible nutritional choice for your guinea pig.
- Can guinea pigs eat walnuts? The answer is still no and it is specifically so because your animal can develop an allergic reaction to the walnut and perhaps other nuts as well.
- Walnuts are especially harmful to guinea pigs because they also can lead to other chronic health issues for your pet.
- Because they are rodents, guinea pigs are ‘grazers’. This means that the digestive system of the guinea pig is a very fragile and they are constantly developing their digestive system as well as the rest of their little bodies.
- Their digestive system is very fragile and prone to upset when fed foods they cannot handle. They can’t digest salty foods or ones containing fats or sugar.
- Giving your pet ‘a treat’ of food containing any of these additives will not be a treat at all when the guinea pig develops diarrhea and bloating.
The Consequences of Feeding Your Pet Nuts and Especially Walnuts
Walnuts can not only bring on digestive issues, but your guinea pig can develop a life-threatening allergy to nuts. The symptom of an allergy in a guinea pig can manifest themselves as itching and sneezing, wheezing, or a shortage of breath.
Why would a diligent owner expose their guinea pet to any chance of this occurring? In short, just refrain from giving nuts to your guinea pig.
