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Can Guinea Pigs Eat Blueberries?

Many of us love to eat fruits not only for their tastes, but also for their incredible health benefits. And if we make a list of our favorite fruits, we can never ignore berries, including strawberries and blueberries. Though many food supplements are manufactured with the flavor of berries, it is more enjoyable to eat the fruit itself.

However, sometimes we try to offer blueberries to our furry friends, like guinea pigs. To find out if these fruits are really suitable for your guinea pigs’ health, you can have a glance at the following information.

Blueberries are obviously the best source of nutrients for our body. However, we do not know whether these fruits can be a preferable option for our guinea pigs also. The systems of our body are surely not same as that of cavies, and that is why it is necessary to find the opinion of the experts.

Do blueberries have nutrients?

It is a fact that vitamin C is easily available from blueberries, and this vitamin is always essential for your cavy’s body because your little pet has not the ability to produce the vitamin within their body. In addition to vitamin C, blueberries also contain nutritional fiber, fats, protein and vitamin B6, B9, B5, K and C. Besides, there are some traces of minerals, like calcium, zinc, sodium, iron and phosphorus.

However, the level of phosphorus and fat is not so high, and oxalate acid is also not found in blueberries. It is obviously the positive aspect of blueberries as oxalic acid gets blended with some calcium and creates stones within your body of your little furry buddy. Researchers have also found out the blueberries are helpful for your pet to gain cognitive benefits, cardiovascular wellbeing, anti-cancer effects and health of the eyes. Beetroot doesn’t have oxalates as well, if you’re looking to mix things up.

Disadvantages in consuming blueberries

One thing, which you must consider, is that though blueberries have a high amount of vitamin C, they have a large amount of sugar, and it is one of the negative properties, you may find in blueberries, as any other fruits. Due to this sugar, your pet may face a number of health-related problems. However, you will be able to keep your guinea pigs away from all these physical issues by maintaining the moderate amount, while offering blueberries.

If you have nurtured a guinea pig from its early stage in life, then you have perhaps noticed that these animals are much persuasive. In other words, as these small creatures are very cute, they may win over their owners easily and convince them to give more amount of food that they prefer. But, for the benefit of your little guinea pig, you have to consider moderation, while giving any food that is not much good for your pet’s health. It means that the pet owners have to be restricted in this matter and should not be lured due to their cuteness.

Thus, all the foods, including blueberries, which have to be given to your guinea pigs, must be moderate in quantity. The most desirable thing that you may do now for a cavy is to confirm that this little creature has required food, i.e., hay, which can be chewed on very easily. Besides, it is also important to find that clean water is accessible to your cavy. Moreover, though blueberries have vitamin C, you may also look for pellets that are fortified with this vitamin.

Blueberries – In what form are they best for cavies?

If you like to start introducing blueberries to guinea pigs, then you may freeze the fresh blueberry without hampering anthocyanin antioxidants, and it is better to chill the fruits at about 0°F for three to six months. These frozen blueberries are really wonderful in their taste.

However, on the other hand, many vets recommend that it is not good to give frozen blueberries to your guinea pigs. Only soften them at first. In general, frozen foodstuffs are not suggested for the cavies. The digestive organs of guinea pigs are extremely sensitive; in fact, chilly foods perhaps cause upset stomach or diarrhea.

Many owners of cavies have also a question regarding the amount of blueberries to be provided to their pets. They have to remember that it is best to offer this fruit about two times in every week. With these suggestions, you may be competent to lessen the possibilities of any health risk of your cavy, caused by high sugar content.

Moreover, as blueberry is a very small sized fruit, you never need to slice them in several bits. You may give your pet the whole fruit, and the little creature will surely enjoy it.

Dried blueberries are also not the bad options for guinea pigs; however, at this point, you need to keep in mind that a better restriction is needed. The sugar content in these dried blueberries is higher than that of the raw ones.

So, you may face more trouble, while feeding your cavy with these blueberries. Always make certain that you will never offer it regularly; give the cavy dried blueberries just one time.

So, you have perhaps realized that there is no problem in the consumption of blueberries by guinea pigs, only if you are really ready to have a control on the amount to be given. A couple of blueberries on a single week may be sufficient. Most possibly, your cavies like to eat these small fruits. However, it does not mean that a guinea pig has to eat any amount as they want.

Read about feeding guinea pigs with grass next.