The most important things that you should feed your guinea pig are grass hay of high quality, fresh water and guinea pig pellets that contain vitamin C.
You can also feed your guinea pig vegetables and fruits, but only as occasional treats. These foods should not be a regular part of guinea pigs diet. Before feeding your guinea pig you should know which foods are safe for them and which can be harmful.
In this article you will find out more about onions and their effects on guinea pigs health.
More about Onions
Onion is a vegetable that belongs to the genus Allium and it is the most widely cultivated species of this genus. Onion is also called common onion or bulb onion. Onions can be eaten raw, but they can also be boiled, grilled, fried and roasted. Onions are usually chopped and used as an ingredient in many dishes. Onions are known for its chemical substances that can irritate the eyes. Onions are rich in phytochemical compounds that can have many health benefits for people.
Also, they are rich in vitamin A and they fight free radicals. If you use onions regularly in your diet, they can reduce the risk of gastric ulcers and cancer.
As you can see, onions are good for people’s health, but can we give them to our little pets? Continue reading and find out. Or you can also read about plums.
Are Onions Safe for Guinea Pigs?
If you are a guinea pig owner, you may be wondering whether onions are safe for your guinea pig or not. Unfortunately, we don’t have good news for you. Guinea pigs should never eat onions, because onions are very poisonous for them. Onions are on the list of foods that are toxic to guinea pigs, so avoid feeding your guinea pig this vegetable. Even a small amount of onions can be fatal for your guinea pig. Onions don’t have nutritional value for guinea pigs and they can be very harmful to their health.
Actually, onions contain compound called disulphide that can harm red blood cells of your guinea pig and can also destroy the ability of the cells to carry oxygen through the blood stream of guinea pigs. In this case your guinea pig may become anemic and weak and it might not be able to breathe correctly. In some cases the consequences can be fatal for your guinea pig, especially if you use onions in the long run.
Although some pet owners think that guinea pigs can eat the green parts of onions, it is best to avoid onions completely. If you want to keep your guinea pig healthy you should find some other vegetable to feed your pet.
Summary
As you have seen in this article, onions are not safe for guinea pigs and they can cause many health issues.
So, if you want to diversify the diet of your guinea pig, use vegetables or fruits that are on the list of safe foods for guinea pigs. Pumpkins are a good choice, but not by much. They should be given sparingly and not as a daily part of your guinea pig’s diet.
