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Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pears?

There is a lot of interesting facts about those cuties. Guinea pigs have an interesting name, in the first place. They are not pigs at all, of course! We don’t actually know how they got this name, but we know they come from South America, which can be associated with ‘Guinea’ part of the name. As for ‘pigs’, those cute little rodents produce some interesting sounds, which could remind us of piglets. Whatever it may be, guinea pigs are adorable animals. They are now very popular all over the world and commonly taken as pets.

Guinea pigs are entertaining and playful, suitable for many homes. Whether you already have one or you consider getting this tiny fellow, there are things you should know about them, in order to provide your piglet good and happy life. Guinea pigs are active animals, intelligent and curious. They are sociable and friendly and not as timid as you may think, considering their size. Guinea pigs are easily adapted to new environment and they quickly get used to their owners. Guinea pigs require your love and care, but they are not particularly demanding pets.

Guinea pigs are not as fragile as hamsters and they could live up to eight years approximately. If you take good care of your little friends, there would be a lot of funny moments between you two. Guinea pigs are not toys for temporary fun and they rely on you to get them all they need for a quality and long life. This sweet cavy requires a long term commitment. Consider whether you have enough time and patience or not, before you take this gentle animal.

Tips on feeding cavies

Guinea pigs need various nutrients to grow and develop healthy. They are herbivores and they need carbohydrates, proteins, vitamin and minerals to keep in good shape. They are prone to obesity and really enjoy eating, so you need to be cautious with the choice and amounts of food you feed them. There are also toxic food. For examples, guinea pigs should not eat onions.

Cavies are given constantly growing teeth, so it is of serious importance to always have something to sharpen them and keep in proper shape.  They need unlimited supplies of fresh and clean water, in the first place. Always make sure your pet’s bowel is full of water and unspoiled. The second important thing are unlimited supplies of grass and hay. Hay is important for their teeth and really good for digestion.

In addition, hay won’t get them fat, which is extremely important, as well. You should feed your cavy both grass hay and legume hay. Grass hay is to be given all the time and legume in special conditions, such as pregnancy, for example.

Pellets for guinea pigs are also recommended. They are to be served daily, but of lower priority compared to grass hay.

Besides those, vegetables and fruits are welcome, as well. Veggies are also good for daily nutrition, in small amounts and fruits are more of a treat for cavies, because of sugar and acidic content, their seeds and such. You should know the most important nutrient for guinea pigs is vitamin C. It could be provided from fruits like cantaloupes and vegetables and if this is not enough, there are supplements to be given, of course.

Sweet pears for your cavy

Fruits are good for cavies and they enjoy eating it. However, there are things you should pay attention on when feeding your pet fruits. All of them contain natural sugar, some fruits less, others more. You already know guinea pigs are prone to obesity and diabetes. Too much sugar could be really harmful for those cuties. Although we consider fruits sugars good ones, guinea pigs are small creatures and they don’t need much of it to get ill. So, it is important to keep fruits in moderation and use it as a treat.

Pears are good for cavies and your dear piggy would most certainly be really happy to taste it. You should introduce new viands gradually, of course. So, give it really small piece of sweet, juicy pear to see how it behaves. If it doesn’t get any problems, you can safely feed it pears as an occasional treat. This means to feed your guinea pig a small piece, about 1/8 wedge of fruit, one or maximum two times per week.

Pear skin is okay for guinea pigs, so you don’t have to peel it. Remove the seeds. Fruits like pears and apples have toxic seeds, with traces of cyanide. Considering cavies are small, even a little dose could be dangerous. So, avoid risk and slice this delicious fruit without seeds. To avoid other potential dangers, try to find organically grown pears or at least rinse it thoroughly. This applies on all raw food, meaning fresh fruits and vegetables.

Pears are nutritious and they contain valuable vitamins your pet needs. They are guinea pig friendly, but to be given with caution. Treat your piglet delicious wedges of pears a couple times a week, seedless.