Can Guinea Pigs Eat Avocado?
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Great in guacamole and tasty on toast, avocado is a dark green fruit that’s one of a kind. It’s one of the hottest foods of the moment simply because it’s so nutritious!
If you’re a fan of avocado, you probably wonder if you can share a little bit with your cavy.
Here’s the thing: foods that are great for humans aren’t always good for our pets – and avocado is one of them.
While a little lick might not be poisonous, there are some very good reasons to keep avocado out of your guinea pig’s diet.
Avocado Nutrition Stats
Avocado might not be good for your guinea pig, but it’s a very good source of the healthy fat your body needs.
If you eat an entire medium-sized ripe avocado, you’ll get about:
- 322 calories
- 17 g carbohydrates
- 5 g fiber
- 4 g protein
- 5 g fat
Avocado Nutritional Facts
Don’t let the high fat content fool you. Avocado is an incredible source of vitamins and minerals including high levels of vitamin K and folate.
That same medium avocado gives you approximately:
- 2 mcg vitamin K
- 975 mg potassium
- 1 mg vitamin C
- .5 mg vitamin B6
- .3 mg manganese
- 3 mg magnesium
- 8 mg pantothenic acid
- 2 mg vitamin E
Can Guinea Pigs Have Avocado?
Unfortunately, guinea pigs can’t have avocado. The high fat content makes avocado very difficult for cavies to digest.
In addition, avocadoes contain a substance called persin, which can cause diarrhea. This toxin is concentrated in the avocado’s skin, leaves, bark and pit.
It is also present in the green flesh in small amounts.
Is Avocado Good For Guinea Pigs?
Even though avocado contains nutrients that guinea pigs need, it isn’t a good choice simply because it is so dangerous.
The risks outweigh the benefits when it comes to avocado for cavies, so keep this fruit off your pet’s menu!
Do Guinea Pigs Like Avocado?
We’ve heard mixed reports, with some people reporting that their cavies enjoyed avocado and with others mentioning that their piggies didn’t like the taste.
Since avocado isn’t good for guinea pigs, we haven’t tried to feed it to our own cavies.
How Much Avocado Can A Guinea Pig Eat?
Here’s how much avocado a to feed your guinea pig:
| Age | Amount |
| Baby guinea pig | None |
| Adult guinea pig | None |
Even though some sources say that “a little bit” of avocado won’t harm your guinea pig, we’d rather err on the side of caution.
It’s best not to give avocado to a guinea pig, even in small quantities.
How Often Can A Guinea Pig Eat Avocado?
We’re going to stand our ground here and say “Never.”
Keep the avocado for yourself and enjoy it! After all, it’s good for you.
The Correct Diet Is Important
Since a guinea pig’s natural diet is based almost entirely on grasses and small plants, you’ll want to offer similar foods to your cavy. As you probably can’t spend your time foraging for your guinea pig’s food, the best replacement is fresh hay, preferably Timothy.
Besides hay and a drinking bottle filled with clean, fresh water, guinea pigs need:
- Guinea pig pellets fortified with vitamin C (Check the label for serving amount)
- About one cup of fresh vegetables each day, divided into at least two smaller meals if possible
What Are Other Healthy Alternatives To Avocado In A Guinea Pig’s Diet?
Since guinea pigs shouldn’t eat avocado, what can you give them instead?
As it turns out, there are lots of options. Here’s list of guinea pig-approved foods to help you get started:
- green beans
- artichoke
- parsley
- basil
- beets
- beet tops
- cilantro
- carrot
- carrot tops
- romaine
- mint
- arugula
- swiss chard
- cabbage
- sweet potato
- butter lettuce
- cucumber
- buttercrunch lettuce
- bibb lettuce
- escarole
- rocket
- spinach
- bell pepper
- endive
- parsnip
- zucchini
- summer squash
- pumpkin
- tomato
- bok choy
- asparagus
- yu choy
- broccolini
- broccoli
- brussels sprouts
- cauliflower
- watercress
Even though there are lots of veggies and herbs on this list, it’s really only the tip of the iceberg. There are lots of other fruits and vegetables that are safe for guinea pigs to have!
Now that you’ve learned about the dangers of giving your guinea pig avocado, why not try a different snack?
Just remember to spend a few minutes reading up so that you’ll know how much to offer and how often to give each item to your cavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is avocado safe for guinea pigs?
No, avocado contains a toxin called persin that can make your guinea pig very sick. At high levels, this toxin can threaten your pet’s life.
Can avocado make my guinea pig sick?
Yes. Not only is avocado toxic to guinea pigs, it’s also very high in fat. Guinea pigs’ digestive systems aren’t designed to absorb much fat at all, so fatty foods like avocado can lead to serious abdominal pain and cause digestive distress.
