Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery?
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If you’ve ever found yourself looking for a low-calorie snack, it’s likely that you’ve chosen celery at least once! After all, it’s crunchy, tasty, and pretty satisfying, too.
But what about your veggie-loving pet? Is it OK for guinea pigs to eat celery, or should you choose something else?
As it turns out, your guinea pig can eat celery – but you need to be careful about how you prepare it.
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Celery Nutrition Stats
For humans – and many veggie-eating animals – celery makes a great snack. It’s got lots of flavor minus the calorie overload that puts so many treats onto the “bad” list.
An entire cup of chopped, raw celery offers:
- 2 calories
- 5 g carbohydrates
- 6 g fiber
- .7 g protein
- .2 g fat
Celery Nutritional Facts
Even though it’s one of the best low-calorie foods around, celery packs a powerful nutritional punch, with plenty of vitamins and minerals.
An entire cup of diced celery contains:
- 26.9 mcg vitamin K
- 453 iu vitamin A
- 263 mg potassium
- 5 mcg folate
- 1 mg vitamin C
- 0.1 mg vitamin B6
- 0.1 mg manganese
- 4 mg calcium
- 1 mg magnesium
- .1 mg riboflavin
- 24 mg phosphorus
Can Guinea Pigs Have Celery?
Absolutely! Guinea pigs can have celery stalks, but keep in mind that these (and other treats) should be enjoyed in moderation rather than as a large part of your pet guinea pig’s diet. Before you run to the produce bin though, there are a few more things you need to know about celery for guinea pigs.
First (and this is really important!) be sure to wash the celery well with clean water. Remove the long, fibrous strands from the celery stalk before you cut it up.
These fibers can become trapped in your guinea pig’s teeth, throat, or digestive tract, leading to serious, painful health problems. Don’t skip this step, even if you’re cutting the celery up into small bits, as these heavy fibers can accumulate even when they’re short.
Is Celery Good For Guinea Pigs?
Your guinea pig will definitely reap some rewards when celery is offered as a treat. All of those vitamins and minerals contribute to good health!
Crunchy treats are fun for your guinea pig to eat, and they’re nutritionally superior to many commercial treats such as yogurt drops.
Celery is only good for guinea pigs that are in good health, without a history of bladder problems or kidney stones. The reason for this is that celery is relatively high in calcium and oxalic acid.
These aren’t problematic in tiny quantities but overdoing it can lead to a recurrence, causing pain and perhaps even shortening your pet’s life. If your guinea pig has ever had kidney or bladder problems, talk with your vet about their diet and look for low-calcium, low-oxalic acid options including romaine lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, and perhaps a few slices of bell pepper.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Celery?
Great question! Some guinea pigs love celery, while a few really do not care for it. Most guinea pigs like celery so go ahead and try treating your pet to this crunchy snack next time you have some on hand.
How Much Celery Can A Guinea Pig Eat?
That’s a great question and we’re glad you asked! Here’s how much celery a to feed your guinea pig:
| Age | Amount |
| Baby guinea pig | None |
| Adult guinea pig | About 2 inches of celery stalk |
When you introduce a new food to your guinea pig, be sure to offer a small amount and then watch for signs of diarrhea over the next several hours. Only give about an inch of celery to your guinea pig the first time; so long as there are no problems, you can offer the full amount next time.
When giving celery to a guinea pig, make sure that you’re offering it alongside other foods that your pet is already familiar with. This will help reduce the likelihood of digestive upset.
How Often Can A Guinea Pig Eat Celery?
Your guinea pig should eat celery only two to three times per week, and even less than that if you’re offering other snacks that are high in calcium and/or oxalic acid. Of course, you can cut the maximum amount into smaller portions and offer a little bit more often, if you like.
The Correct Diet is Important
Guinea pigs and rabbits aren’t related to one another but they do share one very important dietary preference:
- They need fresh hay – without it, they can develop serious health problems. The majority of your guinea pig’s diet should consist of hay, along with an unlimited amount of fresh, clean water. Your guinea pig will play with and nest in the hay, and they’ll nibble on it all day long.
Having access to fresh hay (preferably Timothy hay) does one more thing for your guinea pig: It helps keep their teeth from growing too long.
Besides hay and water, here’s what the ideal guinea pig diet should include:
- A serving of vitamin C enriched guinea pig pellets (check the label since different guinea pig food brands have different recommended serving sizes)
- About a cup of fresh food per day – mostly veggies and a small amount of fruit
What Are Other Healthy Alternatives To Celery In A Guinea Pig’s Diet?
There are lots of healthy veggies for guinea pigs, with leafy vegetables and herbs topping the list. Be sure to look for specific information about each food to ensure that you’re offering the right amount.
Here are some healthy veggies for guinea pigs:
- parsley
- cilantro
- carrots
- carrot tops
- swiss chard
- beets
- beet greens
- asparagus
- spinach
- rocket
- arugula
- romaine lettuce
- butter lettuce
- cabbage
- cucumber
- green beans
- pumpkin
- sweet potato
- summer squash
- zucchini
- tomato
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- endive
- escarole
- yu choy
- bok choy
- kale
- bell peppers
It’s best to rotate your guinea pig’s treats. Offering a varied diet can help prevent excess calcium and oxalic acid buildup while treating your pet to plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Giving your guinea pig celery – so long as it’s the right amount, properly prepared – is a great way to add variety to their daily diet!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is celery safe for guinea pigs?
Yes, it’s safe to feed guinea pigs celery so long as you’re careful to remove all the tough fibers. After removing the fibers, you can either leave the celery stick in one 2-inch long section or you can cut it up into small pieces and drop it into your guinea pig’s food dish. Introduce celery and other new foods slowly and remember to watch for runny stools.
Can I give celery leaves to a guinea pig?
Yes! Many guinea pigs like celery leaves even more than they like crunchy celery stalks. The leaves are high in oxalates and calcium too, so only offer a few leaves at a time, once or twice per week.
Can celery make my guinea pig sick?
Celery can make existing bladder and kidney problems worse for your guinea pig, so don’t offer it if your pet has one of these health issues.
The celery fibers can also make your guinea pig sick – even if they’re otherwise healthy. We’ll remind you one more time: Remove those fibers! They can cause serious problems for your pet.
Can my guinea pig have celery root?
Even though celery root is starchy and not the best treat for your guinea pig, it’s okay to offer a sliver now and then.
