Guinea pigs love to munch on vegetables like cabbage and kale. However, that does mean that every vegetable is good for them.
Read this article to learn more about your guinea pig’s dietary needs and what to feed them to keep them healthy.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Onions?
Green onions – also known as scallions— are pretty versatile and can be cooked or eaten raw.
Green onions are healthy vegetables but are they good for your guinea pig?
Your guinea pig can only eat the green leafy part of the green onion since the bulb may have toxic nutrients that can harm your pet.
Remember to wash the green leafy part before serving it to your pet since it may contain pesticides.
Some guinea pigs do not like the taste of green onions, so make sure never to force your guinea pig to eat them if they do not want to.
Green Onions Are Rich in Nutrients for Guinea Pig
Green onions have various nutrients like proteins and carbs, which help make your guinea pig more energetic throughout the day.
Green onions also have fiber, which can help with digestion and regulate your guinea pig’s bowel movements.
Another good thing about green onions is that they barely have fat.
This reduces the chances of clogged arteries and heart diseases and results in healthy blood vessels.
Green onions also contain vitamins like E, B6 and C. Vitamin E prevents cancer and help with healthy eyesight and skin.
Vitamin C also helps prevent and cure scurvy in your pet and reduces the chances of diarrhea.
Vitamin C is essential for guinea pigs since they cannot produce any themselves and need it from the food they consume.
Vitamin B6 produces serotonin in your pet’s body, which is essential for guinea pigs that are pregnant.
It can help with a smoother birth and the growth of the fetus.
Other than vitamins, green onions also have iron and zinc, which can make your guinea pig’s bones and teeth strong and improve their metabolism.
Risk of Feeding Green Onions to Your Guinea Pig
Although green onions are nutritious for guinea pigs, below are some risks that you need to know about:
Toxic Bulb
The bulb of the onion is toxic and should not be consumed by your guinea pig under any circumstances.
Even a small amount of the green onion bulb can poison your pet, which can have drastic results.
The bulb contains thiosulphates and disulfides which can easily damage your pet’s red blood cells and give them fatal diseases like kidney stones and low blood circulation.
Bad Phosphorus to Calcium Ratio
While calcium is good for your guinea pig, phosphorus is not.
Since green onions contain more phosphorus than calcium, your little pet can be easily poisoned, which can have fatal results.
Can You Remove Toxicity from Green Onion Bulbs?
Since green onion is a vegetable, you may be thinking of giving it to your guinea pig after removing the toxins from the bulb.
Keep in mind that you cannot remove the toxins present in the green onion no matter what you do.
Several food items that contain toxins become less poisonous after they are cooked, but that is not the case with green onions.
No matter how many times you cook this vegetable, the toxins will still be present in the onion bulb.
It is also essential to remember that your guinea pig cannot digest cooked foods.
Even if you do find a way to remove toxins after cooking the green onions, your guinea pig will only get sick if you give them cooked food.
What Should You Do When Your Guinea Pig Eats Green Onions?
Guinea pigs love to run around and munch on whatever they find, so it is possible that they may accidentally eat green onions.
If your pet eats green onions by mistake, don’t panic. Try to figure out the quantity they have eaten.
If your guinea pig has only consumed a few grams, they will not get sick.
On the other hand, if they have eaten a lot, your guinea pig may suffer from diarrhea and avoid other foods.
Do not wait to monitor your pet’s health or movements after they have consumed onions.
It is best to take them to a vet immediately since they will only get sicker if you do not get proper help.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Red Onions?
Guinea pigs cannot consume red onions since they contain toxins.
Red onions in small amounts can easily damage your pet’s cells, which can result in serious health complications.
Red onions can also reduce the oxygen flow in your guinea pig’s body, which can lead to fatal consequences.
Unlike green onions, you cannot feed any part of the red onion to your pet. Make sure to keep this vegetable away from your guinea pig at all times.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Shallots?
Guinea pigs cannot consume shallots because they contain toxins, like every other onion.
No part of the shallot can be or should be consumed by your pet.
Shallots contain thiosulphates and disulfides, which can cause harm to your pet’s red blood cells.
Other Vegetables That Your Guinea Pig Can Eat
Vegetables contain various nutrients that can keep your pet healthy.
Here are a few vegetables that are good for your guinea pig:
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are good for your guinea pigs since they contain vitamins, which can help them grow big and strong.
Most guinea pigs love chewing on bell peppers. If you feel your pet is a picky eater, you can leave the bell pepper in its cage to determine whether they like bell pepper or not.
If your pet doesn’t touch the bell pepper, remove it after a while before it catches mold.
On the other hand, if your pet eats bell pepper, make it a part of their diet. However, always remember to remove the bell pepper seeds before serving it to your pet.
Cabbage
Cabbage is also a safe and healthy option for your guinea pig.
They will absolutely love munching on the cabbage, which will also make their teeth strong.
You can feed your pet cabbage on a daily basis, but make sure to give it to them in intervals since eating too much cabbage at once can cause diarrhea.
Carrots
Carrots contain vitamins A, C, and K – all of which are beneficial for your guinea pig.
Not only do they give your pet the energy to run around all day long, but they also make their teeth and bones strong.
Make sure to cut the carrot into small pieces so your guinea pig does not find it difficult to chew on this treat.
Conclusion
All kinds of onions are extremely dangerous for your pet. Since guinea pigs are fragile and do not weigh much, even a little toxicity in their system can have serious consequences.
Red onions contain a lot of toxins in every layer, which means you cannot feed them any part of this vegetable.
However, the leafy part of green onion can be consumed by your pet.
If your guinea pig has consumed the bulb of the onion, take them to the vet immediately, or their condition may worsen.
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