Are you wondering if guinea pigs can eat applesauce? You’ll find the answer to that question in this article. In addition, you will find other useful information about applesauce such as its nutritional benefits and much more.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Applesauce?
Yes, Guinea Pigs can eat applesauce. As a matter of fact, they gobble this yummy treat at the very sight of it thanks to its high sugar content (pun intended). Unfortunately, too much sugar is harmful to their gut health.
It can also cause increased blood sugar levels, obesity and other health problems. Therefore, if you must feed our guinea pigs with applesauce, we strongly advise you do so in moderation.
Nutritional contents of Applesauce
As the name suggests, the main ingredient in applesauce is apples which are quite nutritional for humans and pets. But, can we say the same for applesauce?
The table below shows the nutritional contents of 250g of store-bought applesauce.
| Item No. | Nutrient | Quantity |
| 1 | Calorie | 170 |
| 2 | Proteins | 0.4g |
| 3 | Fat | 0.4g |
| 4 | Carbohydrates | 44g |
| 5 | Dietary Fiber | 3g |
| 6 | Sugar | 37g |
| 7 | Sodium | 5mg |
| 8 | potassium | 188mg |
| 9 | Calcium | 7.5mg |
| 10 | Iron | 0.3mg |
Some store-bought applesauce also contain ascorbic acid as preservatives. Although applesauce has high sugar content, it contains the following vitamins and minerals that can help your guinea pigs grow healthy.
- Potassium – Controls fluid balance, lowers blood pressure, and guards against kidney stones
- Calcium – For stronger bones and teeth. Promotes stronger muscles and regulates blood pressure.
- Iron – Improves reproductive health, growth and development
- Sodium – Promotes proper nutrient absorption and keeps cells hydrated
You might also like: How Much Water Do Guinea Pigs Drink?
How To Feed Guinea Pigs With Applesauce
As with every food, moderation is very important when feeding your guinea pigs applesauce. Here’s how to feed your cavies applesauce the proper way.
- Feed guinea pigs applesauce only once a week.
- The quantity of the applesauce shouldn’t be more than one or two drops on their food troughs along with their regular meal.
Can I feed Pup Guinea Pigs With Applesauce?
The answer to this question is a big NO! The reason is, pup guinea pigs have a delicate digestive system which cannot digest applesauce properly.
Therefore, feeding pups with applesauce can cause serious stomach upset and probably lead to their death.
Additionally, since pups’ parents feed their babies with breast milk a few times a day, you don’t need to feed them at this stage.
However, on some occasions when a pup’s mother ignores her baby and you have to intervene, It is recommended that you feed it with pups’ foods bought from pet supply shops only.
Can I feed my Guinea Pigs with Homemade Applesauce?
As a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t feed your pets cooked meals. Moreover, cooked foods containing added sugars can pose a serious threat to your pet’s health.
For instance, feeding your cavies homemade applesauce could cause GI (Gastrointestinal) disorders. This disorder can lead to the death of the guinea pig if not properly treated.
Equally important, homemade applesauce contains cinnamon which is not safe for their consumption.
With that being said, if you must feed your guinea pigs with applesauce, make sure to source for high-quality store-bought ones. You should also check the label for words like “unsweetened” or “no added sugars”.
You might also like: Do Guinea Pigs Eat Hay?
Advantages of Feeding Guinea Pigs With Applesauce
The advantages of feeding guinea pigs with applesauce are not many. That’s because applesauce contains a lot of sugar that can harm your guinea pigs.
However, applesauce also contains key vitamins such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, and magnesium. These vitamins help the guinea pigs to absorb nutrients and boost their immune systems.
Interestingly, these vitamins can also be gotten from fresh fruits and veggies that are safe to feed your guinea pigs daily.
Conclusion
Applesauce is a yummy treat for guinea pigs but it isn’t totally safe for their consumption. However, if you feed applesauce to your guinea pigs as outlined in the “How To Feed Guinea Pigs With Applesauce” section, there should be no adverse effect.
Nonetheless, applesauce is more beneficial to humans than guinea pigs. Hence, you don’t really need to include it in their diet.
I am a huge animal lover and have four dogs, a Labrador, Jack Russell, Pug, and Teacup Yorkie. I also have a cat and a Cockatiel. I have had pets since I was a toddler, and there was not a day when there wasn’t an animal in my house.
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