Can Guinea Pigs Eat Chicken?

As responsible pet owners, we want to ensure that our pets never go hungry, and that they eat nutritious and healthy food. Here are a few things to consider when asking the question: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Chicken?”

As Pets, Can Guinea Pigs Eat Chicken?

Since your little Guinea pig is strictly herbivorous, they have no physical means of digesting chicken meat. Since this isn’t a natural part of the food chain, the only way these furry ones would even eat or get to eat chicken would be with human intervention.

As herbivores, Guinea pigs’ natural diet consists of grass, hay, and greens. They do not have the enzymes and gut bacteria to break down chicken (or any other type of meat) for proper consumption. This also means that if they do end up eating chicken, your Guinea pigs will just have undigested food in their system. In large quantities, this is potentially harmful to your little furry ones.

The Risks to Guinea Pigs Eating Chicken

Since Chicken is not a natural part of any Guinea pig’s menu, the only ways they would actually eat chicken would be if the owners force-fed them some, or if they accidentally swallowed a piece of meat lying around near their dish or bowl of food. So what exactly would happen if your furry one were to eat some chicken, whether forced or accidentally? Below are a few scenarios:

1. Bloating or other gut-related concerns – Because your little furry ones do not have the natural enzymes in their stomachs or intestines to properly digest and consume the piece of chicken meat, this would just take up space and fester inside of them. Having Unprocessable meat in their belly would lead to bloating and discomfort because of gassy buildup. In some cases, this may also lead to diarrhea, which may lead further into dehydration because of fluid loss through uncontrolled bowel movement. On the other hand, it is also possible that your Guinea pig will become constipated because they consumed meat that they cannot digest.
2. Circulatory Problems – Because the amount of Cholesterol and Fat in Chicken meat is more than the recommended amount for Guinea Pigs, the long term effects of eating Chicken could lead to circulatory and heart problems. Consuming excess fat and cholesterol could lead to blood vessel blockage and increased blood pressure among other chronic ailments. Combined with issues arising from inability to digest, heart and circulatory problems could compound into worse situations for your Guinea Pig.
3. Chicken-borne Diseases – Chicken meat is notoriously associated with the bacteria Salmonella, especially when served uncooked. Because Guinea pigs don’t usually need to cook their food prior to eating (unlike humans), then there is a big chance that consuming chicken meat could lead to salmonella poisoning. Although this risk is also present with uncooked vegetables and other foods that your Guinea Pig is used to eating, the benefits outweigh the risks when feeding the healthier option.

In Summary : Your Guinea Pig Can Not Eat Chicken

Simple explanation is that your little furry pet is a herbivore, therefore, it should stick to eating fruits,  vegetables, herbs, and other plant-based food. When introducing a food that is not part of their diet, the risks to their health increase and may lead to serious complications.