can guinea pigs eat meat

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Meat?

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 Meat?”

As Pets, Can Guinea Pigs Eat Meat?

Given that your furry little one is an obligate herbivore, this means they can only eat plants or plant-based food. Although sometimes, they mistakenly eat processed meat such as cat food, Guinea Pigs can only eat these in very small quantities. Your guinea pigs may not immediately die from ingesting meat, but they would still be better off eating other food that are more nutritious for them, and better fit to their diet. It is always best to remember that guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are naturally and physically built to feed on grass, hay, and other similar plant life. They have molars which allow them to process plants best among all types of food. Another thing to consider is that the guinea pig does not receive any nutritional value from any form of meat.

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Benefits of Eating Meat for Guinea Pigs

Because they are not built to eat meat, your guinea pigs’ only benefit would be to get full from the experience. However, this would prove a potentially fatal experience just to get full from eating meat. It may be more beneficial to get full from eating some other food that is more suited to their diets such as hay or grass.

The Risks to Guinea Pigs Eating Meat

As previously stated, Guinea Pigs are herbivores with bodies built to feed on the greens of the land. Eating any form of meat may lead to digestive problems with your pet, especially when consumed in excess.. One or more of the following gut and digestive complications may come up with too much consumption of any type of meat for guinea pigs — diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, stomach pain, and obesity. 

It is very important to observe the pet food ingredients, especially those that contain animal protein, which could cause an upset in the guinea pig’s intestinal tract and give it diarrhea. We need to stress and re-stress that Guinea pigs are herbivores, and their diets should consist of grass, hay and fresh vegetables.

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Best Food for Guinea Pigs

It is important to understand what to feed your pet, especially if you have more than one kind of animal. Guinea pigs require a special diet. Only a veterinarian should decide what food animals should have, so you need to consult with the vet if there are any doubts about the proper diet for your guinea pig.

Among the many types of food that are better for guinea pigs are:

  1. Vegetables – As herbivores, Guinea Pigs benefit the most from eating vegetables. From among the many different kinds of healthy vegetables, your pets will benefit most from carrots, green beans, peas, and corn, not just because these are bite-sized, but because these are high in nutrients such as fiber and vitamins.
  2. Fruits – Also a great source of fiber and vitamins (which is low in fat) are fruits such as apples and bananas. Aside from being delicious and nutritious for your pets, fruits such as these are also excellent sources of water, helping to keep your pets hydrated, and of sugar, which give your pets a great energy boost.
  3. Grains – High fiber foods such as oats and rice are not only great for digestion and consumption, but these carbohydrates also provide energy to your pets to get through their day.
  4. Legumes – Your pets need protein in their diet, which they can easily get from sources such as beans and other legumes.

In Summary: You Should not feed ANY type of meat to Guinea Pigs

Responsible owners should never feed their guinea pig any form of meat. Aside from being high in protein and fat, and low in fiber, Guinea pigs are just simply not built to digest the meat of animals. Guinea pigs require high-fiber diets and products higher in protein may actually cause diseases.

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