Can Guinea Pigs Eat Potatoes

FurryTips is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
can guinea pigs eat potatoes

Who doesn’t love potatoes? They can be cooked in various ways and surely taste delicious, but can you share them with your furry pet? Can guinea pigs eat potatoes? You might have potatoes for dinner quite often, and as great as it would be to offer some to your cavy, unfortunately potatoes are prohibited for guinea pigs to consume. Keep on reading to find out why.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Potatoes – Not Recommended

can guinea pigs eat potatoes

Guinea pigs cannot have potato treats because they contain a couple of harmful toxins that might present poisonous effects on guinea pigs. So, it is not recommended to feed this particular food to your guinea pig, as it can make your favorite pet ill. And, of course, you don’t want that to happen.

Another reason potatoes are not approved for your piggy is that they are mostly filled with carbohydrates and your furry pet will not actually benefit from having some. While you may stumble across various sources that indicate it is safe to feed potatoes to your cavy, you shouldn’t risk your pet’s health. Potatoes are poisonous to guinea pigs, especially if they’re green or sprouted.

However, if your guinea pig has accidentally eaten some potatoes, you should carefully monitor his behavior and possible negative reactions. Pay increased attention to potential side effects. If you notice peculiar, odd changes in your pet’s behavior or droppings, you should take him to the vet for observation and proper care. Don’t wait for your guinea pig’s condition to get worse, as potatoes are particularly toxic to them.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Potato Peels?

Eating potato peels is not safe for your guinea pig either, for the same reason, as they embody possible harmful compounds.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Yams?

Yams are widely popular in the cold season, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. And happily, in comparison with regular potatoes, you can feed yams to your guinea pig as it is safe for them to have some. Still, you shouldn’t feed it to your furry friend daily. Twice a week is a perfect amount for maintaining your guinea pig’s overall health. Additionally, you can offer yam leaves to your pet almost on a regular basis. Your furry family members would simply adore chewing on them.

Yams are loaded with high levels of vitamin C, which is an important vitamin for supporting your pet’s health and strengthening his immune system. You should know that basically all foods that contain high levels of vitamin C are fine for your pet to have, of course, in tiny portions and only occasionally.

However, you shouldn’t feed cooked yams to your piggy. When preparing the Thanksgiving feast, save some raw yams for your guinea pig as cooked meals are not recommended for them.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Sweet Potatoes?

Sweet potatoes are also utterly delicious, but can you share some with your favorite pet? Yes, guinea pigs can eat sweet potato treats once in awhile. When introducing new foods into your guinea pig’s diet, you should opt for foods that are low in starch, oxalate acid, and sugar. Foods that are packed with vitamin C and A are great for guinea pigs. Sweet potatoes contain important levels of vitamin C that will contribute to enhancing your guinea pig’s overall health, helping to fight against infections and contribute to fastening the healing process in case of wounds or diseases.

However, at the same time, sweet potatoes embody small amounts of starch and oxalate acid. Thus, our recommendation is to feed your guinea pig sweet potatoes only on rare occasions, two or three times a month. Foods rich in sugar given on a regular basis can mess up your furry pal’s blood sugar and lead to diabetes. His tiny body cannot handle foods loaded with sugar!

Cooked sweet potatoes are not recommended for your cavy to have, only raw and on rare occasions is a viable alternative. Washing the vegetable thoroughly before spoiling your pet with some sweet potato slices is also important. You need to rinse the harmful pesticides off that might be lying on the peels. Make sure not to give it to your pet on a regular basis, its starchy composition can lead to unwanted effects in the long run.

Final Thoughts 

You shouldn’t include potatoes into your guinea pig’s diet, as they present toxic compounds for his health. On the other hand, yams and sweet potatoes are veggies that are approved for guinea pigs to consume occasionally. However, even though they’re safe for your furry pet, you should only feed them in moderation, this is the basic principle if you wish to preserve your pet’s health condition. A balanced and carefully chosen diet is the key to having a healthy, happy and energetic pet.

 

 

Related articles:

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Parsley

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Lettuce

References:

http://whatcanguineapigseat.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-potatoes/

http://cavysavvy.blogspot.com/2013/04/can-guinea-pigs-eat-sweet-potatoes.html

http://www.onlineguineapigcare.com/can-guinea-pigs-eat-potatoes/

http://www.happycavy.com/guinea-pig-dangerous-unsafe-foods/

Leave a Comment

0 Shares
Pin
Share
Tweet