Guinea pigs have become increasingly popular to keep as a pet, especially for anyone who needs company at home.
For guinea pig owners, it’s no secret that the key to a happy and healthy guinea pig is to care for their diet closely.
But aside from feeding guinea pigs with their regular food and water, first-time owners may wonder if they can feed their guinea pigs with milk.
Here’s If Guinea pigs Can Drink Milk:
Guinea pigs shouldn’t be given milk. This is because guinea pigs have lactose intolerance and you could be poisoning them by accident. Baby guinea pigs, however, would often nurse on their mothers naturally up to 4 weeks before they begin to have solids. Give them water instead of milk.
Why Is Milk Poisonous To Guinea Pigs?
Many pet enthusiasts may also wonder why milk is considered poisonous to guinea pigs. After all, these furry little critters are also mammals.
Unfortunately, because guinea pigs are primarily herbivorous, the consumption of dairy can mess with their health systems. In other words, guinea pigs are believed to be lactose intolerant.
This means your guinea pig’s body cannot digest dairy products – with milk being the primary culprit.
Due to its lactose intolerance, it’s important that you watch over the foods and treats that you may want to give your guinea pigs. Should the food contain any dairy products, it could cause your guinea pig to fall sick.
This includes treats like yogurt, cheeses, ice cream, or any snacks made with butter or relevant ingredients.
If you still wish to feed your guinea pig with such treats, you’ll want to ensure they’re made of dairy-free ingredients like soy or equivalent to ensure it does not cause them health issues.
What Should I Do If My Guinea pig Accidentally Drinks Milk?
However, we understand that accidents can happen when your guinea pig accidentally ingests milk. So, what should you do if your guinea pig accidentally consumes dairy? For starters, you shouldn’t panic if it’s in a small amount.
Try giving your guinea pig more water to neutralize the dairy content in its system, as this could help it feel better.
Guinea pigs may also be prone to suffer from loose stool and vomiting after they have had milk, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on them in case this happens.
Hearing your guinea pigs whine after they’ve taken milk by accident is normal, as this is the way they are conveying the pain they feel.
Should these health issues persist, then it’s highly recommended that you bring your guinea pig to a vet as soon as possible.
Accidental ingestion of milk can also lead to the death of your guinea pig, so you must watch over your guinea pig if it is taken out of its cage.
You’ll also want to ensure that there are no dairy products that could tip over and fall into its cage, as it could pique your guinea pig’s curiosity, and they could accidentally consume it.
Should I Give Baby Guinea Pigs Milk?
Considering how baby guinea pigs are born to latch and feed on their mothers, you may wonder if you should give baby guinea pigs milk.
The simple answer to this is that it depends. Typically, baby guinea pigs will feed on their mothers from birth up to 4 weeks. They may occasionally nibble on solids, but this doesn’t mean that should be their permanent diet.
You can only give a baby guinea pig milk if the mother has abandoned the baby.
However, do note that you should avoid feeding it with cow’s milk. Instead, you may choose to dilute some evaporated milk with water at a 50:50 ratio or feed it with full-fat goat’s milk.
You’ll have to use a teaspoon for slower feeds to feed a baby guinea pig. Avoid feeding your guinea pig using a syringe as she can choke on it.
You can also soak a piece of bread in milk to absorb the liquids and feed it to the baby guinea pigs after. The baby guinea pigs will then suckle on the bread and get their necessary feed.
When caring for an abandoned baby guinea pig, you’ll want to feed it in hourly intervals and in small portions. This allows the baby guinea pig to fully digest its previous feed and doesn’t get overfed.
Be sure to keep it warm, and if possible – you’ll want to encourage it to pee or poop after each feed, so they get used to the idea of going to the toilet
Can Guinea Pigs Have Skimmed Milk?
Guinea pigs are strict herbivores. You should never give your guinea pigs any type of milk. So guinea pigs shouldn’t be given skimmed milk.
The lactose in skimmed milk is not good for your guinea pigs, Their digestive system cannot handle it which can lead to diarrhea and other health-related issues.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Soy Milk?
Soy milk is derived from soybeans. The dry soybeans ais soaked and grind with water. As herbivores species, guinea pigs shouldn’t have any kind of milk at all.
So soy milk should not be given to guinea pigs under any circumstances.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Almond Milk?
Guinea pis shouldn’t drink Almond milk. Almond is known to be toxic to guinea pigs. They also contain high-fat content which can lead to obesity in guinea pigs.
So you must avoid giving your guinea pigs almond milk. The best liquid to give your guinea pigs are fresh water.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Oat Milk?
Guinea pigs can drink oat milk due to their high fiber content. They are dairy-free and low in fat.
Some oat milk on the market contains a high amount of salt and sugar. Too much salt is good for guinea pigs. It has been found to link to dehydration in guinea pigs. This put your guinea pigs at risk of bladder stones.
You must watch out for the type of oat milk you buy and restrict the amount you feed your guinea pig to one to two spoons per week.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Coconut Milk?
Guinea pigs can drink coconut milk. Coconut milk is dairy-free. However, it contains a high amount of fat which can lead to obesity in your guinea pig.
You must feed your guinea probably once a week or use it rarely a as treat.
Other Drinks You Should Avoid Feeding Your Guinea Pig
There are a lot of drinks on the market today which is safe for human consumption but when it comes to guinea pigs these are not recommended. They have high fat and sugar content.
Some of these drinks range from tea, soda, coffee, fruit juices, and carbonated drinks.
Final Thoughts
So can a Guinea pig drink milk? The answer is definitely no. Due to lactose intolerance, it is not a good idea to feed your guinea pig milk. It is very dangerous for your guinea pig.
For a baby guinea pig, it must naturally feed on the mother’s milk until she is weaned off it. If your guinea is been abandoned by the mother you can mix evaporated milk and water in equal parts and use a teaspoon to feed it.
You should always consult your vet if in doubt about any drink you want to feed your pet guinea pig. The best drink you should always give your Guinea pig is water