Good nutrition for your guinea pigs is vital for their well-being and development. so is chocolate an excellent choice to feed your guinea pigs?
Let’s find out from this article.
Here’s If Guinea Pigs Can Eat Chocolate.
Guinea pigs shouldn’t be fed chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to guinea pigs. Chocolate has a high amount of sugar, fats, and other additives. Guinea pig’s digestive system can’t handle sugar. A chemical called theobromine found in chocolates causes blood constriction. This prevents vital organs in guinea pigs from receiving blood.
Nutrition Facts About Chocolate
Chocolate has carbohydrates, fats, sugar, sodium, protein, and fiber.
According to verywellfit.com a 1.4 Ounce of sweet or dark chocolate has the following nutritional values:
- Calories – 216
- Fats – 13.6g
- Sodium – 8.2mg
- Carbohydrate – 24.7g
- Fiber – 2.6g
- Sugars – 20g
- Protein – 1.8g
In addition, chocolate contains calcium and magnesium. phosphorous, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc, and vitamins,
From the table above, you can see chocolates have high sugar content which makes them bad for guinea pigs.
Risk Of Chocolate To Guinea Pigs
Feeding your guinea pigs chocolate carries with it a lot of risks. You don’t want to put your guinea pigs’ through any health issues. It is important to know these risks, so you don’t feed your guinea pigs chocolate.
Here are the risks of feeding your guinea pigs chocolate:
Digestive Issues
Guinea pigs have very sensitive and fragile digestive systems. Chocolate contains a high amount of sugar and fats. So feeding your guinea pigs foods high in sugar is dangerous. Their digestive cannot handle sugar.
Chocolate contains milk. Guinea pigs cannot digest milk. They are known to be lactose intolerant.
So you should avoid feeding your guinea pigs chocolate to upset their stomach
Weight Issues
Guinea pigs shouldn’t be fed chocolate in the first place. Due to the high amount of sugar and fats, your guinea pigs are prone to putting on extra weight. This has an impact on your guinea health and other associated problems.
These are some of the signs to watch out for when your guinea pigs are overweight:
- Your guinea pigs will have a reduced exercise regime
- They will have difficulty grooming themselves and staying clean(especially around the stomach, back, and backend)
- They are prone to a parasite called cheyletiella. This parasite is removed when your guinea pig grooms itself.
If you don’t control your guinea pig weight it will eventually lead to obesity.
Urinary Issues
Calcium is good for strong bones and teeth in guinea pigs It is an important mineral in the diet of your guinea pigs. However, feeding your guinea pigs a lot of food high in calcium can lead to bladder and kidney stones.
Chocolates contain calcium and this can lead to urinary infections.
What To Do If A Guinea Pig Eats Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to your guinea pigs. This is due to the chemical theobromine found in chocolate. This chemical is safe for humans but deadly for your pet. So if your guinea pigs accidentally ate chocolate, you don’t have to panic. You must observe them for the next 24 hours.
If your guinea pigs are eating and pooping normally, you should be fine. However, if you observe any change in them. you must seek the help of a Vet immediately.
Here are the changes you must observe in your guinea pigs before contacting a Vet:
- They become lethargic
- They stop eating and pooping
Will Chocolate Kill A Guinea Pig?
Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. This chemical is higher in concentrated chocolates. This chemical is poisonous to your guinea pigs.
Theobromine can cause your guinea to die if you do not seek immediate Vet assistance. Theobromine causes blood constriction. This means blood isn’t reaching the vital organs of your guinea pigs. This is fatal for your cavies
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Chocolate Chip Cookies?
Chocolate chips are made from flour, sugar, chocolate, and other additives. You shouldn’t feed guinea pigs chocolate chip cookies. They contain sugar, and chocolate which your guinea pig’s digestive system can’t handle.
Remember chocolate has this chemical called theobromine which is poisonous to your guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Chocolate Mint?
Chocolate mint has sugar and your guinea pig’s digestive system cannot handle sugary food. So you shouldn’t feed your guinea pig chocolate mint.
Final thoughts
Chocolates should never be fed to guinea pigs. The high sugar and fat contents make it difficult for your guinea pig’s body to handle. A chemical called theobromine is found in chocolate. It is poisonous to your guinea pigs.
In addition, being overweight is a problem for your guinea pigs if fed chocolate. You must see your Vet if you think your guinea pigs have eaten chocolate.