Pears are delicious fruits enjoyed by many people in the world. But when it comes to guinea pigs, should you feed them pears?
Let’s find out about this in this article.
Here’s If Guinea Pigs Can Eat Pears.
Guinea pigs can eat pears. Pears are high in Vitamins C and other essential minerals which are suitable for the well-being of your guinea pigs. They also contain high amounts of sugar. You must feed your guinea 1 or 2 times a week of pears. Feeding your guinea pigs too many pears can lead to weight gain, digestive issues, and urinary problems.
Nutrition facts of Pears
Pear contains carbohydrates, fiber, protein, sugar, calcium, iron, potassium, and Vitamin C.
According to usapears.org, a medium size pear contains the following nutritional values:
- Carbohydrates – 25g
- Fiber – 6g
- Sugar – 15g
- Protein – 1g
- Calcium – 20mg
- Iron – 0.3mg
- Potassium – 190mg
- Vitamin C – 7mg
Common Pear Varieties You Should Know
Pears are grown and consumed all over the world. Pears come in different shapes and tastes. They are found in Europe. North America and Asia. It is estimated there are 3000 varieties of pears. They are usually enjoyed fresh, canned, in juice form, or as a dried fruit.
Here are the common pear varieties we found for you.
- Green Anjou
- Red Anjou
- Bosc
- Forelle
- Asian Pear
- Bartlett
- Red Bartlett
- Tayor’s Gold
- Comice
- Seckel
- Concorde
- Starkrimson
- French Butter Pears
- Conference
Benefits Of Feeding Your Guinea Pigs Pears
Pears have numerous benefits which help in the well-being of your guinea pigs. Knowing the benefits your guinea pigs get if you feed them pears is essential.
The benefits of feeding guinea pigs pears are as follows:
High In Vitamin C
Guinea pigs need Vitamin C daily in their diet. Guinea pigs can’t produce their own Vitamin C. So they get them from the food you give them.
Since pears are high in vitamin C it is appropriate to include them in their diet. However, the amount you feed your guinea pig is essential.
High Fiber
Pears contain a high amount of fiber. Fiber is good for the digestive health of your guinea pigs. However, you must make sure you don’t feed your guinea pigs too many pears in a day.
You only feed them a small portion 1 or 2 times a week.
Risks of Feeding Your Guinea Pigs Pears
Feeding your guinea pigs pears comes with its own risks. It is essential for you to know these risks, so you can take the necessary precautions to prevent your guinea pigs from falling ill or dying.
Here are the risks we found for you:
Choking Risk
care must be taken when you feed your guinea pig fresh and unripe pears. Unripe pears tend to be difficult for your guinea pig to chew. This can cause a blockage in your guinea pig’s digestive tract.
So you must feed your guinea pigs fresh and ripened pears. You must ensure the pears are cut to smaller sizes and safe for your guinea pigs to chew.
Toxin Poisoning
Pear seeds are highly toxic to your guinea pigs. The seed contains a toxin called cyanide. Cyanide can have a great impact on the health and well-being of your guinea pigs.
So you must always make sure the seeds are removed from the pear before feeding your guinea pigs.
Urinary Health Issues
Pears contain a large amount of calcium. If you give your guinea pigs too much calcium, especially older guinea pigs, they tend to suffer from bladder and kidney stones.
The younger guinea pigs need calcium for the development of their bones.
You must keep an eye on your guinea pig’s urine from time to time. If you observe white urine stains, it is normal. However, when the stain has a gritty texture or blood, it is a sign of excess calcium.
Digestive issues
Guinea pigs have a sensitive digestive system. Feeding them a lot of sugar can cause problems with their digestive. A typical case is diarrhea.
So care needs to be taken when feeding your guinea pigs. Give your guinea pigs a small portion size cu
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pears Every day?
Guinea pigs shouldn’t be given pears every day. Even though pears contain fiber, protein, and carbohydrates, they should not be the bulk of their diet.
You should give them slices of pears occasionally as a treat.
The high sugar content in pears is the reason you shouldn’t feed your guinea pig too many pears. Your guinea pig’s digestive system can’t handle too much sugar.
This can cause digestive issues and weight gain in your guinea pigs. Excess weight in guinea pigs should be avoided to prevent any health problems.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pears’ skin?
Guinea pigs can eat pears’ skin. But you must make sure the skin is properly washed. This is due to insecticides that may be found on the pears.
Insecticides are a danger to your guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pear Seeds?
Guinea pigs shouldn’t eat pear seeds. The seeds are so tiny they can be a choking risk to your guinea pigs.
One crucial element in the seeds of a pear is cyanides. Cyanides are a poisonous substance that can be fatal to your guinea pigs if they ingest a small amount.
So avoid feeding your guinea pigs seeds from pears.
Can You Feed Guinea Pigs Frozen Pears?
Guinea pigs shouldn’t be fed frozen pear. Your guinea pig’s stomach can’t handle cold foods. Freezing fruits also depletes their nutritional content.
So it is better to feed them raw fresh pears than frozen.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Pears?
Guinea pigs should not be fed canned pears. They contain high amounts of sugar. Guinea pigs’ digestive system can’t handle the sugar leading to digestive tract issues. High sugar has been liked to obesity in guinea pigs.
If you want to feed your guinea pigs pears, ensure they are fresh and preferably organic.
Can You Feed Guinea Pigs Cooked Pears?
Your guinea pigs shouldn’t be fed cooked pears. Cooked pears contain a high amount of sugar which is bad for your guinea pig’s digestive tract.
Cooked pears have had a lot of nutrients destroyed due to the cooking. So feeding your guinea pigs cooked pears in essence has no nutritional value.
So it would help if you never fed your pets cooked pears, especially guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Pear juice?
Your guinea pigs shouldn’t drink pear juice. Pear juice has no fiber content. It contains a high amount of sugar content. Sugar is very bad for your guinea pigs.
High sugar diet leads to weight issues in guinea pigs. It is also not ideal for their digestive health.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Pears?
Guinea pigs can eat dried pears. However, on the flip side, they contain high sugar. Sugar is bad for guinea pigs. Your guinea digestive system can’t handle sugar.
Dried pears also have reduced nutritional value. So one needs to feed the dried pear as a treat.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Asian Pears?
Guinea pigs cant eat Asian pears. Asian pear is sweeter than other common varieties. They contain a high amount of sugar. You should feed your guinea pigs a small quantity once a week. They will be best for an occasional treat.
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs can eat pears. Pears contain Vitamin C and minerals which are essential for their well-being and health. Guinea pigs love pears so you must give them in moderation. Giving your guinea pigs large quantities of pears can upset their stomach and cause other digestive health issues.
Pears have a high amount of sugar too. So take extra care when feeding them pears.
The seeds in the pair shouldn’t be fed to guinea pigs. They contain a poisonous substance called cyanide. A small amount of this substance can be fatal for your guinea pigs.
You must always wash your pears properly before feeding them to your guinea pigs. This is to prevent bacteria and pesticides from being transferred to your guinea pigs.