“Can gerbil eat blackberries?”. Yes, gerbils can eat blackberries. But you should be very careful about what types of blackberries to give your gerbil. Certain kinds of blackberries will hurt your furry friend’s stomach if eaten in large quantities.
So read on for more details on which types of blackberries are safe and which ones aren’t so good for gerbils.
The first thing we need to discuss is whether or not blackberries are safe for gerbils, which they most definitely can be. However, it’s important to understand why exactly they’re controversial in the first place.
You can also check our other articles on Can Gerbils Eat Bird Seeds or Can Gerbils Eat Beef Jerky?
1. Is Blackberry Safe For Gerbils To Eat?
Blackberries are safe for gerbils to eat in small amounts, due to their nutritional value. They also contain fiber which is essential for your furry friend’s digestion.
Now it’s important to be more specific about which types of blackberries your gerbil can safely eat. The seeds of wild blackberry plants are filled with cyanide. That is why the gerbils should not eat these berries under any circumstances.
However, domestic cultivated blackberries are very low in cyanide. They are perfectly safe to make up a small portion of your pet’s diet. You can give them the whole berry including the seeds if that’s something your gerbil enjoys. However, only give them a small amount of the seeds to avoid any problems with toxicity.
Blackberries growing in your garden are dangerous for gerbils because it’s impossible to be sure what type they are and if they have been cross-pollinated by wild varieties. For this reason, you should avoid adding them to your pet’s diet unless you know exactly what they are.
Remove any stems or leaves from the blackberry berries you’re giving your pet. These small pieces of the berry plant may look harmless, but they can cause serious choking and digestive problems for your gerbil.
2. Can Gerbils Eat Blackberries Seeds?
Yes, gerbils can eat blackberry seeds as long as you exercise caution when feeding your pet this yummy summer treat. Just like other fruits, don’t feed your gerbil too many blackberry seeds. They can cause choking hazards or intestinal blockages.
Most of the toxins in blackberry seeds are found in their juice. Because of this, you must remove all these juices before feeding your gerbil any berries with seeds on them. This will prevent any problems from occurring with your pet’s stomach and digestive tract.
While cleaning the seeds, make sure they’re thoroughly dried before feeding them to your little pet. Seeds that are not dry have a much higher chance of being damp enough to grow bacteria. It can cause serious stomach problems for your furry friend.
3. What Will Happen if Gerbil Eats Too Many Blackberry Seeds?
If your gerbil eats too many blackberry seeds they may experience digestive problems such as diarrhea. This is not a serious condition. You can treat it by gently wiping your gerbil’s behind with moist toilet paper. However, these kinds of digestive issues can cause serious dehydration and other problems if left untreated.
When your gerbil is having diarrhea you should stop feeding them the blackberry seeds immediately. You should also watch your pet closely for any signs of a drop in blood pressure this is a fatal condition that needs immediate treatment. If your pet is lethargic or vomiting they may have eaten too much.
If you are worried about your gerbil’s health after they have eaten the berries, you must call a veterinarian. Remember that small doses of blackberry seeds are perfectly safe, but too much can cause serious problems even death in very rare cases.
4. What Other Berries Can Gerbils Eat?
You may probably be wondering if gerbil can eat other types of berries too. The domestic varieties are completely safe for your pet to eat, but they should never be given wild ones. This is because they can be poisonous sometimes.
The types of berries your furry friend can safely eat include:
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Goji berries
- Barberries
These delicious varieties are a great addition to your gerbil’s diet and they can give them a healthy dose of vitamin C and Vitamin K.
While your pet can get stomach pains from eating too many blackberries, raspberries and blueberries are very low in acid and should not cause any direct problems with their digestive tract.
Strawberries on the other hand will provide a healthy dose of vitamin C, but they also have high levels of acid that may cause stomach issues.
5. How Much Amount of Blackberries Is Safe For Gerbil’s Diet?
In most cases, a gerbil that weighs 250 grams or less will be able to eat one blackberry without any issues. You should always give them more than one berry if they would like the treat, but you mustn’t let them eat too much in one sitting.
Based on the information we found, gerbils can safely eat up to three blackberry seeds per day. These small berries are very low in calories and they provide your pet with a nutritional dose of vitamin C.
6. How is Blackberry Good For Gerbils?
While it’s important that you don’t give your gerbil too many blackberries, they can be a healthy addition to their diet. These tart treats are low in fat and carbohydrates, but they provide a good amount of dietary fiber and vitamin C.
In some cases, blackberry seeds have been known to help treat diarrhea which is one of the main causes of death in pet gerbils. They can also be used to help treat scurvy, which is a condition that causes your pet to bleed from their tail and eyes even when they’re on antibiotics.
Some other benefits of berries are given below:
- Natural source of energy
- Source of Water
- Source of Vitamins for the proper functioning of organs
- Rich in Fibers
- Low in Proteins and Fats
7. How To Treat a Gerbil That Has Eaten Too Many Blackberries?
If your furry friend has eaten too many blackberries, you should take them to a vet as soon as possible. While most gerbils will be fine they must receive professional care just in case.
You can give them some blackberry juice or B vitamins to help alleviate the symptoms. You must keep them hydrated if their stomach is upset. They will likely need some time to recover.
Conclusion:
Gerbils are rodents and as such, they can eat blackberries. However, if you give them too many then it could cause some potential problems because of the seeds that would be inside those berries.
For example, too much fiber in their diet may make your gerbil’s stool hard to pass or even block its intestines which is why we recommend not giving more than a few each day. In addition, there are other types of berries out there (like raspberries) that will also provide similar benefits without any risks.