You have cute little guinea pigs, and you are wondering can guinea pigs eat celery?
Or if they will eat the entire plant along with the gristly parts and leaves?
“The simple answer is YES! Your cute little piggy friend will love to have a taste of fresh celery. Celery is rich in numerous nutrients and minerals and is considered a low-calorie vegetable.”
According to Veterinarians, a healthy guinea pig diet must have pellets, hay, fresh fruits, and veggies.
Feeding your guinea pigs fresh fruits and vegetables is essential, and it should be a part of their diet.
Feeding Guinea Pigs Celery – 8 Considerations Before You Make Them Your Pet’s Meal
When looking at crusty and hard stalks, many guinea pig owners wonder if it is safe for their guinea pigs.
Can they really eat it?
“Your furry friends can enjoy celery with its leaves and stem every now and then occasionally.”
It is a good source of vitamin C for your guinea pigs, which is a must for him. But overeating can cause some problems for your piggy friend.
It can lead to diarrhea and urinary problems because celery contains a considerable amount of calcium.
If you are a bit like me, you will try to add something extra greenery to your little friend’s diet every now and then.
Here are 8 considerations that will ensure your pet’s safety every time you feed him or her celery.
1) Can We Feed Guinea Pigs Celery Strings?
No problem at all! Your furry friends have razor-sharp teeth, and they can enjoy the stringy part of the celery with ease.
We all know they spend most of their time chewing hay, which is much harder than strings of celery.
So, there’s no need to remove the strings. Let them play a little with it.
2) How Much Celery Should Guinea Pigs Have?
In terms of the nutrients that celery provides, this would be the best daily food for your pig.
However, it is absolutely best to feed your guinea pig celery 2-3 times a week.
You can combine a small slice of celery with many leafy vegetables and a tiny portion of fruit for a nice new meal.
| Regularity | Feed a couple of times a week |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 3.1mg per 100g |
| Calcium | 40.0mg per 100g |
| Phosphorous | 24.0mg per 100g |
| Calcium: Phosphorous | 1.67:1 |
3) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cooked Celery?
Cooked vegetables can come with dangers. So, it’s better to avoid them.
Many cooking tips related to cooked celery also contain other ingredients that are toxic to your guinea pig.
Play it safe, and always feed your guinea pig raw vegetables.
4) Are Celery Leaves Suitable For Guinea Pigs?
If you read about guinea pig nutrition, you will find that many people feed their guinea pig fowl greens.
It is better to feed your pig the greens of the plant, for the kidneys. Remember not to overdo it.
5) Do Baby Guinea Pigs Require Eating Celery?
Baby guinea pigs need to have plenty of sources of vitamin C, just like adults.
However, it may take a few weeks for the puppies to pick up the vegetables. As a result, celery is not the most optimal source of vitamin C for baby guinea pigs.
6) Can Celery Help Treat Scurvy In My Guinea Pig?
Both guinea pigs and humans get their vitamin C through foods or supplements. Deficiency of vitamin C causes a condition known as “Scurvy,“ which is the bleeding of gums.
Being a medieval disease, it rarely affects humans but more animals.
You should also make sure that your guinea pig gets adequate vitamin C, or it may develop scurvy.
7) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery Root?
Yes, but celery roots have a lot of starch, which is not suitable for our guinea pigs.
“They can eat celery roots, but it is better to avoid them.”
This includes traces of fertilizers and other chemicals that cause harmful diseases to our guinea pigs.
8) Is It Safe For Guinea Pigs To Eat Celery Hearts?
Absolutely, they can eat celery hearts.
But they have a bitter taste, so your little furry friends might not enjoy them that much.
Also, you should avoid an excess of celery heart as it is rich in calcium and oxalates.
Nutrition in Celery – 2 Vitamins That Cover Your Pet’s Daily Needs
Can guinea pigs eat celery? Sure. They can, but you should know its nutrition first.
Celery is composed of a high number of oxalates and just an appropriate amount of vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a daily requirement for your guinea pigs, and because they cannot make this vitamin themselves, and they often should not have foods that are high in oxalates.
Add low calcium veggies like spinach, bell peppers, cucumber, and zucchini. It is important to give your guinea pigs a cup of fresh vegetables every day.
For optimal results, you can split it into two services and serve it twice a day.
Sodium, Celery, And Guinea Pigs Relation?
Sodium present in celery is a micronutrient that maintains the levels of hydration; This should be a part of any guinea pig’s diet.
People say sodium is bad for your health, truth is said everyone needs it as it helps us to control the balance of minerals in our body and so for the guinea pigs.
However, too much sodium creates a poor health response in the body, whether humans or animals, which puts us at risk for stroke or a heart attack.
Sadly, the amount of sodium in celery is relatively high, and you need to be careful about how much you add to your guinea pig’s diet.
Nutritional Facts Of Celery – The Ideal Source Of Antioxidants
Nutrients Amount
Vitamin C 3.1 mg/ 100 g
Vitamin K 29.3 µg/100 g
Folate 36 µg/ 100 g
Calcium 40 mg/ 100 g
Phosphorous 24 mg/ 100 g
Potassium 260 mg/ 100 g
Fiber 1.6 g/ 100 g
Sugar 1.34 g/ 100 g
Protein 0.69 g/ 100 g
Carbs 2.97 g/ 100 g
Calories 14 Kcal
Fat 0.17 g/ 100 g
Water 95.43 g/ 100 g
Vitamin C – Celery has a pint of Vitamin C and is essential for the body.
It provides protection against a number of diseases and makes the immune system stronger.
It also facilitates the formation of blood vessels and collagen in the body. Another good source of Vitamin C is grapes. Can guinea pigs eat grapes? Of course, they can.
Vitamin K – Celery contains just the right amount of vitamin K.
Vitamin K is another essential vitamin because it helps the blood to clot and heals wounds faster.
Folate – Celery is enriched with folate, which is very important for the body. It is a B-vitamin and has many functions in the body.
The primary purpose of folate is to form red blood cells, convert carbohydrates into energy, and other similar functions.
Antioxidants – Celery is low in carbs and is filled with antioxidants.
It has more than 14 various kinds of antioxidants, which include beta carotene and flavonoids.
These are a must for protecting cells and vital organs from oxidative damage and for maintaining a strong immune system in the body.
Steps To Make Feeding Celery To Your Guinea Pig Safe
Prior to feeding your furry friend any fruits or vegetables, make sure you take care of him.
Also, don’t expect him to jump at this snack right away.
This is especially true for baby guinea pigs. As it may take a while for your pet to get used to the new treats.
Almost every guinea pig likes to eat some celery stalks.
But, do not give your pet long stalks. You should cut them into small pieces straight towards the celery stalks.
Feeding your pet the strings without cutting them will make it almost impossible for him to eat and digest.
Due to their small jaws, they need to eat small pieces every time.
Also, the strings of celery peeled from the stalks of celery can easily get stuck in the throat, teeth, and intestinal tract.
Excess celery can cause diarrhea if it persists for a long time. So, be careful about the amount of celery you feed to your little pet.
This can be dangerous for these little creatures. Keep in mind that the guinea pig’s diet should consist mainly of hay and granules.
Fruits and veggies must be given but moderately.
17 Alternatives Of Celery For Guinea Pigs
Due to the dangers of including celery as a regular part of the guinea pig diet, you are looking for an option that you can use consistently.
Guinea pigs can have a wide variety of fresh veggies. Although hay and grass should make up the bulk of your pig’s diet.
The following vegetables are safe to feed your guinea pig:
1) Asparagus – It contains some oxalate and phosphorus and contains vitamin C as well. You can occasionally feed asparagus to your guinea pig.
2) Broccoli – It contains vitamin C. However, it is high in vitamin A, so it should be fed from time to time.
3) Cabbage – It is high in vitamin C. However, do not overfeed your guinea pig because it can cause gas and bloat.
4) Carrots – These are the favorites of guinea pigs, but they have sugar and can lead to dental problems and diabetes.
They contain oxalates as well, which can result in kidney stones. They are high in vitamin A and can be fed from time to time.
5) Cauliflower –It contains vitamin C; however, it can also give your guinea pig gas. But you can feed them a little from time to time.
6) Corn – Rich in vitamin C, although it is high in starch, it should be fed only once or twice a week.
7) Cucumber – Guinea pigs can enjoy the flesh, seeds, and skin but not that much.
8) Green beans – These are high in vitamin C and can be given raw. But, be careful as they also have calcium and phosphorus.
9) Peas – Like most vegetables, they contain phosphorus and calcium. But they also are rich in vitamin C. Feed your guinea pig moderately with peas.
10) Parsley – Always a good meal for your pet guinea pig. It is good to be fed occasionally, maybe twice a week is enough.
11) Parsnip – You can feed them parsnip more frequently to your pig as it is a tasty vegetable for your guinea pig
12) Raw Beetroot – This can sometimes be served to your guinea pig once or twice, not that much.
It contains no oxalates but a small amount of calcium and phosphorus.
13) Sprouts – They are rich in phosphorus and oxalate acid. They can cause gas, so you can feed them from time to time once or twice a week.
14) Spinach – Guinea pigs can have this occasionally, but be careful as it can cause stones due to a high concentration of oxalates when combined with calcium.
15) Squash – Feed your furry friends a moderate amount of squash.
16) Tomatoes – Can be fed more than twice a week. But the green stem is toxic, and don’t feed him that.
17) Turnips – These are low in phosphorus and high in calcium. They have a decent amount of vitamin C. They can be fed to your guinea pig from time to time (once or twice) per week.
You should know that different vegetables contain different amounts of vitamin C, phosphorus, oxalates, and sugar.
Conclusion:
Guinea pigs can eat celery, and we can tell you that it can be one of their favorite foods. “Remember not to give too much celery to avoid potential health problems.”
It is very important that you provide them with an adequate source of vitamin C. You should only feed one stem 1/6th with its leaves at a time.
Do not feed more than the requirement as it can lead to health problems in guinea pigs. Reduce serving of celery 1-2 times a week.
Some common health problems in over-feeding celery to your guinea pigs are kidney stones, diarrhoea, and urinary tract infections.
Always remember that hay is the main part of your guinea pig’s diet. Veggies should be served in small quantities (1 cup daily), and it should not replace the main part of their diet, which is hay.
In addition, when you introduce new foods to him, like celery, be sure to start slowly and in small quantities. Keep an eye on your pet after feeding celery for the first time.
If you see any unusual activity, like digestive upset or diarrhoea, stop feeding your guinea pig celery right that moment.
Else, if your buddy has no problems with celery or any other new treats, continue to add them to your pet’s diet.
All you have to do is follow these guidelines, and everything else will be just fine.