Mushrooms are nature’s fungi that can be an excellent means to give your taste buds a new experience. But, what about your pet guinea pig? Can guinea pigs eat mushrooms? Is it okay for them to munch on mushrooms?
“Yes, your pet guinea pig can eat mushrooms. They cannot eat wild mushrooms but can only have regular ones like white or Portobello, or button. Mushrooms provide your pet with nutrients like potassium, fibers, and some vitamins.
To ensure your pet’s safety, you need to feed them fresh mushrooms only and avoid cooked or processed ones.”
The reason why your pet cannot eat wild mushrooms is that they are toxic to them. There are only a few types that are safe for them. Continue reading to find out more about what mushrooms your pet can have.
Mushrooms For Guinea Pigs– 3 Factors That Shed Light On Their Safety!
Guinea pigs eat hay most of the time and only rely on fruits and veggies. So, feeding your pet guinea pig mushrooms as occasional treats is a great idea to give their taste buds a new experience.
But, beware, you cannot feed your pet just any type of mushroom. If you’re not sure of the type of mushrooms that you have, it is best to avoid feeding them to your pet piggy. It is certainly not worth the risk.
The only way you can treat your pet guinea pig with mushrooms is if you know what type of mushrooms you have. So, before you toss them as a treat to your pet piggy, make sure you know it’s safe for your pet.
Here is a detailed insight into this to provide you with an idea of whether mushrooms are worth it.
1) Are Mushrooms Safe For Guinea Pigs?
When it comes to mushrooms being safe for your pet guinea pig, it depends on the type of mushroom you’re feeding your pet.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid feeding your pet mushrooms that grow in the wild. Those mushrooms are essentially poisonous and neither you nor your pet can have them.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of mushrooms that you can feed your pet piggy. These are usually cultivated mushrooms. Not only are they rich in flavors, but also rich in nutrients, and more importantly, free from toxins.
These include:
- White mushrooms
- Button mushrooms
- Portobello mushrooms
As long as you feed them raw and not cooked, there is nothing that can go wrong or make your pet sick. Your furry friend cannot eat or process cooked mushrooms which is why they should be avoided.
2) Do Mushrooms Turn Out Bad For Guinea Pigs?
You might find different answers on this that may contradict the other. However, you should know that mushrooms aren’t bad for guinea pigs. Just make sure you’re feeding your pet piggy the right type of mushrooms.
Interestingly, when mushrooms are sold in the market, they’re first tested on guinea pigs (don’t worry these don’t include the wild ones). So, if they were bad for guinea pigs, they wouldn’t be tested on them in the first place.
Due to this, it is safe to conclude that mushrooms aren’t bad for guinea pigs and that your pet piggy isn’t allergic to them.
Now that this is clear, let’s focus on whether guinea pigs even like them.
3) Do Guinea Pigs Like Having Mushrooms In Their Meals?
Some mushrooms are safe for your pet piggy and they may be tasty as well. But do guinea pigs even like eating mushrooms? In short, it depends on your pet’s personal preference.
Some might simply love having mushrooms in their meals, and some will simply run away when they see mushrooms in their food bowl.
The best way to find out whether your pet enjoys mushrooms, there is only one way. Feed your pet a small serving and see if he or she wants it or shows interest in it.
If he or she eats it, well and good. However, if your pet doesn’t like the taste, don’t force them. There are plenty of other foods that you can feed your pet and mushrooms aren’t the end of the world.
Types Of Mushrooms – Which Ones To Avoid And Which To Feed Your Pet
There are plenty of mushrooms available which may make things complicated when choosing one for your pet piggy. But, don’t worry, we have got you covered.
Here’s a detailed insight into different types of mushrooms and whether they’re safe for your pet friend.
1) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oyster Mushrooms?
Fortunately, yes! Your pet piggy can enjoy the white creamy oyster mushrooms. These are cultivated and do not classify as wild mushrooms. Apart from their creamy texture, they’re also a rich source of nutrients.
Oyster mushrooms are rich in proteins, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients that guarantee your pet’s health. The best part about oyster mushrooms is their selenium content.
Selenium helps protect your pet’s cells from damage and ensures they’re free from free radicals. Additionally, they are also low in terms of their calorie content, fat, cholesterol, and surprisingly gluten.
So, all in all, oyster mushrooms are absolutely safe for your pet guinea pig.
2) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Chinese Mushrooms?
Chinese mushrooms aren’t safe and are strictly not recommended for your pet guinea pig. These are only intended to be used in Chinese foods for humans.
If you’re wondering, Chinese mushrooms are a broad category of mushrooms of Chinese origin. These include:
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Reishi mushrooms
- Sweet osmanthus ear
- Cloud ear fungus
- Matsutake mushrooms
- Silver ear fungus
The reason why Chinese mushrooms aren’t safe for your pet piggy is due to their zinc and magnesium content. Due to this, it is strongly advised to avoid feeding them to your pet guinea pig.
Although even if you do feed them in small amounts, they’re still not beneficial for your pet in terms of their nutritional content.
3) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Morel Mushrooms?
In short, no they can’t eat them. Morel mushrooms are also referred to as wild mushrooms. As mentioned earlier, wild mushrooms are not safe for your pet. Due to this, morsel mushrooms cannot be fed to your pet.
Morel mushrooms can be identified from their white stem and the conical cap. They’re usually found in sandy and dry areas in the wild.
They’re rich in nutrients including potassium, vitamins, and copper. All of these are beneficial to your guinea pig but since morel mushrooms are found in the wild, it is certainly not worth the risk.
4) Is Feeding Mushroom Soups To Guinea Pigs A Good Idea?
In short, no. A mushroom soup should never be fed to guinea pigs. There are two reasons why you should avoid feeding them at all costs.
One – A mushroom soup is a mixture of different ingredients and multiple mushrooms. This leads to an imbalance of ingredients thus making mushroom soup harmful for guinea pigs.
The imbalance of ingredients may expose your pet to a greater concentration of certain ingredients that are harmful to your guinea pig. Two – Mushroom soup is a product of cooking and cooked foods are never a good idea.
Your pet piggy cannot digest this and it will only put your pet in discomfort. This is why you should never feed your pet mushroom soup.
5) 3 Types Of Mushrooms That Your Pet Piggy Can Have:
Are you having trouble figuring out which types of mushrooms your pet can have? Here are some types of mushrooms that are safe for guinea pigs and can safely be introduced to them.
- Button mushroom – You can safely introduce your pet to button mushrooms as an occasional treat. But, there is not much nutritional value so it shouldn’t be a part of your pet’s main course.
- White mushrooms – You can also feed your pet white mushrooms. But, these too don’t contain many nutritional benefits so you can only feed them as occasional treats.
- Portobello mushrooms – These are cultivated mushrooms and can safely be fed to your pet guinea pig!
Mushrooms Serving Guide – The Safest Way To Introduce Them!
The safest way to introduce your guinea pig to mushrooms is to know how to feed them and when to feed them. Continue reading to find more about this.
1) What Is The Correct Time To Feed Your Pet Mushrooms?
You cannot just throw mushrooms at your pet and let them have a go at it. When introducing your pet to mushrooms, you need to feed them as treats only and after your pet has eaten his or her main meal.
Mushrooms can never be your pet’s main meal since it will take a toll on your pet’s health if you overfeed them. The best time to feed them mushrooms would be when your pet needs to be rewarded with something.
If this is the first time you’re feeding your pet mushrooms, start slow and see if your pet likes them. If he or she eats it willingly, you can treat them with mushrooms every now and then.
2) How Many Mushrooms Are Safe For Guinea Pigs To Eat?
Mushrooms are considered junk food due to this you need to pay attention to their serving sizes. A good rule of thumb is to feed your pet a single slice of raw mushroom. Be it white, baby Bella, or portabella mushroom.
Keep in mind, you need to serve them raw mushrooms only. Avoid cooked or processed mushrooms since they will make your pet sick due to the added ingredients in them.
You can treat your pet 2 to 3 times a week while keeping their serving sizes to a minimum to avoid the consequences of overfeeding.
Be careful, you need to observe your pet if you’re feeding him or her the first time. Keep an eye out for any adverse reactions since guinea pigs have a sensitive digestive system and can lead to bloating, and diarrhea.
If you notice any such signs, you should avoid feeding your pet mushrooms. There are plenty of other foods that you can feed your pet.
Head over to the alternatives of mushrooms section to find more about safe treats for your adorable little friend.
3) 2 Steps To Prepare Mushrooms For Your Furry Friend:
Wondering how you can feed your pet mushrooms? Here’s how.
- Grab a raw mushroom, and wash it thoroughly.
- After washing the mushrooms, dry them and cut them into small pieces. Serve and let them enjoy the feast!
Mushrooms are one of those foods that require no cooking or thorough preparation, and all you need to do is clean and cut them.
Just make sure you don’t overfeed them and only feed them the recommended amount.
Nutritional Facts Of Mushrooms – 2 Healthy Vitamins Your Pet Will Receive
Mushrooms might not be as nutritious as you expect, but they still offer your pet 2 health vitamins along with other minerals that will keep your pet piggy healthy.
Here are the nutritional facts of mushrooms based on a single cup serving of sliced mushrooms.
| 6 IU vitamin D | 5 mg vitamin C |
| 5 mg niacin | 2 mcg folate |
| 1 mg choline | 1 mg calcium |
| 3 mg magnesium | 2 mg phosphorus |
| 223 mg potassium | 4 mg zinc |
| 2 mg copper | 5 mcg selenium |
| 1 g fiber |
6 Health Benefits of Mushrooms For Guinea Pigs
Mushrooms might be considered junk food but still can provide your pet with a number of health benefits. But, your pet will only get to see these benefits if you feed them raw and in minimal amounts.
1) Ideal For Boosting Cardiovascular Health:
The potassium and vitamin C content in mushrooms not only boost the immunity of your pet but also aids in improving heart health. Potassium and sodium collectively regulate the blood pressure of your pet.
In the long run, this results in a reduced risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, it also keeps the blood pressure levels normal and away from unexpected spikes.
2) Keeps The Digestive System Healthy:
The fiber content in mushrooms is of significant importance for keeping your pet’s digestive system healthy. It aids in improving the process of digestion of feed and also helps deal with digestive complications.
Fun fact: Issues like constipation can be alleviated by feeding your pet fibrous foods like mushrooms.
3) Aids In Controlling Weight:
Mushrooms are low in terms of their calorie content. When fed as part of a balanced diet and according to the regulated amount, it can aid in controlling your pet’s weight by dealing with your pet’s appetite.
4) Boosts The Immune System:
The selenium content in mushrooms keeps your pet protected against a number of health complications by boosting the immunity of your pet piggy.
5) Aids In Removing Free Radicals:
Mushrooms contain a number of antioxidants that help fight off free radicals in your pet’s body. As a result, your pet will not have to deal with damage caused to the cells by free radicals.
This will also lower the risk of your pet getting sick and suffering from diseases frequently.
6) Mushrooms Can Improve Neurological Health:
Mushrooms contain enough amounts of B vitamins to support your pet’s neurological health. They keep the brain of your adorable little piggy healthy and as a result, they keep their nervous system strong.
3 Reasons To Avoid Feeding Mushrooms To Guinea Pigs
Mushrooms are beneficial for your guinea pigs. But, they can be bad for your pet piggy at the same time. Here are some ways that your pet will be affected if you feed them mushrooms frequently.
1) Phosphate Stones:
Phosphate stones are formed when the concentration of phosphorus gets higher than calcium. Mushrooms contain a relatively small amount of calcium. But, the phosphorus concentration is relatively higher.
Due to this, if you overfeed them, it will lead to phosphate stones. Due to this, you need to feed them as snacks only and never in excess to avoid the imbalance of phosphorus and calcium.
2) May Lead To Scurvy:
Your adorable little pet piggy needs a good source of vitamin C as part of its diet to avoid suffering from scurvy. It is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C and can end up being deadly.
Mushrooms have a relatively lower amount of vitamin C and it is certainly not enough to meet your pet’s daily needs. As a result, your pet will likely suffer from scurvy if you do not feed him or her enough vitamin C.
3) Can Lead To Allergic Reactions:
Although the chances of this happening are slim but not all guinea pigs are alike. There are some types of mushrooms that may lead to allergic reactions in your pet piggy’s body.
Due to this, you need to keep an eye out for such signs after feeding your pet mushrooms. If you do notice anything unusual, stop feeding mushrooms to your pet and contact your local vet immediately.
My Pet Ate Wild Mushrooms – 7 Signs To Watchout For
Wild mushrooms are strictly not recommended for your pet. However, in the unfortunate event that your pet consumes wild mushrooms, it can be alarming.
This usually happens accidentally since your pet piggy cannot determine whether the mushroom they’re having is safe or not.
So, if your pet consumes wild mushrooms, your pet might suffer from mushroom poisoning.
In this case, contact the vet immediately and prepare your pet for a visit to the vet. Remember to take the mushroom with you as well so that your vet can diagnose accordingly and determine the frequency of the damage.
Here are some symptoms of mushroom poisoning that you need to keep an eye out for.
1) 7 Signs Of Poisoning:
If your pet has consumed a wild poisonous mushroom, here is what you need to look for to determine whether your pet is poisoned or not.
- Diarrhea
- Dietary changes
- Drooling
- Lethargy
- Skin rash
- Trouble breathing
- Fast pulse
30 Healthy Alternatives Of Mushrooms For Guinea Pigs
Mushrooms can be fed as a snack, but there are plenty of other healthy alternatives to mushrooms. These will allow you to bring variety to your pet’s diet and ensure your pet receives his/her fair share of nutrients.
Just to get you started, here are our top picks that you can add to your pet’s meals as part of a balanced diet.
| Radishes | Cabbage |
| Summer squash | Pumpkin |
| Mint | Arugula |
| Rocket | Spinach |
| Parsnip | Buttercrunch lettuce |
| Bok choy | Apples |
| Beets | Cucumber |
| Figs | Watercress |
| Broccoli | Bibb lettuce |
Other Alternatives:
- Pineapples
- Raspberries
- Parsley
- Brussels sprouts
- Bell peppers
- Oranges
- Mangoes
- Peaches
- Blackberries
- Cauliflower
- Basil
- Cilantro
An excess of anything is bad and the same goes for the food that your pet piggy can have. Make sure you feed them these treats in moderation and never in excess.
Moderation is the key to keeping your pet healthy and away from numerous health complications that may arise if you overfeed your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Can Mushrooms Make My Guinea Pig Sick?
Unfortunately, yes, they can make your pet sick. Certain mushrooms are toxic to your pet and need to be avoided at all costs. Only feed your pet culinary mushrooms.
Gourmet mushrooms like chanterelles, shiitakes, morels, and other Chinese mushrooms need to be avoided. If your pet eats any of these accidentally, you need to call your vet immediately.
2) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mushrooms Peelings?
Yes, you can. Your pet piggy can eat mushroom peelings. Mushrooms aren’t meant to be peeled prior to consumption and they only need to be cleaned and cut into small pieces.
Cutting them isn’t necessary but it will lower the risk of your pet choking on them since they can get all excited and take a big bite. Besides, it will be easier for them to munch on if they are cut.
3) Do Guinea Pigs And Mushroom Stems Get Well Along?
Yes, they get well along with guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can munch on mushroom stems. They are also referred to as stalks and are absolutely safe for your pet piggy.
They contain a good concentration of fiber, including beta-glucans. It can be ideal for lowering your pet friend’s blood cholesterol and keeping it regulated.
However, make sure you clean the stem part since they’re usually covered in dirt.
4) Can I Cook Mushrooms For My Guinea Pig?
No, cooked mushrooms are a big no-no for your pet piggy. Cooking them will remove the little nutrients that they offer and they will be of no use to your adorable little friend.
Additionally, during the cooking process, certain ingredients are added to it which makes them even healthy for your pet piggy. So, cooking mushrooms for guinea pigs is not strictly not recommended.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mushrooms – Conclusion:
Can guinea pigs eat mushrooms? Yes, they can munch on mushrooms from time to time. They contain numerous nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin D, and many minerals, thus making them beneficial for your pet.
However, mushrooms contain a higher concentration of phosphorus compared to calcium. If you overfeed them, it can lead to phosphate stones and many other health issues.
To be on the safer side, only feed your pet mushrooms occasionally and as a side treat only. This will ensure your pet doesn’t miss out on treats and at the same time guarantee their safety.