If you’ve ever been the owner of a guinea pig, you’re probably well aware of their eagerness to try new foods. So it’s natural to wonder, can guinea pigs eat scrambled eggs?
Can pigs eat scrambled eggs? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Guinea pigs cannot properly digest milk products, so feeding them scrambled eggs or any other type of egg will likely make them sick. Plus, the high-fat content in eggs isn’t good for their little bodies.
Even though it may be tempting to share your breakfast with your pet, it’s best to stick to their regular diet of hay, vegetables, and pellets.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Eggs:
Guinea pigs will usually avoid eating eggs, even if you give them one. Animal-based foods like eggs are not part of a guinea pig’s natural diet, and they should instinctively ignore them.
Think of it like hay to humans. Guinea pigs love hay, but we humans have no desire to eat it; we don’t view it as food.
However, animals’ instincts can often be dulled when domesticated, so it isn’t impossible for a guinea pig to accidentally eat an egg. That means you should still make sure that your guinea pig doesn’t have an opportunity to eat eggs.
Are Eggs Bad For Guinea Pigs?
Eggs are bad for guinea pigs as their digestive system isn’t built to cope with animal-based foods. Guinea pigs are herbivores and don’t have the required digestive system to handle products like eggs.
That includes any egg, no matter how cooked. It’s the egg itself that they will struggle to digest, so the cooking method is irrelevant.
Risks Of Feeding Eggs To Guinea Pigs:
Considering that there are not enough beneficial nutrients in eggs and no health benefits of feeding eggs to guinea pigs, in this section, we will take a look at the most important risks.
Bad For Digestion
As we have already said, guinea pigs are herbivores, and they have a sensitive digestive system that is made for processing only plant-based foods. They shouldn’t consume any food from other animals, such as milk, cheese, or meat.
Also, there are no dietary fibers in eggs, and without fibers, their digestion will be slower and more complex, considering that fibers help guinea pigs to have easy and fast digestion.
Cardiovascular Problems
Too many eggs or having eggs every day is not recommended for humans. This is mainly because of the amount of cholesterol and fat in eggs.
Cholesterol and fat are needed for some basic functions in the body, but they still increase the risk of cardiovascular problems and can damage the blood vessels. The cholesterol and fat in eggs are too high for guinea pigs to handle.
Urinary Problems
The most damaging risks of eggs are the calcium and sodium levels. This is what makes eggs very unhealthy food for guinea pigs.
These amounts of calcium and sodium in eggs aren’t good for guinea pigs because calcium together with sodium can create urinary problems such as stones in the bladder or kidneys.
Otherwise, calcium is good for healthy and strong bones, but this mineral is not useful for adult guinea pigs.
No Vitamin C
Eggs have no vitamin C. Without it; guinea pigs can get a disease called scurvy. The symptoms of this disease are the following: rough coat, swollen joints, internal bleeding, no appetite, etc.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for guinea pigs because they can’t produce it in their bodies, and they need different foods that have a good amount of this vitamin to lead a healthy life.
Do Eating Eggs Kill A Guinea Pig:
It’s unlikely that eating an egg would be enough to kill a guinea pig. If a guinea pig did eat an egg, the worst outcome is most likely a bit of a digestive upset.
They may suffer from diarrhea, which can, in turn, dehydrate your guinea pig quite quickly.
To counteract the dehydration, you should ensure they have plenty of access to water and perhaps give them some high water content food like bell peppers.
Ultimately, guinea pigs generally won’t want to eat eggs anyway, so it’s unlikely they would ever eat enough to cause much of an issue.
Do Guinea Pigs Eat Eggshells:
Guinea pigs can eat eggshells. Eggshells are often used to get more calcium into our pets’ diets. And it could have its benefits for guinea pigs, given their ever-growing teeth.
However, too much calcium can thicken your guinea pig’s urine and lead to urinary tract infections or bladder stones. It isn’t really necessary to give your guinea pig eggshell, but a little bit shouldn’t do them any harm.
If you decide to give them eggshells, you should check their urine to ensure they aren’t receiving too much calcium. The best way to feed any animal eggshells is to grind them into a powder and mix them with their food.
So there is no possibility of choking on eggshell bits, as the sharp edges may even cut the mouth.
Conclusion:
So, guinea pigs do not enjoy eating scrambled eggs. But guinea pigs can enjoy various fruits and vegetables and some cooked proteins. Getting plenty of protein from eggs is healthy but not good for guinea pigs’ health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give eggs to a guinea pig?
At the most basic level, guinea pigs are herbivores. They eat fruits and veggies—no dairy, eggs, meat, or insects for these little guys. Fresh hay and fresh leafy vegetables should make up your guinea pig’s diet.
What human food can guinea pigs eat?
Guinea pigs should also be fed broccoli, cabbage, endive, carrot tops, Brussels sprouts, kale, silverbeet, mint, and fruits such as apples (without seeds), mango, and papaya a few times a week.
Can a guinea pig eat cheese?
The Dangers of Feeding Cheese to Guinea Pigs:
A guinea pig’s digestive system can digest only plant foods, so they are considered herbivores. They lack the enzymes necessary to digest dairy products, such as cheese, effectively and assimilate the nutrients, so they cannot digest them properly.
Can guinea pigs eat bread?
Guinea pigs can eat bread as a rare snack. Banana bread and bread crust can be given occasionally in small amounts, and they will cause no harm. Other bread-related products like bread crust, bread toast, and sticks can be given to guinea pigs as a rare treat.