Guinea pigs need fruits and veggies that are rich in nutrients. When you start making a list of such fruits, oranges will most definitely be on the top. But, Can guinea pigs eat orange peels? Can guinea pigs have oranges?
Fortunately, YES! Your pet guinea pig can have oranges safely. They can also have orange peels! Oranges can provide guinea pigs with all the vitamin C that they need. This makes them one of the best fruits for guinea pigs. However, you need to feed them in moderation only.
When it comes to the nutritional content of oranges, they are filled with vitamin C. Oranges will be a refreshing treat for your pet piggy and will bring variance to their diets as well. Here’s a detailed insight into this.
Feeding Oranges To Guinea Pigs – Guinea Pig Diet 101
Filled with vitamin C, oranges will keep your pet’s immune system up to the mark! It will not only keep your pet protected against a number of diseases, but also, active, energetic, and lively.
However, there is also a downside to feeding your pet guinea pig oranges. Oranges are very rich in sugar content and are highly acidic. Due to this, you can only feed them in small amounts to avoid any possible risks.
Other than that, they can provide your pet piggy with numerous essential nutrients including vitamin C, A, calcium, potassium, fiber, and much more.
But that’s not all. There is a lot more about oranges that you need to know about oranges and their effect on guinea pigs. Continue reading to find out more.
1) Do Guinea Pigs Like Oranges?
In short, yes they like eating oranges. This is due to the fact that your pet piggy enjoys eating sweet foods and oranges are no exception. They will absolutely love to have a go at oranges.
But, do not let their love for oranges distract you from the fact that you can only feed them in moderation.
2) Are Oranges Bad For Guinea Pigs?
Oranges are rich in nutrients, but this also means they are rich in natural acids as well. This is due to the fact that they belong to the citrus family.
Guinea pigs have a sensitive digestive system that can only take a certain level of acidic foods. A small serving size would not hurt much. However, if overfed, it can create problems for your pet guinea pig.
In the unfortunate event that your pet piggy eats acidic foods more than it should, there can be one of the following consequences:
- Diarrhea
- Mouth sores
- Intestine complications
Apart from being acidic, oranges are also rich in sugars. They contain over a whopping 9 percent of sugar. If overfed, it can lead to major health risks including:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular complications
The best thing to do would be to limit the serving size of oranges for your pet guinea pig. This will allow them to benefit from oranges without having to deal with the risks of overfeeding.
3) Are Oranges Good For Guinea Pigs?
Yes! Oranges are undoubtedly good for your pet guinea pig. They are packed with vitamin C and can be just about the perfect means of vitamin C for your pet piggy.
Since your pet cannot produce vitamin C on its own, it needs it from foods like oranges. Feeding your pet oranges will also lower the risks of scurvy in your pet, which is a deadly disease and can make your pet severely ill.
Apart from this, they also contain a decent amount of other vitamins as well. These include vitamin A and B6. It will help your pet’s overall growth and also aid in improved metabolism.
Additionally, oranges also contain calcium and other minerals in trace amounts that can be beneficial for your pet. However, make sure you do not overfeed them since excess calcium can lead to bladder stones.
4) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Orange Peels?
Fortunately, yes! They can safely eat orange peels. In fact, orange peels are known to have even more nutritional value than the actual flesh part.
Orange peels have a whopping 136 mg of vitamin C. In contrast, the flesh part only has a little over 70 mg of vitamin C. Additionally, there are also a great number of antioxidants and flavonoids in them.
Based on this, orange peels can be in fact, even healthier than the actual flesh part. But, unfortunately, the acidity is there as well. Even though they have relatively lower amounts of sugar, but you still cannot overfeed them.
Your pet piggy will most probably like eating orange peels. But, if it turns its head away, you should not force him or her. Instead, feed your pet the flesh part and let them enjoy the citrus food.
Fun Fact: The peels of orange when dried, can also help your pet piggy trim its teeth down.
5) Are Orange Seeds Safe For Guinea Pigs?
In short, no. They are not safe for your pet guinea pig and can pose a choking hazard to your pet. They are rigid in texture and are simply not suitable for your pet.
Due to this, every time you serve your pet oranges, make sure you remove the seeds.
6) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Satsumas?
In short, yes they can absolutely have satsumas. They are simply Asian citrus fruits and can offer some nutritional benefits to your adorable little piggy.
They are rather easy to peel, and your pet will not have trouble eating it. Just make sure you feed them in moderation to avoid the risks of increased acidity.
7) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mandarin Oranges?
In short, yes your pet can have mandarin oranges. They contain an even higher concentration of vitamin A than regular oranges and can be a significant addition to your pet’s balanced diet.
However, they also have a higher concentration of sugar and more calories. Based on this, you cannot feed them more than once or twice a week and no more than 1 – 2 slices.
8) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tangerines?
In short, yes! Your pet piggy can also enjoy tangerines. They are perfectly safe for your pet’s consumption and carry the same nutritional values as mandarin oranges.
What’s interesting about tangerines is the fact that they have a less concentration of vitamin C but a high concentration of vitamin A. So, they are more likely to be safe for your pet’s day-to-day diet.
9) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Blood Oranges?
In short, Your pet piggy can also have blood oranges. These are generally sweeter in taste and darker in color in contrast to the regular ones. Their smell can be tempting to your pet guinea pig as well.
Besides, the sweeter taste is more like the taste of raspberry so your pet will kind of prefer them over the regular ones. However, because of the sweeter taste, you should also know that they are rich in sugar content.
You should only feed them 1 – 2 slices at a time and no more than twice a week.
10) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines?
In short, yes your pet piggy can have clementines! They are significantly lower in their acidic content but unfortunately, their sugar content is higher than regular oranges. Due to this, you can only feed them a small amount.
1 – 2 slices a week would suffice and be more than enough to bring variance to your pet guinea pig’s diet. Besides, they can also eat the skin of clementines. Just make sure you wash them to remove the pesticides.
11) Can Guinea Pig Eat Canned Orange?
Unfortunately, no. Guinea pigs cannot eat canned oranges. Canned oranges are packed with other ingredients as well. These include chemicals to improve their overall shelf life.
Due to the added preservatives, you cannot feed them canned oranges. They will make your pet piggy sick and no pet owner would want that.
The only type of oranges that you can feed your pet is fresh and raw oranges.
12) Can Guinea Pigs Have Orange Juice?
No, just like canned oranges, guinea pigs cannot have orange juice either. This is due to the fact that orange juice has a significant amount of sugar added to it.
While it might not be much of a deal to us, but for your guinea pig, the added sugar is a cause of concern.
Your pet guinea pig’s sensitive digestive system cannot process the added sugar and will lead to digestive discomfort.
13) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Orange Leaves?
Yes, they can! Orange leaves can be a fun treat to keep your pet entertained as long as they are fresh. Make sure you wash them thoroughly to remove the pesticide residue and give your pet 1 or 2 leaves to play with.
They also contain some nutrients that can be beneficial for your pet as long as you don’t overfeed them.
14) How Often Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oranges?
As tempting as oranges can be, you can only feed your pet piggy 1 – 2 slices and no more than once or twice a week.
It is well within the safe and recommended levels and increasing the serving size will only expose your pet to higher acidity in its diet. Due to this, your pet will suffer from an upset digestive system.
Additionally, the sugar content can also be a cause of concern for your pet guinea pig. Overfeeding or feeding your pet oranges every day will lead to obesity and issues like diabetes.
This is why you should only feed them the recommended amount and nothing more than that.
15) How To Prepare Orange For Your Guinea Pig?
Oranges are rich in nutrients, but, you also need to feed your pet the right way. Here is how you can prepare an orange for your pet guinea pig.
- First, choose the right type of orange for your pet piggy. Make sure it is fresh, ripe, and not stale in any way. Stale oranges can make your pet sick and no pet owner would want that.
- After choosing the right orange, make sure you wash it thoroughly. Oranges, like other fruits and veggies, are sprayed with pesticides to protect them against pest attacks.
Washing them thoroughly will lower the risk of accidental exposure to chemicals and pesticides which can be quite painful. - Remove the peel and set it aside. Afterward, take one slice of orange and feed your pet piggy. But prior to feeding it to your pet, make sure you remove the seeds since your pet cannot eat the seeds.
- Store the peels for later, and once it dries up, you can feed a small piece to your pet piggy. It will serve as a chewable treat to help deal with your pet’s overgrown teeth.
- After your pet is done eating, you need to clean the cage and remove the leftovers. This will keep your pet piggy clean and avoid smelling as well.
Nutritional Facts Of Oranges For Guinea Pigs
To give you a detailed idea of how rich orange is in nutrients, here are its nutritional facts. Keep in mind, these are all based on 100-gram serving size.
| Vitamin C 71 mg/ 100 g | Vitamin A 225 IU | Calcium 40 mg/ 100 g |
| Phosphorous 14 mg/ 100 g | Potassium 181 mg/ 100 g | Fiber 4 g/ 100 g |
| Sugar 9 g/ 100 g | Protein 94 g/ 100 g | Carbs 75 g/ 100 g |
| Calories 47 Kcal | Fat 12 g/ 100 g | Water 75 g/ 100 g |
Vitamin C is dominating the list compared to other vitamins. Based on this, it can be considered a superfood for your pet guinea pig. The vitamin C content will provide your pet piggy with a significant boost in its immunity.
Additionally, there are other vitamins as well in trace amounts. These include vitamin A and vitamin B6 which are responsible for the overall growth of your adorable little pet.
Moreover, the potassium and calcium content in oranges also plays an important role. They provide your pet’s body strength and boost the development of healthy bones and teeth!
6 Health Benefits Of Oranges For Guinea Pigs
By now, you would probably know that oranges can provide your pet guinea pig with a lot of health benefits. Thanks to the vitamin C content in oranges, your pet will no longer have to worry about its deficiency.
Here are some major health benefits of oranges for guinea pigs.
1) Provides Energy:
Your pet needs the energy to stay active, healthy, and be the fun little creature that they are. Oranges can provide a decent amount of calories to your pet guinea pig to ensure they stay active and live a long healthy life.
2) Scurvy Prevention:
A deficiency of vitamin C can lead to scurvy which is a deadly and painful disease. Fortunately, oranges have a high concentration of vitamin C which can help deal with scurvy.
It lowers the risk of scurvy up to a great extent and provides strength to the immune system of your pet guinea pig.
3) Aids In Weight Regulation:
Oranges have just about the perfect number of calories (47 kcal) which is well within the safe amounts. It will keep your pet energetic but at the same time, it will also help control its body weight.
4) Improved Heart Health:
Since oranges are low in terms of fat, magnesium, and potassium content, they can improve the heart health of your pet guinea pig. They can keep the blood vessels from clogging as well.
Additionally, the potassium content also aids in keeping a balance of water and salt in your pet’s body. The magnesium content keeps the heart healthy and strong.
All of this leads to improved heart health which ensures your pet lives a long life.
5) Prevents Cancer:
The limonene content present in trace amounts in oranges can also aid in lowering the risk of suffering from certain cancers.
It is a considerable advantage of oranges since guinea pigs are more likely to suffer from diseases.
6) Packed With Antioxidants:
Oranges are filled with antioxidants. This helps eliminate free radicals from the body of your pet and serves as an anti-inflammatory agent for your pet guinea pig.
4 Risks Of Overfeeding Oranges
Oranges can boost the immunity of your pet and at the same time, they can also put your pet in severe discomfort. However, this will only happen if you overfeed your pet piggy.
Here are some of the major health concerns of overfeeding your pet piggy.
1) Urinary Complications:
The calcium content in oranges is considered high. Adult guinea pigs do not require a lot of calcium and as a result, it can get build up in their kidneys if overfed.
Due to this, it will lead to kidney and bladder stones. It will also lead to infections in the urinary tract of your pet guinea pig and result in painful urination and blood in the urine.
2) Digestive Complications:
Unfortunately, your pet piggy has a poor digestive system. Overfeeding will expose your pet to a lot of sugar and your poor pet will not be able to digest it. As a result, it will lead to digestive complications.
3) Obesity And Diabetes:
The sugar content in oranges will make your pet put on excess weight if overfed. It will also increase the chances of your pet suffering from diabetes which can be even more painful.
4) Risk Of High Acidity:
Oranges are naturally high in acidity. The reason why keeping these levels balanced is important that it can become quite painful for your pet piggy. With high acidity, there are many problems that can occur. These include:
- Mouth sores
- Stomach complications
- Teeth issues
Overfeeding oranges to your pet guinea pig increases the chances of acid poisoning. Here are some possible signs of acid poisoning that you need to keep an eye out for:
- Ulceration in the mouth of your pet
- Drooling
- Refusing to eat
- Having trouble swallowing food
- Vomiting
- Squinting the eyes
- Redness around the exposed parts
- The exposed skin or tissue might turn black
- Breathing complications
42 Healthy Alternatives Of Oranges For Guinea Pigs
Oranges are excellent means of nutrition for your pet guinea pig. But, since you cannot feed them more than once or twice a week, you need to consider other foods like Raspberries, Parsley, Brussels sprouts, Mangoes, Peaches, Blackberries, Cauliflower, Cilantro, Pineapples & many more.
There are plenty of other fruits and veggies that your pet guinea pig will absolutely love. Just to get you started, here are some examples of healthy fruits and veggies for your pet piggy.
| Bok choy | Apples | Tomato | Beets | Cucumber |
| Basil | Figs | Watercress | Broccoli | Bibb lettuce |
| Escarole | Beet tops | Radishes | Bell pepper | Cabbage |
| Summer squash | Pumpkin | Mint | Arugula | Rocket |
| Spinach | Parsnip | Buttercrunch lettuce | Green beans | Artichoke |
| Swiss chard | Carrot | Carrot tops | Romaine | Asparagus |
| Yu Choy | Zucchini | Broccolini |
Just like oranges, you need to feed them these treats in moderation as well. A good way to feed your pet these treats would be to feed them a mix of 4 or 5 fruits and veggies under 1 cup serving size.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Which Oranges Are Best For Guinea Pig?
Since there are plenty of different types of oranges, it can get challenging to choose the best ones. To put you at ease, mandarin oranges, and clementine oranges are the best for your pet guinea pig.
No matter what type of orange you end up feeding your pet, make sure you feed them a single slice or two at max. Nothing more than this or you will end up making your pet piggy sick.
2) Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oranges Every day?
Unfortunately, you cannot feed your pet oranges every day. Feeding your pet oranges every day will be considered overfeeding.
As mentioned earlier, overfeeding will lead to numerous health complications. It will also put your pet piggy in ultimate discomfort that no pet owner would want for their pet.
Conclusion:
Can guinea pigs have oranges? Can guinea pigs eat orange peels? Absolutely yes! Oranges can provide your pet guinea pig a significant dose of vitamin C and improve the overall health of your pet guinea pig.
The downside to oranges is the fact that they are acidic in nature and are rich in sugars. Due to this, you cannot feed them more than once or twice a week without risking the health of your pet guinea pig.
Feeding your pet oranges as part of a balanced diet will give your pet the most benefits and ensure he or she lives a long life – free from diseases.