Guinea pigs should not eat potato skins. Not only do they lack the fresh nutrients that guinea pigs receive from timothy hay, fruits, and veggies, but they are full of chemicals that are difficult for guinea pigs to digest. Even a small amount of potato skins can cause serious harm to guinea pigs.
What You'll Learn
For starters, potato skins are processed food. They lack the natural and fresh element your guinea pig would receive from their timothy hay and veggies.
The processed chemicals associated with potato skins are extremely difficult for guinea pigs to digest. Even if they consumed a massive amount of timothy hay that supports digestion, the consumption of a potato skin still wouldn’t balance it out.
So, you just got your first guinea pig. That adorable little pet is your new obsession! You’ve set up their new home with chew toys and tunnels and even some fresh water. But what about their food? You’re going to want to stock up on some timothy hay, that’s for sure!
We often get asked about potato skins. The brief answer is that guinea pigs shouldn’t eat potato skins. This article will cover all the details of why guinea pigs shouldn’t consume potato skins, but to understand why, we first need to understand what guinea pigs require from their diet.
The Diet of Champions
Your little guinea pig is truly a champion! They are energetic and adventurous. You’ll have to be sure that they have the fuel they need to keep going. What type of diet do these little creatures require?
The Importance of Timothy Hay
In a nutshell, guinea pigs love to eat timothy hay. This is a critical part of their daily diet. Chomping on this fresh hay will stunt the growth of their teeth. A good thing, for sure!
There is no reason for your tiny little guinea to have massive teeth. In fact, it could become dangerous for you. You may try to remove them from their home to clean it out, and they may accidentally bite down on your hand. Keeping their teeth at an appropriate size is good for everybody involved! Timothy hay will also support healthy digestion for them.
Is timothy hay all that they can eat? Nope! Guinea pigs love some good fruits and veggies, so make sure you stock up every time you go to the market.
But your little guinea doesn’t need to consume as many fruits and vegetables as they do their delicious timothy hay. Fresh fruits and veggies should be offered in limited portions. We’re talking approximately one cup per day!
Snacking for Guineas
You know what they can eat, but what about what they CAN’T eat? No different than adults and even toddlers, guinea pigs love a good snack! But some snacks are off-limits. For starters, potato skins are a major no-no.
Potato Skins
These salty, delectable treats are often at the top of the list as appetizers at our favorite chain restaurants!
We like to believe that the skin of a potato has a decent number of nutritional benefits for humans – from vitamin C to fiber. This is why we don’t mind indulging in these crunchy treats from time to time. What about our guinea pigs? Can they eat potato skins?
The Not So Obvious Harm
There’s a pretty big chance that you haven’t considered the harm that a mere little potato skin could do to your guinea pig. But the dangers are there.
For starters, potato skins are processed food. They lack the natural and fresh element that your guinea pig would receive from their timothy hay and veggies.
The processed chemicals associated with potato skins are extremely difficult for guinea pigs to digest. Even if they consumed a massive amount of timothy hay that supports digestion, the consumption of a potato skin still wouldn’t balance it out.
Solanine and Starch
Many elements within potato skins are harmful to guinea pigs. Two of these elements are solanine and starch. When a guinea consumes either of these two things, digestion becomes difficult.
What is delectable for adults is extremely harmful to guinea pigs. If you put the potato skin in front of your guinea pig, they are highly likely to take a bite and may even show signs of enjoyment.
They definitely enjoy snacking on potato skins! But unfortunately, even that little bite will cause harm to them.
Potato skins (and all of their chemicals) are likely to instantly poison your little guinea pig. These skins that seem so harmless will attack the red blood cells of this exotic pet.
Accidental Consumption
Maybe you weren’t aware that your little guinea couldn’t consume potato skins before you served a tiny piece to them. So, they accidentally consumed the skin of a potato? What can you do now
There are signs of harm that you can be on the lookout for. Your guinea may become lethargic or begin vomiting if they have consumed potato skins or any other food that is dangerous to them.
The vomiting is their way of trying to remove the harmful chemicals from their body. Before waiting for even more symptoms to appear, immediately take your guinea to the emergency vet.
The veterinarian may be able to slow the spread of the dangerous chemicals that have been consumed through the potato skins.
Established Diet for the Win
While you want to completely avoid potato skins because of their harmful compounds, no need to get discouraged. Your guinea pig has many options to enjoy.
As discussed earlier, you can never go wrong with fresh timothy hay. In fact, timothy hay is a critical part of their daily diet. Be sure that you are providing fresh hay every single day. There should never be a time when their home lacks hay for them to munch on.
Fiber, Fiber, and More Fiber
While you don’t have to overdo it with fiber, it is certainly an essential part of a guinea pigs’ diet.
You want to be sure you provide them with an adequate amount of fresh fruits and veggies. Fruits and vegetables will provide your exotic pet with the fiber that their diet needs.
Fruits
If you are wondering which fruits to give your guinea pig, they can have fruits such as strawberries, oranges, mangoes, and watermelon. The list goes on and on for the fruits they can safely eat. You’ll want to limit their consumption to about one cup per day.
Vegetables
The rules for vegetables aren’t much different from the rules for fruit. Both foods need to be offered fresh – never frozen!
Frozen fruits and veggies you pick up from the grocery store are often packed with processed chemicals to help them maintain their delicious flavor.
Some vegetables you can serve your guinea pig include spinach, pumpkin, tomatoes, and beets. You’ll want to limit veggies to one cup per day as well.
When In Doubt
If you are ever wondering what you can serve to your guinea pig, it needs to be one of these things:
- Guinea pig food pellets
- Fresh, clean water
- Timothy hay
- Fresh fruits
- Fresh vegetables
If you stick to that list, your guinea pigs will have the diet of a champion!
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