Can Guinea Pigs Eat Jicama? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts
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Guinea pigs are fun little creatures to own as pets. However, guinea pigs require special care when it comes to their housing and diet. When you’re a guinea pig owner, you must familiarize yourself with the proper diet for your piggy to keep them healthy. Piggies are herbivores and require a balanced diet of fresh hay, vegetables, and a small amount of guinea pig pellets.
But is it safe to give your piggy the occasional treat of something new? Say, for instance, jicama—can piggies eat this root vegetable? The short answer is yes, your guinea pig can have jicama, but only in moderation if properly prepared. Read on to learn how to safely give your guinea pig jicama.
What Is Jicama?
Jicama is a root vegetable native to Mexico. Also known as yam bean or Mexican potato, this round-shaped vegetable is part of the bean family and contains some nutrients that could be beneficial for your piggy. This root vegetable has light brown skin, and the inside is white, much like a potato. It has a crunchy texture similar to a water chestnut but with the slight sweetness of an apple. Humans can eat it raw, steamed, boiled, sautéed, or fried. Guinea pigs should only be fed it raw.
What Are the Nutritional Benefits of Jicama?
Jicama does not skimp on nutritional value. This root vegetable is loaded with vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. It looks similar to a potato but has fewer carbs and calories, which makes it a healthier option for humans. In people, it is reported to boost heart health, promote a healthy digestive system, reduce cancer risks, increase good bacteria in the gut, and help with hydration, as it contains 85% water.
Like humans, guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, and they receive vitamin C from the food they eat. Jicama is a good source of vitamin C and fiber, but giving too much could cause your piggy digestive issues.
How Do I Give My Guinea Pig Jicama?
We know jicama is excellent for humans, but how do you safely feed your guinea pig jicama? First and foremost, you must peel the skin off the jicama, as the peel may contain a toxin called rotenone, which is an organic pesticide. You must avoid giving your piggy the leaves, bean, and the outer layer of jicama.
Ensure you cut the jicama into small pieces to make it easier for your piggy to digest. You can mix it in with the other veggies you feed your piggy; however, only give a little jicama once or twice a week at best. Jicama is high in sugar, which can cause excessive gas and promote bad bacteria in the gut of your piggy.
What Is a Healthy Guinea Pig Diet?
The herbivorous guinea pig requires a balanced diet of hay/grass, fresh veggies, and a small amount of commercial guinea pig pellets. Hay is vital for your piggy and should make up the bulk of their diet. Guinea pigs need hay to help with digestion and keeping their teeth worn down—without hay, your piggy will not survive—you must provide an unlimited amount of fresh hay, such as Timothy hay, daily. You can provide a tablespoon of commercial guinea pig pellets daily with fortified vitamin C, but avoid pellets with seeds or added fruits (muesli-type mixes).
Your piggy will require a cup of fresh veggies (with some rich in vitamin C) daily. Choose a mixture of leafy greens like romaine lettuce, kale, cilantro, and parsley. You can offer a variety of veggies each day, such as red or green pepper (avoid the seeds) and broccoli as well because they are rich in vitamin C. You can add carrots, zucchini, sweet potato, and tomato once or twice a week.
Fruits should be small in size and limited. You don’t want to feed too much fruit because fruits are high in sugar. You can feed apples, blueberries, bananas, kiwis, and strawberries in small portions and only once or twice a week.
Always monitor your piggy to ensure he does not develop diarrhea. You must also add new foods gradually to avoid an imbalance in the gut. When offering jicama, do it slowly and start with a very small size mixed with other veggies.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs are cute little creatures that require a balanced diet. Ensure you provide unlimited access to timothy hay and only feed jicama once or twice a week in small portions.
Monitor your piggy when introducing new foods, and always allow access to water 24/7 for your piggy.
See Also:
- Can Guinea Pigs Eat Papaya? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts
- Can Guinea Pigs Eat Fennel? Vet-Approved Facts & Safety Guide
