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Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peaches? Vet-Approved Nutritional Science & Information

Chantelle Fowler

By Chantelle Fowler

guinea-pig-peaches

Vet approved

Dr. Luqman Javed Photo

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Luqman Javed

DVM (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Guinea pigs are true herbivores that require unlimited amounts of hay in their daily diet. They also need species-appropriate pellets, daily vegetables, and occasionally, fruit. Most vets recommend fruits high in vitamin C, such as guava or kiwis, but what’s the verdict on peaches? Are they safe for guinea pigs? The answer is yes, guinea pigs can eat peaches but there are some caveats.

Read on to learn how to offer your piggy peaches, the fuzzy fruits’ nutritional information, and how much to offer your pet.

Divider Guinea Pig

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peaches?

Yes, peaches are a safe fruit to offer your guinea pig occasionally. Fruit, in general, is a tasty treat for your pet, but it shouldn’t be something that makes up a large part of your piggy’s diet. Fruit is high in sugar, which can cause an imbalance in intestinal bacteria and potentially life-threatening diarrhea if fed too often. Not to mention, the high sugar content of the fruit can cause obesity or other health issues if provided in excess.

Peaches are also acidic, which can be problematic when offered in large quantities 1. Too much acidic food can cause mouth or lip sores.

guinea pig in a cage
Image By: Dev_Maryna, Shutterstock

Peach Nutrition

While peaches aren’t a significant source of any nutrient, they still provide a decent dose of vitamin C, 10.2 milligrams per cup. Of course, you shouldn’t offer your guinea pig a full cup of fruit at a time, but it’s good to know that peaches are high in this nutrient as it’s something your piggy needs 1.

Key nutritional information of raw yellow peaches, per 100 grams (3.5 oz)
  • Water: 88.3 grams (g)
  • Carbohydrates: 10.1 g
  • Fat: 0.27 g
  • Protein: 0.91 g
  • Fiber: 1.5 g
  • Calcium: 4 milligrams (mg)
  • Phosphorus: 22 mg
  • Potassium: 122 mg
  • Magnesium: 8 mg
  • Vitamin C: 4.1 mg

Guinea Pigs & Vitamin C

A guinea pig cannot produce vitamin C, so they must get their daily requirement from their diet.

Guinea pigs require daily supplements of vitamin C. While many guinea pig pellets are often fortified with vitamin C, the vitamin unfortunately doesn’t stay stable for very long and can naturally degrade in a matter of a few months once the package is opened. The same is true for vitamin C powders added to water to enrich it.

This is why vegetables & fruits are important for your guinea pig – they can ensure your guinea pig receives the vitamin C they require. The vitamin C requirement of guinea pigs is  around 10 mg vitamin C/kg body weight daily for maintenance and up to 30 mg vitamin C/kg body weight daily for pregnancy.

How to Give Your Guinea Pig Peaches

Moderation is key when offering any fruit to your piggy. Fruit can be offered daily in very small amounts or a few times a week if you prefer to spread out your pet’s fruit intake. Because peaches are acidic and high in sugar, just one slice once a week will be enough for your piggy.

The peach skin is soft and edible. It’s high in fiber and antioxidant compounds like polyphenols. Guinea pigs need fiber to help balance the bacterial flora in their gut. They’ll get most of their fiber from their hay, but it’s not a bad idea to offer high-fiber fruits and veggies to supplement. In addition, studies suggest that antioxidants can delay disease progression in guinea pigs . Only offer the skin if it has been thoroughly washed to eliminate any pesticides or chemicals.

Introduce any new food into your piggy’s diet slowly so you can gauge how their body reacts to the new food.

peaches
Image By: Piqsels

What Other Fruit Can Guinea Pigs Eat?

Guinea pigs are prone to developing painful bladder stones, which are sometimes composed of calcium oxalate. You should therefore focus on providing low-oxalate fruits, vegetables, and herbs to your pet to lower its risk. Some of the best low-oxalate fruits for your piggy include:

  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Bananas
  • Blackberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Grapes
  • Pears
  • Watermelons
Guinea Pig eating a banana
Image By: Simon Markhof, Shutterstock

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Final Thoughts

While peaches aren’t the most ideal fruit to offer your guinea pig, a little now and then won’t harm it. This fruit is acidic and high in sugar, so keep portion sizes very small when giving it to your piggy. Also, remember that fruit should only make up a small portion of your pet’s diet, with most of its nutrients coming from fresh hay, pellets, and vegetables.


Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

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