Yes, indeed, guinea pigs can eat asparagus, but only those that are fresh raw, well washed, and in small portions. Most guinea pigs will eagerly eat asparagus, as they enjoy eating crisp veggies.
When it comes to food preferences, Guinea pigs are not picky and will consume any part of the asparagus, whether it’s the stalk or the head, the stems, or the softer head of the vegetable. However, do not feed your guinea pigs with the poisonous asparagus flowers that can easily cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Top 7 Fascinating Facts About Guinea Pigs
A common rule of thumb is to feed your cavy animal friend with less than 100 grams of asparagus.
Let’s look at the top 7 interesting facts about furry friend-guinea pigs.
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Asparagus Helps Prevent Scurvy
The asparagus diet is essential for guinea pigs- it’s the ideal source of important vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, calcium, fiber, protein, and phosphorus.
Did you know guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own, yet they require 30 -50 milligram of vitamin C daily for their diet? Click here to view the nutrition content in asparagus.
A Guinea pig can easily suffer from vitamin C deficiency, causing their health to deteriorate. Lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy, a fatal illness in guinea pigs.
That being the case, many guinea pig foods on the shelves are enriched with vitamin C, as it is a crucial vitamin for their body system to function correctly.
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Asparagus Mitigate Weight loss to Overweight Guinea Pigs
Asparagus contains low calories and fat, making it an ideal diet for your overweight or diabetic guinea pigs. Asparagus also has high water content, which, when combined with low-calorie content, helps mitigate weight loss or stave off weight gain in guinea pigs.
The high water content also keeps guinea pigs hydrated.
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Asparagus Help Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetic Guinea Pigs
The ends of asparagus have a decent fiber content that helps stabilize the blood sugar levels of worrisome diabetic guinea pigs. The fiber content also keeps the guinea pig’s digestive system running smoothly.
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Asparagus Diet Improves Eyesight for Guinea pig
Asparagus has a healthy amount of vitamin A, which is scientifically good for eyesight. Since guinea pigs have a degenerating and poop vision –having asparagus rich in vitamin A can keep that in check.
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Asparagus Stalks Helps Prune Guinea Pig’s Teeth
Asparagus teeth never stop growing since they are born, and giving them asparagus stalks helps to prune their teeth. The crunchy and rough stalks help maintain the good dental health of your guinea pigs by wearing down their molar teeth.
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Excess Consumption of Asparagus Is Unsafe For Guinea Pigs
Feeding your guinea pig with excess asparagus can lead to gastric upset with signs of vomiting and diarrhea. Too much intake of asparagus is also diuretic causing dehydration.
Alternating your guinea pig’s diet is essential to avoid sudden dietary changes. The idea is to make sure you don’t feed your guinea pigs with asparagus on days when other gas-producing veggies such as basil, cauliflower, and broccoli are on the menu.
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Surplus Asparagus May Cause Bladder Stones In Guinea Pigs
Asparagus also contains a fair amount of oxalic acids, which leads to calcium stones being produced in the bladder or kidney. Bladder stones are a common health issue in guinea pigs, and feeding them with a diet rich in calcium is unsafe.
Multiple health issues may arise if kidney and bladder stones are not treated, ultimately causing death if not immediately addressed.
Conclusion
High in fiber, low in calories, and brimming with antioxidants, asparagus is an ideal diet for guinea pigs. However, they can safely munch on raw asparagus, but canned and cooked asparagus is risky to guinea pigs.
Canned asparagus may contain additional chemicals, while cooked asparagus may have extra ingredients like oil and onions, which are toxic to guinea pigs.