Kale is a popular green that can be eaten raw or cooked in many dishes.
It has become more and more common for people to have kale on their plates, but not everyone knows that guinea pigs can eat it too!
Guinea pigs are herbivores and love eating vegetables like broccoli, carrots, spinach, peas, beans and corn.
Kale is actually the most nutritious of these veggies because it contains high levels of vitamins A and C as well as calcium.
The surprising thing about guinea pigs eating kale is that they can get diarrhea from it.
Guinea pigs are herbivores, which means they only eat plants or other items on this diet plan.
They come with some risk factors so you should talk to your veterinarian before letting them have any new food like kale.
The first reason why the foods causes a possible problem for these animals is because of the high levels of oxalates and tannins in these greens while there are low amounts of calcium and vitamin C found in them as well.
If too much kale is given to their diet then they could end up being deficient in those essential nutrients instead.
It’s also not good if the animal eats too many leafy vegetables over time since one of the benefits of this food is that it contains a lot more fiber than other vegetables.
The result can be an animal with chronic constipation or if they’re already predisposed to gastrointestinal disease, then there’s also risks for them to develop hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome from all those fibrous inclusions.
The bottom line is that you should never feed your guinea pig kale on its own without telling your vet first.
They may have issues digesting it and won’t get the vitamins they need as well which could lead to other complications down the road like tooth decay due to inadequate calcium levels, weight loss .
Because their diet lacks essential nutrients, or even death since one nutriment has been eliminated entirely from their dietary requirements.
“The Surprising Thing You Were Not Told about Guinea Pigs Eating Kale”
It’s important for your vet to know everything, even the things you didn’t think would be an issue because it may lead to severe consequences down the road and could shorten their lifespan.
If not given enough time or attention then they might experience health issues such as “chronic constipation”, stomach pains like irritable bowel syndrome, and loss of appetite due lack of nutrients.
Sometimes all these symptoms can lead up to death since one essential nutrient has been eliminated from their diet entirely!
Normally a guinea pig can eat kale, but the diet should be supplemented with other vegetables. You may want to try feeding them carrots and some celery greens as well!
My veterinarian said that it’s important for their diet since they have sensitive digestive systems and can’t digest raw veggies.
Which is why we need to provide them a healthy mix of foods in order to avoid any complications like these mentioned above.
Verdict
Chances are your beloved pet won’t start eating kale on its own because they don’t naturally enjoy the taste or texture of many leaves .
So even if you give it an easy way out by offering freshwater, this doesn’t mean he will take up the offer anytime soon.
The first thing you need to know is that can guinea pigs eat kale? The answer is yes! Kale, as long as it’s not a type of cabbage (which they don’t like).
Provides fiber for your piggy. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C.
The list goes on! But make sure to avoid wilted or yellowed leaves; these are signs that the plant has gone bad.
Additionally important: if your pet eats too much at once he might experience gas pains from all those nutrients going through him so try limiting his intake at each mealtime and watch closely for any changes in behavior (e.g., excessive scratching).
Over time it should get easier as your piggy gets used to the food and learns how much he can handle.
I have to confess that for me the most troubling part of having a pet pig was if he would be able to get enough protein in his diet since they don’t always like green vegetables and there is so much advice out there on what your animal can or cannot eat. But I found some good news: yes, guinea pigs can eat kale! In fact it’s one of their favorite foods (if not mine).
Kale comes with all sorts of benefits too- fiber for digestion, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron and vitamin A.
The list goes on but make sure you do your research on kale because not all varieties are the same and can cause digestive issues.
The more you feed it, the more they’ll eat
So if they don’t like kale at first start with a small amount and work up to their full daily serving of leafy greens.
Additionally, kale can be an excellent food to feed a pregnant and/or nursing mother as it has high levels of folic acid.
So not only does your cavy get the chance to enjoy one of their favorite foods but they also reap all sorts of benefits from eating this green veggie too.
Next time you’re at the grocery store take some extra for yourself and put in on your list next time- I know I will!
This is why my pet is always excited when he sees me coming with his greens because he knows what’s up haha.
Kale can give him that boost (literally) whenever he needs it so if you have any other questions do need it and I love that about this food!
