Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pears? (Serving Size, Hazards & More)

Who doesn’t like to munch on pears? As human beings pears are one such fruit that is beneficial to us. These mildly sweet little fruit packed with a punch of vitamins and antioxidants are any time go-to snacks for us. But are pears good for your guinea pigs? Can Guinea pigs eat pears? Let’s find out today.

Guinea pigs can eat pears. They can enjoy a small slice of pear every once in a while. Fruits like pears have moderate vitamins and minerals that are suitable for your guinea pigs. On the flip side they are somewhat acidic, so they should be served only once a week.

Although the staple part of their diet remains to be hay, guinea pigs are served with vegetables and fruits to supplement their diet every once in a while.

Pears are an excellent supplement for antioxidants and vitamins but should be served in a specified quantity only.

Just like human being Guinea pig also need a variety in the diet to remain healthy. A well-balanced diet is something that will not only help them lead a happy life but will also impact how long will they be with you as a companion.

Their life expectancy is directly dependent on the quality of diet we provide them. So, it’s our ultimate responsibility to learn what they can eat, how much and what they can’t eat and provide them with the right food accordingly.

Contents

So, Are Pears Beneficial for Guinea Pigs?

Pears compose of 84% of water. It is a fruit that contains vitamin c, Vitamin K, and other antioxidants. It is also rich in fiber which is vital for a well-balanced diet.

A guinea pig is one such animal that cannot produce vitamins on its own. So, Vitamin C is an essential part of the diet for any Guinea pig. With the lack of Vitamin C in the diet of guinea pigs, the pigs can become very ill with scurvy.

Research conducted shows that Scurvy is one of the most common disease diagnosed in Guinea pigs.

You can learn more about this medical condition in this article from a reputed vet site.

The vitamins and other nutrition needed by the Guinea pig is supplemented by including Fruits and vegetables in their diet. Some pet owners also like to add Pellets fortified with vitamin C while other sticks with fresh fruits and vegetables only.

Fruits are vegetables that are an integral part of the Guinea pig’s diet. It is an excellent choice to provide them with fresh veggies like bell peppers, cucumber, Zucchini daily and fruits like Strawberries, Apples must be served once in a week or so to cater their need for Vitamins.

We can serve pears to our guinea pigs in a small quantity, 1-2 small size slices every week would be an ideal addition in their diet. But first, If you are serving the fruit for the first time, then you must serve in a tiny quantity and check if it likes the fruit or not.

Every Guinea pig tends to prefer one fruit over another. If you find that your Guinea pig likes to munch on pears, then you can make it a part of their diet and serve it every week or so.

Can Pears cause some health issues in Guinea pigs?

Even the most beneficial food can be harmful to health if not served in the right quantity. Likewise, Pears are not detrimental to Guinea pigs if we serve it in the right amount.

Source:USDA National Nutrient data base

Vitamin C	6 mg/ 100 g
Vitamin A	25 IU
Vitamin K	4.4 ug/ 100 g
Calcium	9 mg/ 100 g
Phosphorous	12 mg/ 100 g
Potassium	116 mg/ 100 g
Fiber	3.1 g/ 100 g
Sugar	9.75 g/ 100 g
Protein	0.36 g/ 100 g
Carbs	15.23 g/ 100 g
Calories	57 Kcal
Fat	0.14 g/ 100 g
Water	83.96 g/ 100 g

Pears have a considerable quantity of fiber which is vital to maintain the digestive health in Guinea pigs. But at the same time, it is also acidic, which can lead to many diseases like sour mouth and diarrhea in Guinea pigs.

Pears are also mildly sweet which means it contains some substantial amount of natural sugar. Too much sugar is terrible for Guinea pig’s health as it may lead to other health issues like obesity and Diabetes.

Quick tip:

If you see any sign of obesity, Or you find that your Guinea pig is less active as compared to early then you must immediately cut down the number of fruits and other treats that contains sugar and carbohydrates in high quantity.

How To Prepare Pears For Serving?

Firstly, you need to ensure to wash the skin properly to get rid of any pesticide or chemical present in the skin of the pears. As you know that chemicals are harmful to Guinea pigs if consumed by them.
Secondly, Cut the Pears in small Slices. The size must not be a big one. If the size of the slice is too big the guinea pig might have trouble having it. Also, you might end up feeding them too much.
Always remember to remove any seed from the pears. The seed of pears contains cyanide in small quantity but stills its very harmful for your Guinea pigs.
You can put the Pears slices now in their fruit or vegetable container or a bowl.
Always ensure to remove any uneaten fruits from their cage after a few hours as they might be home for flies or rats.

Can we serve Pears skin to our Guinea pigs?

Yes, we can serve pears skin to our Guinea pigs. But we must always remember that even the surface of pears is rich in sugar so the quantity must be very restricted. Nothing more than a few bits as a salad or something is recommended.

Until the pears are grown in your garden organically, we must be aware that it will contain traces of pesticides and other harmful chemicals in it. So we must always wash the pear properly before serving it to our Guinea pigs.

Are Frozen Pears Safe For Guinea Pigs?

Yes. A Guinea pig can eat frozen pears, but it is best to avoid frozen fruits altogether.

Freezing fruit or vegetables often leads to the breaking of enzymes in it and often causes loss of essential vitamins in them.

As long as you serve just a small bit as a treat in summer, it’s okay, but there is no benefit in helping them with frozen pears.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Pears?

No, Guinea pigs cannot eat canned pears. We as human beings are quite Tempted to have canned food. Canned food is quite convenient as they don’t go bad fast and also are available all year round. We need not wait for the season to get the food.

But it comes with a cost associated. The vitamins and minerals present in fresh fruit are quite high as compared to a canned one.

Canned Pears or any other fruits are often treated with preservatives to increase their shelf life.

These chemicals and preservatives are nasty for your Guinea pig. We must not serve canned pears to our Guinea pigs.

Can we serve Pears Juice to our Guinea pigs?

No, We must always try to avoid serving any fruit Juices to our guinea pigs.

The pears juice would contain a lot of sugar in it which is terrible for your Guinea pig health. Thus, We must not serve pears Juice to our Guinea pigs.

Always try to serve them with fresh vegetables and fruits. Those are the best things you can help to supplement their diet.

What are the healthier alternatives of pears in a guinea pig’s diet?

There are lots of other fruits that can be served instead of pears such as Papaya, Banana, Mango, Cranberries, and Apricot. Some of them are as follows:

Apple

Apples are another great source of fiber, Vitamin C, and other vital nutrients. Serving your guinea pigs apples once in a while shall keep their immune system healthy and fulfill various nutrient needs of their body.

Oranges

Oranges are a great source of Vitamin C. An orange contains over 88% of vitamin C in total which is great for our guinea pigs. But it also includes some natural acids, so feeding is quite restricted.

Conclusion

Pears contains a decent amount of fiber, Vitamin A and vitamin C in it.
Can guinea pigs eat pears? Yes, guinea pigs can eat pears but only in moderation.
Fruits are an essential part of guinea pig’s diet as they bring new flavor in guinea pig’s diet as well as it helps fulfill the needs of nutrients in their food.
Pears contain a decent amount of fiber and other nutrients, but at the same time, it also includes a high amount of sugar which makes it a limiting factor.
Guinea pigs are also prone to lip sores, Serving pears in high quantity can trigger the same due to the acidic nature of the pears.
We should only serve 1-2 small slices of pears that too not exceeding once a week or so.
Do not serve canned pears or pears juice as they are bad for your guinea pig’s health.
It would be best if you serve the fruits in small quantities to supplement the additional vitamin needs of guinea pigs. Hay and fresh vegetables should be a significant part of their diet.

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