Sugar snap pea, also known as a snap pea, is a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and fiber. It provides enormous benefits to humans as it helps to regulate blood sugar levels, control weight, and gives many other nutritious benefits to humans.
But what about our guinea pigs? Can they eat snap peas? I did some research and here is what I have learned.
Guinea pigs can eat snap peas as it is a rich source of Vitamin C, Fiber, and Carbohydrate. However, one of its significant drawbacks for our guinea pig is that it contains a good amount of sugar. So it can only be served in moderation to our guinea pigs.
Guinea pig’s diet contains an unlimited amount of hay and a cup of fresh veggies daily. The veggies provide them with much-needed vitamins and minerals that hay alone cannot provide.
However, we must keep the sugar and calcium content in the food as well. Guinea pigs don’t do well when we feed them a diet high in sugar and calcium.
So, keep that in mind while serving any food to your guinea pigs.
Now that you know you can feed snap peas to your guinea pigs, you must be wondering how much snap peas should you feed and how often? Don’t worry; we have everything in detail for you in this article.
But before moving further, let us discuss some essential nutrients in snap peas.
Nutrition in sugar snap peas
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 12.2 mg/ 100 g |
| Vitamin K | 43 µg/100 g |
| Vitamin A | 35 µg/ 100 g |
| Carotene | 379 µg/ 100 g |
| Lutein + Zeaxanthin | 640 µg/ 100 g |
| Calcium | 37 mg/ 100 g |
| Phosphorous | 38 mg/ 100 g |
| Potassium | 211 mg/ 100 g |
| Fiber | 2.7 g/ 100 g |
| Sugar | 3.26 g/ 100 g |
| Magnesium | 25 mg/ 100 g |
| Carbs | 6.97 g/ 100 g |
| Calories | 31 Kcal |
| Fat | 0.22 g/ 100 g |
| Water | 90.32 g/ 100 g |
Here are list of nutrients present in snap peas:
- Vitamin C: Sugar snap peas are a rich source of Vitamin C which gives numerous benefits to our body. It helps to boost immunity, prevent scurvy, and many other diseases. Vitamin C is mostly found in citrus fruits and vegetables.
- Protein: Sugar snap peas also hold a decent amount of protein, which protects our body from various diseases. It helps in fat burning, controls blood pressure, and is also used to make other body chemicals.
- Fiber: Sugar snap peas also contain a good amount of fiber, which is also necessary for our body to function properly as it plays a vital role in maintaining our digestive system.
- Vitamin K: Sugar snap peas contain a good amount of Vitamin K, which plays a significant role in preventing blood clotting and also makes protein for bones. Intaking Vitamin K also minimizes the chance of fracture in older women with weak bones.
Are guinea pigs allowed sugar snap peas?
Yes, guinea pigs are allowed to eat sugar snap peas as they are a very rich source of Vitamin C, fiber, and many other essential nutrients.
But it also contains a good amount of sugar, which is a major drawback for our guinea pig.
So we must serve it in a moderate quantity only. If served in a moderate quantity, it gives numerous benefits to our guinea pig.
Let us learn about some benefits of snap sugar peas to our guinea pig.
- Hydration: Sugar snap peas have a high water content, which gives numerous benefits to our guinea pigs as it helps to stay hydrated and protect against several other illnesses.
- As per studies, guinea pigs require at least 80-100mls water per day. Sugar snap peas can supplement the water requirement of our guinea pig.
- Prevents scurvy: Sugar snap peas are an excellent source of Vitamin C which is crucial for our guinea pig as they cannot manufacture their own. Thus, It helps in scurvy prevention and also protects against several other health issues.
- Good for gut health: Sugar snap pea also holds a decent amount of dietary fiber, which provides numerous benefits to our guinea pig. It helps in digestion and protects against many gastrointestinal issues.
Are sugar snap peas OK for guinea pigs?
Yes, sugar snap peas are ok for our guinea as long as we serve it in moderation.
Anything in excess is bad for health, and the same applies to snap peas as well. Overfeeding snap peas can lead to obesity, diarrhea, diabetes, and many other health problems in guinea pigs.
Excessive serving can give terrible results. Let us learn about some hazards of serving snap sugar peas in excessive quantities.
- High content of Oxalic acid: Sugar snap peas contain a good amount of oxalic acid that can lead to significant health issues in our guinea pigs. High oxalic acid deposits as sharp oxalates crystals, which can be terrible for our guinea pigs.
- A high content of oxalic acid can also lead to kidney stones.
- As per studies, guinea pigs should not eat more than 30mg oxalic acid per day.
- Urinary Problems: Sugar snap peas also contain a good amount of calcium which, if consumed in excessive quantities, can result in too many urinary complications to our guinea pigs like urinary stones, pain, or infections in the urinary tract.
- With growing age, the requirement of calcium decreases in our guinea pigs.
- As per studies, guinea pigs should eat approx 7-9 grams of calcium per day.
- High phosphorus content: Sugar snap peas contain a good amount of phosphorus which, if taken in an excessive quantity, can affect the growth and survival of our guinea pig.
- If our guinea pig intakes a high phosphorus diet, it many develop deposits of calcium phosphate, which can affect their growth and survival.
How much snap peas can our guinea pigs eat?
You can feed one or two peas with their pods to your guinea pigs.
As sugar snap beans contain a good amount of sugar and oxalic acid, you must always remember to serve the meal in a moderate quantity.
Always remember that it can only be served once in a while and you should not include it in their regular diet. Guinea pig’s regular diet must contain fresh, natural hay and a mix of veggies.
It is also recommended to mix snap peas with other low calcium veggies like lettuce, bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini, carrots, etc. to create a healthy and balanced diet for your guinea pigs.
How often I feed my guinea pig snap peas?
You can serve sugar snap pea twice a week to your guinea pig in a moderate quantity.
Serving excessive quantities can lead to many health issues to our guinea pig.
Feeding small quantities helps eliminate possible health issues as the calcium that goes into your guinea pig’s diet gets limited.
Can guinea pigs eat sugar snap pea pods?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat sugar snap pea pods but not more than twice a week.
Guinea pigs can eat sugar snap beans along with its pods but in a moderate quantity as it has an acidic content.
Always make sure you wash the pods out properly before serving. It can contain traces of chemicals and preservatives that can be bad for our guinea pig’s health.
Can guinea pigs eat sugar snap pea sprouts?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat sugar snap pea sprouts but as a treat.
Sprouts are a rich source of Vitamins and minerals for our guinea pigs. However, overfeeding can result in diarrhea and other health issues. Thus, feed snap peas sprout occasionally.
Can guinea pigs eat sugar snap pea leaves?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat leaves of snap peas.
Since there is no concrete evidence, if it is safe for our guinea pigs or not, it is better to stay on the safe side and avoid feeding those to our guinea pigs.
Can guinea pigs eat sugar snap pea shoots?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat snap pea shoots.
As there is no concrete evidence on the effect of feeding it to our guinea pigs, we should stay away from the same.
However, snap pea shoots are an excellent source of three chemoprotective agents: folate, antioxidants, and carotene. These can prevent severe health issues like tumors and cancer.
Can guinea pigs eat frozen snap peas?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat frozen snap peas but only after it is thawed and brought to room temperature.
Avoid feeding cold food directly from the fridge as it can upset the stomach of our guinea pigs leading to severe health problems.
Can guinea pigs eat canned snap peas?
It is strongly recommended not to serve canned sugar snap peas to your guinea pig as it contains high sodium, which can lead to significant health issues for your guinea pig.
It also contains other additives and preservatives that are terrible for our guinea pig’s health.
Can guinea pigs eat cooked snap peas?
It is best to avoid serving cooked snap pea to your guinea pigs. Cooked food is not suitable for our guinea pig’s digestive system as they cannot digest the food well.
Also, other ingredients added to the food while cooking is also not ideal for our guinea pigs; thus, it is best to avoid cooked snap pea entirely.
How to prepare sugar snap peas for guinea pigs?
Here are some basic steps you should follow to prepare sugar snap pea for your guinea pig:
- The first step is to select a ripe snap pea for your guinea pig. You can easily determine between ripe and unripe as a ripe snap pea is green in color and filled with peas.
- The second step is to wash the sugar snap pea properly to remove all the dirt from the surface
- The next step is optional, and that is getting rid of the pod skin. You can also choose to serve the snap peas along with its pods if you want to.
- The final is to mix it with other veggies and make a healthy and complete vegetable bowl for your guinea pigs.
- Remember to remove any uneaten vegetables from the cage. Uneaten fruits and vegetables are often the hotspots for bacterial bloom. It also attracts flies and rats towards your guinea pigs.
Pro tip: You can also prepare the vegetable for a few days or a few serving at a time and use proper quality vegetable storage contains for keeping the same fresh and ready.
Conclusion: Guinea Pigs and Sugar snap peas
- Sugar snap pea is a rich source of Vitamin C, Fiber, Vitamin K, and many other nutrients needed by your guinea pig.
- You can serve sugar snap pea twice a week in a moderate quantity to your guinea pig as moderation is a key to a healthy life.
- Feed no more than 1-2 pods of peas at a time.
- Overfeeding of sugar snap peas can be a terrible idea as it may lead to major health issues.
- There is no concrete evidence regarding sugar snap leaves and shoots, so it is recommended to avoid feeding that to your guinea pigs.
- Sugar snap pea is technically a fruit that contains a good amount of sugar, so it should not be included in their regular meal. Their regular meal must consist of fresh hay and veggies.
Sources: Benefits of Sugar Snap Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, Diet Composition and Mineral Balance in Guinea Pigs, Dietary Vitamin C, and Vitamin E on Guinea Pig Immune Responses to Mitogens, Vitamin C requirements of the guinea-pig, Is Your Guinea Pig’s Diet Providing the Right Nutrients? Care of Guinea Pigs.
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