Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:28 pm
Guinea pigs are beautiful pets that require care and attention to feel happy in their environment.
In terms of the care, we need to pay close attention to their diet, always be on time, not be hungry and be careful what to give them. Because some foods are better and some worse for their health.
When we eat figs and watch our guinea pig look curious, you probably wonder if you should try it.
Can guinea pigs eat figs? The answer is yes, and guinea pigs can eat figs in moderation to benefit their health from the vitamins and minerals in this delicious fruit.
In today’s article, we will find out if and how many figs guinea pigs should eat and the benefits and side effects of this fruit.
What are figs?
Figs originated in West Asia and the Mediterranean and are now grown worldwide and are a trendy fruit.
Figs are a great fruit with vitamins and minerals that are good for human health, and undoubtedly guinea pigs. They have the shape of a tear, and tiny seeds, while their bark is green or purple.
The inside of the flesh of the figs is pink and has a sweet taste. Figs are eaten fresh or dried, used to make jams, and as an ingredient in various desserts.
Over one million tons of figs are produced annually, mainly in Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria.
Can guinea pigs eat fresh figs?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat fresh figs; they are entirely safe for them, but in moderation to benefit.
Guinea pigs can eat fresh figs and use nutrients, especially vitamin C, which is essential for their health, which they must include only through food.
Although guinea pigs can eat figs, it should not be their main meal but an occasional pleasure.
Do guinea pigs like to eat figs?
Yes, guinea pigs will love to eat figs; they will be attracted to their taste and like it.
Although most guinea pigs will want to eat figs, the exception may always be for a guinea pig to refuse to eat this fruit.
But this should not disappoint you because there are other fruits such as strawberries, watermelon, bananas, and the like that your pet will surely like.
How many figs can guinea pigs eat?
Although figs are sweet and tasty, the large amount of sugar means that they should not be given to guinea pigs very often.
It is best for guinea pigs to eat a small piece of fig once a week, with the best health benefits.
If you give them more than this amount, it can cause problems with digestion and their digestive system.
Can baby guinea pigs eat figs?
No, baby guinea pigs can not eat figs. In the first few weeks of their lives, they should consume breast milk, water, and specially designed food.
Their digestive system cannot process foods such as figs, especially since they have more sugar making them even harder to eat.
After a few weeks of their life, after prior consultation with a veterinarian, various types of food should be gradually introduced, including figs.
Are guinea pigs allergic to figs?
It is sporadic for a guinea pig to be allergic to figs; most of them will not have any reactions.
To check if the guinea pig is allergic to figs, give them a small amount and monitor their reaction for the next 24 hours.
If all goes well, you can continue to give them figs, and if there are any reactions, stop giving this fruit to your furry pet.
How to prepare figs for guinea pigs?
First, you need to take ripe and fresh figs to make the most of the nutrients to the maximum. Then wash the figs well so that there are no impurities and chemicals on the fruit.
Chop the figs into pieces, and this is best for guinea pigs so that they can eat them more quickly and have no problems such as choking.
Finally, please give them a slice of fig to enjoy the dessert.
Can guinea pigs eat fig branches?
No, guinea pigs can not eat fig branches.
Because white latex is found not only on the leaves but also on the branches of this fruit, so we should be careful not to give it to our furry friends.
Our recommendation is to stick to fresh fig fruit.
Can guinea pigs eat fig leaves?
No, guinea pigs can not eat fig leaves.
Because they will eat the white latex from the leaf juice, which can only cause them chewing problems.
In general, guinea pigs eat the leaves of many other fruits, but unfortunately, they can not eat the leaves of figs.
Can guinea pigs eat fig seeds?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat fig seeds; they are entirely safe.
Because figs have tiny seeds, guinea pigs can enjoy eating figs along with the seeds.
Another reason to give them fig seeds is that they are easy to digest in their stomach and will not cause them any problems.
What are the benefits of figs for guinea pigs?
As long as guinea pigs eat moderate amounts of figs, they will have health benefits.
Here are some of them:
- Fiber – is excellent for improving digestion and the digestive system of guinea pigs.
- Vitamin C – is the essential vitamin for guinea pigs because they can not produce it themselves, which protects against scurvy and protection against infections, and various diseases.
- Vitamin A – is a vitamin that helps maintain the health of their eyes and eyesight, which is especially important for guinea pigs.
- Protein – provides more energy for guinea pigs to play and run throughout the day.
- Vitamin K – which helps for better blood clotting in guinea pigs and better and faster healing of possible wounds on their body.
- Manganese – is an excellent mineral that allows guinea pigs to have superior protection against disease.
- Zinc – helps maintain healthy cells or DNA cells, better metabolism, and food processing in their digestive system.
- Potassium – a mineral found in figs, contributes to better blood pressure levels and protects their heart from various diseases.
- Calcium – is an essential mineral that will strengthen the bones of the whole body so that guinea pigs will be much healthier and with proper growth and development.
- Reproductive health – will be much better for guinea pigs due to minerals such as iron, zinc, manganese, and magnesium.
What are the adverse effects of figs on guinea pigs?
If they eat too many figs, Guinea pigs can have adverse effects on their health.
Here are some of them:
- Diabetes – because of the sugar in figs, guinea pigs can get diabetes if they overeat.
- Obesity – sugar, in addition to diabetes, will cause obesity in guinea pigs, which then maintains a risk of other related diseases.
- Diarrhea – occurs when guinea pigs eat too many figs or other foods.
- Kidney stones – occur due to the intake of too much calcium through figs, so your guinea pig should not be allowed to eat too many figs.
- Digestive problems – because too many figs can not be processed in the digestive system of guinea pigs in a short time.
What to do if a guinea pig eats too many figs?
If a guinea pig accidentally eats too many figs, nothing terrible will probably happen, but that does not mean that it should be repeated.
In such a situation, you need to give him a larger amount of water to process a large number of figs and sugar from this fruit more efficiently.
Diarrhea or abdominal pain may occur for several hours.
If the condition does not return to normal, you should take the guinea pig to a veterinarian for an examination and appropriate treatment.
Can guinea pigs eat fig skin?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat fig skin; it is entirely safe for their health.
After all, you can give them the skin and the fruit and they will enjoy their meal.
Our only recommendation is a nice wash of the skin from the figs because there may be impurities and chemicals used in the cultivation and are very harmful to your furry friends.
Can guinea pigs eat canned figs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat canned figs.
Guinea pigs can not eat canned food, and it is not safe for them.
Canned figs contain sugar additives, which are very harmful to your furry friends, so you should avoid giving them canned figs.
Can guinea pigs eat frozen figs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat frozen figs directly; they must first be thawed at room temperature so that you can give them to your furry friends.
In any case, fresh figs are the best food solution for guinea pigs.
Can guinea pigs eat fig jam?
No, guinea pigs should not try fig jam or any other fruit jam.
Fig jam contains too much sugar and other additives that are too harmful to their health.
Fig jam is a product you should never give to your furry friends.
Can guinea pigs eat figs mixed with other foods?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat figs mixed with other foods, such as vegetables and fruits.
You can also mix the figs with pellets and give them to the guinea pigs for eating but in moderation.
When you mix figs with vegetables like spinach, you will get a healthy salad for your furry friends.
Can guinea pigs eat dried figs?
No, guinea pigs can not eat dried figs.
Dried figs contain a lot of sugar and calories, harmful to guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs have problems digesting large amounts of sugar and the risk of diabetes and obesity.
read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pomegranate? Benefits And Risks
Can guinea pigs drink fig juice?
No, guinea pigs can not drink fig juice; it is too harmful to their health.
Buying fig juice has added sugar and other additives that make it harmful to your pet.
The only way to give them a few drops of fig juice is to squeeze the juice from the figs at home and dilute it with water at 50-50.
read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pistachios? All Risks
An alternative to figs for guinea pigs
Although most guinea pigs can eat figs, some guinea pigs may refuse to eat this fruit.
If he does not like figs, there are other fruits as an alternative to their diet that they will want and be able to eat.
Here are some of them:
- kiwi
- strawberries
- banana
- apple
- orange
Conclusion
Guinea pigs can eat figs in moderation to have health benefits without harmful consequences. One piece of fig per week is enough for guinea pigs to use the nutrients from figs in the best possible way.
If they eat moderate amounts of figs, guinea pigs will have healthier bones, more energy, normal blood pressure, a healthy heart, better digestion, and protection against scurvy.
If guinea pigs eat too many figs, they will get diarrhea, obesity, diabetes, problems with their digestive system, and kidney stones.
Guinea pigs can eat fig skin and seeds; while they can not eat dried figs, they can not drink fig juice and canned figs.
Finally, figs are a healthy dietary option for guinea pigs; as long as we pay attention to what we give them to eat, it should always be a dessert, never the main dish.
