Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 06:59 pm
Guinea pigs can eat plant food, mostly hay, pellets, and certain amounts of vegetables and fruits.
But if they want to eat our favorite food, peanut butter, we humans love it, but what about our guinea pigs?
Can guinea pigs eat peanut butter?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat peanut butter. Peanut butter contains very large amounts of salt, sugar, fat, carbohydrates, and calories, which will only cause disease and make our guinea pig fat. Peanut butter is not good for guinea pigs and can cause digestive problems, choking, and breathing problems.
Guinea pigs can’t even eat peanuts, and they are dangerous for their health.
In today’s article we will learn everything related to peanut butter, only peanuts and other foods that have peanuts in their composition, we will see how they affect the health of guinea pigs.
What are the risks of eating peanut butter for guinea pigs?
If the guinea pigs still eat peanut butter they will face many problems with their health.
Let’s read about the dangers of peanut butter for our furry friends.
Problems with digestion
Guinea pigs have a very delicate digestive system, which is sensitive and can easily have problems with digestion.
Peanut butter contains a lot of fat and calories that will not be easily digested in their stomach and will cause problems.
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, bowel problems, gas and flatulence may occur. Sugar is also harmful to the proper functioning and health of the guinea pig’s digestive system.
Allergy
Guinea pigs can develop an allergy from eating peanut butter.
Additives and other added ingredients are dangerous and can easily cause:
- itching
- redness
- suffocation
In addition to these, other allergic symptoms may occur in guinea pigs from peanut butter.
Guinea pigs and their digestive system are not prepared to eat this kind of food, so the probability of an allergy is very high.
Elevation of cholesterol in guinea pigs
Because peanut butter is high in fat, it can cause an increase in cholesterol in guinea pigs.
Peanut butter contains 50% fat, which is a real danger to the health of guinea pigs.
Elevation of cholesterol is dangerous for our pets because it then leads to the appearance of other diseases that are related to cholesterol.
There will be heart problems, weight problems, and difficulty moving the guinea pigs.
Weight gain
Peanut butter can only make guinea pigs fat. There are many calories, fats, carbohydrates, and sugar in the composition of peanut butter.
All of these ingredients are not good for guinea pigs at all, and can only make them fat and have difficulty moving.
Guinea pigs are inactive anyway, so when they get fat they will reduce their activity even more. Obesity together with fat will negatively affect and block the blood vessels of guinea pigs.
When guinea pigs are obese they have the following difficulties:
- difficulty in movement
- back and joint pain
- heart problems
- diabetes
Diabetes
Peanut butter has a sweet taste that few can resist, but because it is rich in sugar.
And sugar is the enemy of guinea pigs, and can cause diabetes.
Diabetes is a very common disease in our furry friends, especially those who are obese, so peanut butter will only make the problem worse in guinea pigs.
Peanut butter causes bladder stones in guinea pigs
Guinea pigs must pay attention to the intake of calcium in the body.
Peanut butter is rich in calcium and can cause bladder stones, or rather, in one tablespoon of 14 grams, there is 6 mg of calcium, which is a lot for a guinea pig.
Guinea pigs cannot cope with a large amount of calcium, which will lead to the deposition and formation of stones, which then cause great and intolerable pain.
If the guinea pigs have stones in the bladder they will have to undergo an operation to remove them, which is very risky for their life.
Peanut Butter Choking
Peanut butter has a sticky and smooth texture that is not at all suitable for guinea pigs to eat.
Butter can stick in their throats and they can suffocate, and eventually die due to breathing problems.
It is too risky to give peanut butter to a guinea pig, the consequences as you can see can be fatal.
Scurvy
There is no vitamin C in peanut butter, which is one of the most important vitamins for the health of guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs cannot produce it on their own, so they have to get it daily through their diet. A lack of vitamin C in peanut butter will result in scurvy.
Scurvy is a dangerous disease that can cause lethargy, weight loss, diarrhea, rough fur, and other problems.
What is the nutritional value of peanut butter?
Peanut butter has a lot of calories in its composition, a lot of fat and calcium, and ingredients that are not good for guinea pigs.
Peanut butter is made from ground dry roasted peanuts, with additions of salt, sugar, and emulsifiers.
Let’s take a look at what the composition of one 16-gram tablespoon of peanut butter looks like.
| Nutrients | Per 16 g |
| Calories | 95 kcal |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Sodium | 70 mg |
| Fibers | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1,5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Proteins | 3,5 g |
What if guinea pigs accidentally eat peanut butter?
First, let’s emphasize that peanut butter is not toxic to guinea pigs, but it is not at all healthy to eat.
Peanut butter can cause various problems in guinea pigs, one of which is choking. It can also cause constipation or problems with the colon, as well as stomach pains.
If your pet accidentally eats peanut butter you should take the following steps.
Take the guinea pig to the vet
If a guinea pig eats peanut butter, it can get stuck in the guinea pig’s throat and must be taken to the vet immediately to prevent choking.
Your pet may start to cough, which is a sign that peanut butter is stuck in their throat. If something like this happens, you should quickly and immediately take the guinea pig to the vet.
Before you go, or if you can’t find a vet right away, you should take some steps yourself to help your pet.
Slowly and gently pat the guinea pig on its back, and you can also try to clean the guinea pig’s mouth with a towel. Also, give them water to drink, it can help relieve the peanut butter in their throat.
Read more: How to Check if a Guinea Pig is Dead? (Find Out Now)
Prevention from foods like peanut butter
In order not to have unwanted effects like with peanut butter, it is necessary to put it somewhere higher or in a drawer, so that it is not accessible and the guinea pig cannot accidentally eat this kind of food again.
The danger of choking on peanut butter is great so we should leave nothing to chance in the future.
What will happen if guinea pigs eat peanuts?
Guinea pigs are not allowed to eat peanuts, their digestive system is not adapted to eating food that is rich in fats and carbohydrates.
If guinea pigs eat peanuts, they can choke because they won’t be able to eat them with their teeth, which are designed for eating hay and vegetables.
Guinea pigs should not eat any nuts for the same reasons as peanuts.
The thin size of the peanuts is not suitable for guinea pigs, they can easily get stuck in their throats and cause choking.
Peanuts are very rich in fat, and calories and will increase the weight of our pets. Peanuts are difficult to digest and if accidentally eaten by guinea pigs they will have indigestion and stomach aches.
A healthy alternative to peanut butter for guinea pigs
Peanut butter is a bad food choice for guinea pigs, but there are countless healthy alternatives you can give your pets.
Here are some of them:
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Broccoli
- Pear
- Apple
- Papaya
- Orange
- Banana
- Dandelions
- Spinach
- Apricots
- Melon
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peanut Butter Powder?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat powdered peanut butter.
Although it is a powder, it is the same as regular peanut butter with the same composition, only it is made from roasted peanuts.
Guinea pigs should not eat powdered food, they should consume food that can be chewed.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Canned Vegetables? (Find Out Now)
Can guinea pigs eat peanut butter ice cream?
No, guinea pigs should not eat peanut butter ice cream.
Peanut butter ice cream is harmful to their health, has no benefits for our pets, and contains large amounts of fat, calories, and sugar.
If they eat this kind of ice cream, they can only gain weight and get sick.
Guinea pigs should not eat any ice cream, they should eat hay and pellets and drink fresh and clean water.
Can guinea pigs eat peanut butter shells?
Peanut butter shells are harmful to the health of guinea pigs and should not be part of their diet.
Peanut butter shells can come in many different forms, but regardless of the form, they are harmful to our furry pets.
If guinea pigs eat peanut butter shells they only risk disease and obesity.
Can guinea pigs eat peanut butter chips?
Guinea pigs should not eat peanut butter chips for several reasons.
Such chips contain many unhealthy ingredients and various additives that are harmful to their health.
Chips are processed food, and guinea pigs are not allowed to eat processed food, whether it is chips or something else.
The reason is of course the presence of peanut butter, which is harmful to the health of guinea pigs.
What foods are dangerous for guinea pigs?
It’s not just peanut butter that is a bad food option for guinea pigs, other types of food are harmful and dangerous.
Here is a list of some foods that you should avoid and not feed your guinea pigs:
- chocolate – in larger quantities can be fatal for guinea pigs
- meat – guinea pigs are carnivores and do not eat meat, as it causes digestive problems and possible kidney failure
- raw potato – is very harmful and dangerous for the health of guinea pigs
- dairy products – milk, yogurt, cheese, or butter cause digestive problems and diseases in guinea pigs
- potato chips – and all similar processed foods full of preservatives and additives are an unhealthy option for the guinea pig
Conclusion
Guinea pigs cannot eat peanut butter because it contains a lot of fat, calories, sugar, and salt.
Peanut butter is sticky and can cause choking if it gets stuck in a guinea pig’s throat.
Peanut butter is not a suitable food for our pets, they should eat chewable food like hay and pellets.
If guinea pigs eat peanut butter, they can only get sick and get diabetes, scurvy, obesity, and other health problems.
