Guinea pigs are vegetarians and eat various plants and herbs, but there are some plants that they can eat and some that they cannot.
Can guinea pigs eat wild violets?
Guinea pigs must not eat wild violets because they contain toxins or saponins. Guinea pigs must not ingest saponins from wild violets because they can only get sick and have major health problems.
In today’s article, you will learn why guinea pigs must not eat wild violets and what are the possible consequences for their health.
Can guinea pigs eat wild violets?
Guinea pigs must not under any circumstances eat wild violets because the consequences can be fatal and end in the death of your pet.
The most dangerous ingredient in wild violets is saponin, it is toxic and dangerous for their life.
If the guinea pigs still try wild violets, they can get diarrhea, problems with the digestive system and even fatal consequences for their lives.
What are the side effects for guinea pigs if they eat wild violets?
If guinea pigs eat wild violets, they can seriously damage their health, so let’s find out about the possible consequences if they still manage to eat a certain amount.
Occurrence of diarrhea
If guinea pigs eat wild violets then diarrhea may occur, so you must be careful what you give your guinea pigs.
Whenever guinea pigs have problems with their digestive system, they get diarrhea as a response to their organism.
Diarrhea is very bad for guinea pigs because it causes other problems such as decreased appetite, dehydration, and lethargy.
Poisoning by wild violets
A small amount of wild violets is enough to cause small or big problems with the health of guinea pigs.
The greater the amount they consume, the greater the consequences may be for the guinea pigs, since the saponin will be introduced in greater quantities.
It is best that the guinea pigs do not come into contact, that is, do not try to eat wild violets, otherwise, they will surely have minor or major health consequences.
Allergic reactions
If guinea pigs eat wild violets, allergic reactions may occur as a side effect of their consumption.
Allergies can appear mostly as reactions on their skin, it can become red, and it can cause itching and discomfort in guinea pigs.
Allergies from wild violets can in any case only cause irritation and unnecessary stress and nervousness in your pet.
Hazard from pesticides
Wild violets when they grow in nature can have a certain amount of pesticides.
These pesticides can be dangerous when ingested by guinea pigs.
Pesticides in general, whether through wild violets or some other plant or herb, are always harmful to guinea pigs and can create problems and diseases that are dangerous for their lives.
Death
Although the guinea pigs can get away with minor consequences, if they eat large amounts of wild violets then there can be fatal consequences, i.e. death.
It can happen that by mistake the guinea pigs eat wild violets together with other food and there are fatal consequences for them.
Therefore, the most important thing is to pay attention to what food you give the guinea pigs, and never have wild violets nearby, especially in the area where you let your pets run and play.
Read more: What Herbs Can Guinea Pigs Eat? (Best And Worst)
What symptoms occur if guinea pigs eat wild violets?
When guinea pigs eat wild violets, certain symptoms and health problems may occur.
Here are some of them:
- diarrhea – occurs as a result of eating wild violets, then you should immediately take your pet to the vet.
- vomiting – this occurs because the guinea pig’s body is poisoned, so in such situations, you must react immediately by taking it to a veterinarian.
- lethargy – as a consequence of wild violets may appear then your pet will reduce daily activity, will want to play less, and will constantly want to rest and sit in one place in the cage.
- dehydration – this happens as an additional reaction to the vomiting and diarrhea from eating wild violets.
How to prevent guinea pigs from eating wild violets?
If you pay attention to the diet of the guinea pigs, then you can easily prevent the danger of eating wild violets.
To prevent your guinea pig from eating wild violets, always check the food before giving it to your pets.
When you let them play in your room, make sure you don’t have any wild violets left nearby, because the guinea pigs will definitely want to try and eat it if they are close to them.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Leaves? Let’s Find Out
Can guinea pigs eat any violets?
Guinea pigs are not allowed to eat wild violets, but they can eat other types of violets.
Here is a list of which violets are safe for guinea pigs:
- Sweet violet – (viola odorata)
- Dog violet – (viola riviniana)
- Early dog violet – (viola reichenbachiana)
- White violet – (viola alba)
All of these violets are good for guinea pigs and safe to eat, so you can give them in moderation as an occasional dietary treat, including the leaves and flowers.
What plants are poisonous to guinea pigs?
Since guinea pigs are vegetarians, most of their diet, especially for those who live in nature, is eating plants and vegetables.
However, there are certain types of food that are very dangerous for them and that can seriously damage their health and life.
Here’s what guinea pigs shouldn’t eat:
- onion
- garlic
- spring onions
- chives
- leeks
- shallots
- tulips
- bluebells
- lily of the valley
FAQs
What flowers can guinea pigs not eat?
Guinea pigs must not eat certain flowers such as sunflowers, sweet peas, asters, chickweed, goldenrod, and mallow. These flowers are toxic and you should not give them to your pets, and if they accidentally eat them, you should take them to the vet.
What flowers are guinea pigs allergic to?
Guinea pigs can develop an allergy to certain flowers, although each guinea pig is individual and may not show a reaction. Flowers that most often cause an allergic reaction in guinea pigs are plants grown from bulbs, including snowdrops, tulips, arums, bluebells, and azaleas.
How do you know if your guinea pig has been poisoned?
When guinea pigs are poisoned, diarrhea, vomiting, and ulcerations of the mouth, skin, and tongue occur. If they are bitten by a snake, swelling usually occurs. When guinea pigs are poisoned, they must be taken to a veterinarian immediately to save their lives.
Conclusion
Wild violets are not a safe food for guinea pigs at all and therefore should never be given to them to eat.
In the composition of wild violets, there are saponins that are toxic and can cause various consequences for their health.
If the guinea pigs eat too many wild violets, they may die as a result of the toxic substances.
In case they eat wild violets, you should immediately take them to a veterinarian to examine them and promptly prevent the deterioration of the condition of the guinea pigs.
Therefore, our advice is to never leave wild violets near the guinea pigs, there is no need to expose your pets to risk.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Aloe Vera? All You Need To Know
