It’s very common to wonder if you can feed your pet some things you eat. It’ll save you trips to the grocery store and money spent on pet food.
But before you feed your pet some of what you’re eating, you must do some research. Find out what your pet can share with you, how much of it they can eat, and the side effects, if there are any.
Can guinea pigs eat watermelon?
If you’ve thought this, the answer is yes. Guinea pigs can eat watermelon, but you still need to know when and how much they can eat.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about feeding your guinea pig watermelon.
Is Watermelon Good for my guinea pig?
If so, how much should I give it?
It is more than okay to give your guinea pig watermelon. It is healthy too.
Watermelons contain a lot of water, which is good. If there’s something other than oxygen that all living things can’t do without, it is water.
Giving your pet guinea pig watermelon is an excellent way to hydrate it.
Watermelon is one of the few fresh foods that your cavy can feed on daily. As good as watermelons are, you still have to be careful of how much you give your pet.
What watermelons have in moisture, they lack in vitamins.
So don’t make watermelons the only source of vitamins for your pet. Be sure to add other fresh foods rich in Vitamin C to their diet besides the watermelon.
Like I mentioned earlier, watermelons are rich in moisture, which is excellent for your pet guinea pig because it keeps it hydrated.
But too much watermelon could be bad for your guinea pig!
It might cause stomach problems like diarrhea.
Also, note that seedless watermelons are the best for pet guinea pigs. The seeds are a choking hazard because of their small sizes.
One more thing to consider when giving your pet watermelon is the ripeness of the watermelon.
Ripe watermelons are best because they contain more nutrients. How do you know when a watermelon is ripe enough for your pet?
A ripe watermelon is heavier than an unripe one because of the high water content.
It also has a smooth rind with a sharp green color all over except on the top and bottom.
Those spots would be an almost but not quite whitish shade, which could sometimes look creamy.
One last sure test to know a ripe watermelon is the sound it makes when you tap it.
A ripe watermelon would make a hollow sound.
To ensure the taste, freshness, and juiciness of a watermelon, refrigerate it.
After cutting the watermelon, place the leftover in a container, seal it with a lid, and put it in the refrigerator. It will maintain its freshness.
How Do I Know If my guinea pig likes watermelon?
We’ve established that guinea pigs can eat watermelon. But this doesn’t mean that your pet guinea pig would like to.
Before you introduce watermelon fully into its diet, you have to find out if your pet likes it.
There’s an easy way to do that. You can call it a taste testing if you want. Give your pet a small piece of watermelon.
If he likes it, he’ll eat it, and you can give him more. If he doesn’t, he’ll taste it and refuse to eat anymore.
If your pet guinea pig does the latter, don’t add it to his diet.
He isn’t a fan.
The taste-testing method isn’t only for watermelons; you can use it for any other fresh food you want to feed your pet.
What is the nutritional Content of Watermelon?
You already know that watermelons contain Vitamin C. Asides from that, what other nutrients are in watermelons?
Watermelons contain other vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B1. Other nutritional contents include pantothenic acid, magnesium, potassium, and Biotin.
The nutritional content of watermelon gives it potent antioxidant and non-inflammatory properties. There are also large amounts of beta-carotene found in watermelons, which boost ripening.
These beta carotenes are in the antioxidant carotenoids found in watermelons.
Can guinea pigs eat watermelon rinds?
Yes, you can, but it all depends on your pet. Find out if your guinea pig likes it using the taste-testing method.
If they do, you can give it to them, but only as a snack and never as a full meal.
This is because the rind doesn’t taste as good as the watermelon itself, even if it has a high nutritional content.
What should I not include in my Guinea Pig’s Diet?
There are some foods you should never give your guinea pig because it’ll make them sick. Here’s a list of those harmful foods:
Bad Vegetables: These include Christmas pepper, paprika, sweet pea, garlic, avocado, olives, rhubarb, potatoes, and iceberg lettuce.
Bad Fruits: These include cherries and coconuts.
You also have to avoid some seeds and herbs because they can make your pet sick.
Dangerous seeds and herbs to avoid include lilac, meat, coffee, nuts, Jasmine, hydrangeas, and Iris. Some herbs on this list can lead to your pet’s death if he eats it.
While it is healthy to introduce fresh foods to your pet’s diet, keep in mind that it is a supplement. Your pet gets the essential nutrients it needs from the pellets and grass hay.
Fresh foods only add to it while also being a treat for it. Remember to feed your pet with small quantities to avoid hurting its stomach.
The Best Foods for Your Pet Guinea Pig
Besides watermelon, there is a lot of other food that you can feed for your pet guinea pig.
It is a herbivore, so its diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruit, high-quality guinea pig hay, and pelleted guinea pig food.
If your guinea pig doesn’t have balanced nutrition, it can lead to obesity, chronic diarrhea, and diseases of the kidney, liver, and heart.
Feed your guinea pig twice a day, morning and early evening.
It will overeat if given the chance, so remove uneaten food after one hour.
Have fresh water always available to your guinea pig. It should drink at least five ounces daily.
What It Should Eat
*Hay is crucial for your guinea pig’s diet. It requires this type of fiber for digestion, and always has it available at all times.
Chewing on it wears down your guinea pig’s teeth, which continuously grow.
*Commercial guinea pig pellets provide well-balanced nutrition for your guinea pig. It has Vitamin C and other essential nutrients.
*Fruits should be fed to your guinea pig in small amounts due to its high sugar content.
Slice small, bite-size pieces served daily to your guinea pig. They provide the needed amount of vitamins.
Fruits that you can feed your guinea pig are apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, cucumbers, peaches, papayas, blueberries, and kiwi.
Avoid serving it cold and always wash them.
*Limit your guinea pig’s vegetable intake to one cup per day.
Unknown vegetables should be fed sparingly and one at a time.
Organic and fresh vegetables are the best ones to feed your guinea pig.
Vegetables that you can feed your guinea pig are carrots, kale, romaine lettuce, peas, spinach, broccoli spears, artichokes, tomatoes, green and red peppers.
*Treats should not exceed 10% of your guinea pig’s intake of food. Fruits are considered treats, so limit them as well.
Some commercial treats contain salt, sugar, and artificial sweeteners. So read the food labels at the back when selecting the best one for your guinea pig.
Allow a variety of fun chewy foodstuffs for your guinea pig. There are balls, blocks, sticks, toys, and treats specially made for small animals.
They help relieve boredom for your guinea pig and also provide enjoyment.
A small animal salt lick is a good treat for your guinea pig. It has the needed minerals and satisfies your guinea pig’s craving for salt.
*Cecotropes or night feces are small pellets that guinea pigs excrete through its anus.
It contains nutrients absorbed by plants during digestion. Your guinea pig will consume it. It sounds disgusting, but it is essential for your guinea pig’s diet.
Scurvy in Guinea Pigs
Your guinea pig can develop scurvy or Vitamin C deficiency.
To fight it, your guinea should partake 30-50 mg of Vitamin C every day.
There are treats and pellets with fortified Vitamin C that is necessary for your guinea pig’s dietary needs.
Treats in the form of citrus fruits like lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit allows your guinea pig with the needed Vitamin C.
The final word
Watermelon is a safe treat for your guinea pig as long as it is seedless, in small quantity and fresh.
Finally, don’t fail to introduce any new food you give your pet slowly.
This is a safety precaution that lets you monitor your pet’s reaction to the new addition.
If it becomes clear after a while that your pet doesn’t have any food responses, you can continue with it.