Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oranges? (6 Key Benefits of Oranges)

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Both young and old people love eating oranges because of its refreshing taste and health benefits.

A lot of animals also feed on oranges, which makes me wondering, can guinea pigs eat oranges?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat oranges because of its sweet taste and high vitamin C content. Since these cavies cannot produce vitamin C themselves, eating a small amount of oranges is important to their general health.

That’s not all you need to know about guinea pigs and oranges. You also need to know if cavies can eat the whole oranges.

Also, can guinea pigs eat orange seeds? How do you serve your guinea pigs oranges?

I’ll be providing answers to these and other questions, in this article. Just continue reading to the last part!

Can Guinea Pigs Eat the Whole Orange?

No, your guinea pigs cannot eat the whole orange because of its high sugar and calcium content.

Serve them one slice of an orange, 2 times a week. By this, you’ll be preventing them from having stomach pain, urinary diseases and kidney stones from high calcium.

Guinea Pig Eating Oranges

That said, here are the other similar questions;

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Orange Peels or Rind?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat orange peels as it also contains vitamin C. But ensure you feed them with only a small amount of the orange peel at a time.

That’s because the peel has a slightly hard texture and can cause injuries in your guinea pigs’ mouths.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Orange Seed?

No, guinea pigs cannot eat orange seed because they can choke on it. Being small creatures, your cavies can only eat a small and soft fruit at a time. Orange seeds are hard and can do more harm than good to your small pets.

Moreover, you should know that crushing the orange seed is often a big task for large animals, not to mention guinea pigs.

Apart from the high risk of choking, these small pets may damage their teeth while eating orange seeds.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Orange Leaves?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat orange leaves but only in moderation and while still fresh.

Feeding them with a large amount of leaves at a time can cause health problems. Just ensure you wash the leaves well before giving them as snacks to your cavies.

Try not to make the leaves an everyday diet for your guinea pigs. That’s because the leaves’ hard texture can cause constipation in them.

It is advisable that you give your guinea pigs the orange leaves once or twice a week.

Are Oranges Okay for Guinea Pigs?

Oranges - Safe For Guinea Pigs

Yes, oranges are perfect for guinea pigs in a lot of ways. The fruit contains a high amount of vitamin C that is important to your guinea pigs’ health and well-being.

Also, oranges are naturally juicy and thereby serve as refreshment to your guinea pigs, especially during the dry season. 

Furthermore, oranges contain other important nutrients, which we will be discussing later, that are useful for both the internal and external organs of guinea pigs. 

Read Also: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Bananas?

What are the Health Benefits of Oranges for Guinea Pigs?

There’s a lot of advantages to feeding your cavies with oranges at least twice a week. The fruit is packed with essential vitamins and minerals that ensure your little pets stay healthy and active all day long. 

With that said, here are the health benefits of oranges to your guinea pigs;

Contains Fiber

As you know, fiber aids digestion and is also useful for bowel movement. Including oranges in your guinea pigs diet will prevent them from having constipation, stomach pain and indigestion.

This means you won’t have to take these pets to the vet doctor now and then.

Packed With Vitamin C

Naturally, guinea pigs cannot produce vitamin C by themselves. So, they have to rely on external sources to gain this nutrient. And oranges contain a high amount of vitamins, which means your small pets have no problem.

Constantly feeding your cavies with oranges helps to prevent a lot of diseases, including scurvy. Symptoms of this dangerous disease (scurvy) include loss of appetite, weak bones, bleeding gum, and swollen joints.

But with enough vitamin C in their body, your guinea pigs are safe.

Maintains Blood Pressure

With the potassium content in oranges, your guinea pigs will have perfect blood pressure. It also helps to improve electrolyte balance and water in their body. And this is important to prevent the risk of dehydration, tiredness and constipation. 

Provides Calcium

Even though oranges contain a high amount of calcium, it still provides benefits when taken in moderation. Feeding your guinea pigs a small amount of orange provides them with calcium for strong bones and teeth.

However, giving these cavies too much can cause urinary problems or kidney stones.

Antioxidant Property

Free radicals in guinea pigs can damage their skin, lungs, heart and every organ. Oranges contain vitamin A – a powerful antioxidant, that provides immunity against damages to the body and prevents diseases.

For example, antioxidants in your guinea pigs diet help in cancer prevention.

Good Source of Energy

Oranges contain a moderate amount of calories that gives energy. Since your guinea pigs need the energy to play around in their cage, you should include oranges in their diet.

Most times, all your guinea pigs need are the necessary nutrients to make them feel alive.

Risks to Consider when Feeding Oranges to Your Guinea Pigs

We’ve mentioned the several health benefits oranges give to both man and animals. However, eating a large amount of fruit can cause serious problems.

There are a lot of risks involved in not feeding your guinea pigs oranges in moderation. 

Here are a few of the risks;

Digestive Problems

Due to the high amount of sugar in oranges, take precautions while feeding them to your guinea pigs.

  Oranges contain Vitamin C but eating too much can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, or indigestion in your pets. Ensure you don’t give them more than one or two orange slices, 2 times a week.

Urinary Issues

There’s a high chance that your guinea pigs will develop urinary problems if you feed them with too many oranges. Naturally, the fruit contains calcium, which when taken too much, can cause kidney stones, difficult urination, and bladder stones. But when taken in moderation, the calcium helps to build up their teeth and bones.

Mouth Sore

Being a member of the citrus family, oranges contain natural acids. And guinea pigs have a sensitive stomach, that when fed a new diet, can react unpleasantly to it.

Too many oranges in your guinea pigs diet can cause mouth sore, especially if the fruit is not fully ripe.

The Right Serving Size of Oranges

To prevent your guinea pigs from experiencing the problems listed above, you need to be extra careful. This leads us to the next question;

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oranges Every day?

No, guinea pigs cannot eat oranges every day because of their high sugar, vitamin C and calcium content. While high sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, diarrhea and stomach pain, high calcium can cause kidney stones.

How Many Times a Week Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oranges?

Ideally, it is recommended that you feed your guinea pigs with one to two slices of oranges once or twice a week.

By this, they’ll be making use of the benefits in the oranges without having health problems. As a pet owner, it is your job to ensure your guinea pigs don’t eat more oranges than necessary.

How To Prepare Oranges for Guinea Pigs

If you don’t have an idea of how to prepare oranges for your guinea pigs, just follow these simple steps;

Step 1: Pick a fresh, ripe orange. Emphasis is on the “ripe” because an unripe orange will be too acidic and may cause mouth sores while a rotten one can cause diarrhea.

Step 2: Wash the orange very well to remove all traces of dirt and pesticides from it. Usually, you should always wash all fruits before feeding your guinea pigs with them.

Step 3: Slice the orange into two or more and remove all the seeds in it to prevent your guinea pigs from choking on them.

Sliced Oranges for Guinea Pigs

Step 4: Pass one or two pieces of the sliced oranges to your guinea pigs and observe their reaction for 24 hours. 

Step 5: Remove all leftover oranges from their cage to prevent them from feeding on them the next day. There’s a chance that it would have gone bad.

Take Note!

  • While some cavies love the sweet taste of oranges, others do not.
  • Contact the vet doctor if you notice your guinea pigs are experiencing diarrhea or other stomach problems.
  • Once you notice a strange reaction in your guinea pigs after feeding them with oranges, you need to stop giving them.

Read Also: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Red or Yellow Apples?

Can You Feed Your Guinea Pigs Other Types of Oranges?

There are different types of oranges in the world today that offer several health benefits. Now, you may be concerned about the ones to feed your guinea pigs and the ones you shouldn’t.

This is important because knowing the types of oranges to feed these pets will save you and them a lot of trouble.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mandarins?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat mandarins because of its high vitamin A content and calories, compared to oranges. However, note that oranges contain more vitamin C compared to mandarines. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tangerines?

Tangerines for Guinea Pigs

Yes, guinea pigs can eat tangerines. They contain vitamin A, less vitamin C and more calories, just like mandarins. Regardless, tangerines are safe for your guinea pigs when taken in moderation.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Clementines?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat clementine. This fruit is perfectly safe for your guinea pigs because it has no seed, is small in size and contains vitamin A. Fortunately, it will not cause any major problem in your guinea pigs health.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Satsumas?

Yes, satsumas are safe for your guinea pigs to eat. In fact, satsumas are one of the best oranges for your tiny pets because they have no seeds, are juicy and highly nutritious. 

What Other Fruit Can my Guinea Pigs Eat Besides Oranges?

Apart from oranges, your guinea pigs can eat several other fruits. While some fruits are safe for your pets, you need to watch their reaction after feeding them.

Also keep in mind that not all guinea pigs react the same way to certain diets, which means you need to be observant.

Here is the list of the other fruits your guinea pigs can eat;

AppleApricotBananaBlueberryCherries
CranberriesGrapesKiwi fruitMelon (All types)Nectarine
MangoPapayaPeachPearPineapple 
PlumsRaspberry TomatoesStrawberryWatermelon

Can Guinea Pigs Drink Orange Juice?

Yes, guinea pigs can drink orange juice but only if it’s without artificial sweeteners. In this case, you’ll need to prepare the juice yourself to ensure it is 100% natural. Remove the seeds from the oranges before juicing them and dilute with plenty of water.

If you notice that your cavies are developing mouth sores or experiencing stomach discomfort, don’t give them the juice again.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Blood Oranges?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat blood oranges because of its unique smell and taste. Unlike the regular oranges, blood oranges taste like raspberries. But you need to give your guinea pigs a small amount at a time because of the high amount of sugar in it.

Final Thoughts

Just like most humans and animals love eating oranges, guinea pigs love it too. Not only is the fruit sweet and juicy, but it is also packed with essential nutrients for perfect health. 

However, always remember that moderation is important when serving your cavies oranges.

Avoid feeding them with oranges every day. Wash the oranges properly and remove all the seeds before giving your guinea pigs.

Practice all the instructions in this article from the beginning to the end. I bet your guinea pigs will look healthier and happier.

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