Poisonous food and plants for guinea pigs

Your guinea pigs might love mealtimes, but not everything is safe to nibble on. Feeding your guinea pigs the right food in the right amount is vital to keeping them happy and healthy.

 

What can’t guinea pigs eat?

The lists below aren’t exhaustive, but they show some common foods that aren’t suitable for guinea pigs. The effects of feeding these range from “bad for their health” right through to “highly toxic”. With so many safe alternatives, it isn’t worth risking their health or even their lives.

Some common fruit and vegetables that guinea pigs should not eat

• Avocado (any part of the plant or fruit)
• Canned or frozen fruit and vegetables
• Chives
• Citrus fruit (oranges are safe in small amounts a few times a week, but avoid feeding more acidic fruits like limes, lemons and grapefruit)
• Coconut
• Fruit seeds and pips
• Garlic
• Hot peppers
• Leek
• Onions
• Onion grass
• Pineapple leaves
• Potatoes (any part of the potato plant)
• Rhubarb (any part of the rhubarb plant)
• Tomato leaves or stalks (feeding the tomato fruits themselves are fine)

Some common garden or house plants that guinea pigs should not eat

• Any plants with bulbs – all parts of these plants are toxic. Some of the more common ones you may come across are crocus, tulip, daffodil, lily of the valley, snowdrop, hyacinth and iris.
• Acacia
• Aconite
• Carnations
• Clematis
• Delphinium
• Evergreen shrubs and trees
• Forget-me-not
• Foxglove
• Grass clippings
• Hellebore (also called Christmas rose)
• Holly
• Honeysuckle
• House plants such as the spider and rubber plant, poinsettia, amaryllis and lilies.
• Ivy
• Laburnum
• Lobelia
• Love in a mist (also called Nigella)
• Lupins
• Privet
• Rhododendrons
• Yew

Remember to look out for toxic weeds that appear in your garden and lawn that your guinea pigs have access to.

Some common wildflowers, weeds and plants that guinea pigs should not eat

• Bluebell
• Bracken
• Bryony
• Buttercup leaves and flowers
• Celandine
• Daisies
• Dock leaves
• Elder
• Hemlock
• Lords and ladies – common in damp or woody areas.
• Nightshade
• Oak
• Poppies
• Ragwort
• Scarlet pimpernel
• Sorrel
• Speedwell
• Wild garlic
• Wood anemone

Other items guinea pigs should not eat

There are many treats available to buy such as yoghurt drops or chew bars which can lead to poor health in your guinea pigs. These should be avoided.

Avoids treats that contain:

• sugar, yoghurt or milk. Guinea pigs wouldn’t be able to find these at all in the wild and so their bodies can’t easily process these foods.
• artificial colours or flavourings.
• dried fruit – these have a much higher sugar content. Even fresh fruit should only be fed to guinea pigs sparingly.
• nuts or seeds. Guinea pigs wouldn’t be able to find most of these regularly in the wild and they can’t digest them properly. Nuts and seeds are also high in fat and can cause obesity.

It’s important to avoid treats meant for humans. Our digestive systems are different to guinea pigs’ digestive systems, so anything processed for humans is unlikely to be suitable for guinea pigs.

 

Plants for guinea pigs: tips

Make sure you choose plants (including vegetables and fruit) that are safe for your guinea pigs. For a list of safe plants, click here.

You may wish to grow plants at home or even go foraging for wild plants. This can be an organic way of feeding your guinea pigs, plus it’s fun and cost-effective for you. Many plants, like stinging nettles and rose petals can be dried out and given as treats later in the year. Other plants such as fruits, vegetables, or soft leaves like mallow can be fed fresh on the day.

Remember, if you go out foraging, take a plant ID or forage book with you, or take your phone and use a plant ID website, so you don’t pick dangerous or poisonous plants. If you’re in any doubt about the identification of a plant, err on the side of caution and don’t feed it to your guinea pigs. Take a look at our list above of some common foods and plants to avoid, too.

 

Feeding a balanced diet

Guinea pigs are herbivores and need a full belly of fibre at all times. Here’s what each part of your guinea pigs’ diet should look like:

• 85% of their diet: good quality hay* and fresh grass
• 5% of their diet: nuggets or pellets (such as these from Pets at Home*) which have been specifically formulated for guinea pigs
• 10% of their diet: guinea pig safe plants. This could include safe weeds, plants grown for guinea pigs, the right fresh vegetables, and small amounts of safe, fresh fruit. Many of these can be grown or bought from supermarkets, but not all are safe to give to your guinea pigs. You can find out more above.

To help your guinea pigs live a long and healthy life, their diet should be as natural and varied as possible while keeping with the balance listed above.

Take a look at our advice article to find out about what to feed your guinea pig.

 

Looking for more advice?

If you’re concerned about your guinea pig’s health, speak to your vet. If you have any other questions about your pet, take a look at our guinea pig advice articles or contact us.

 

Looking for more advice?

If you are concerned about your guinea pig’s health or have any other questions about your pet, please do not hesitate to contact us.