Guinea pigs (or cavies) are adorable little creatures that can, with proper care, make for amazing pets. These animals are fun, friendly, gentle, and quite loving once you get to know them. Plus, they generally aren’t very bitey (unless startled or not properly socialized).
Like owning a cat or dog, though, keeping a guinea pig in your home requires a lot of work (a smaller size does not make for less work in caring for these pets!). One of the biggest things you’ll need to be sure you do with a guinea pig is to feed it a proper diet. Luckily, hay will make up most of what your cavy eats, which makes life a bit easier. But that hay should be supplemented with veggies and the occasional treat, such as flowers.
Not every flower is safe to give your guinea pig, though.
One of the most popular flowers around is the rose, so you’ll probably find those to be abundant in your area. But can guinea pigs eat rose petals? While rose petals are safe for your tiny friend to eat, they really don’t have any nutritional value. What else should you know about this flower when it comes to guinea pigs?
Roses and Guinea Pigs
Rose petals are perfectly safe for your guinea pig to eat, but they don’t contain any nutrients your pet needs, so this food definitely counts as an occasional treat. When giving rose petals to your cavy, ensure you’re stripping the petals from the flower so no leaves or parts of the stem (like the thorns) get caught up in them. Just a few petals on occasion should be enough to supplement your pet’s diet.
There is one other part of the rose that you can give to your guinea pig, too—the rose hip. Rose hips are tiny fruits that form at the base of the flower, and though this part of the rose is small, it offers tons of vitamin C; approximately three rose hips have the same amount of vitamin C as an orange! Of course, that means you don’t want to overdo it on this part of the rose either, as guinea pigs can experience overdoses of vitamin C, which can lead to joint issues and urinary stones. But the occasional rosehip will likely do your pet some good.
Other Flowers Safe for Guinea Pigs
There are other flowers that are safe for your guinea pig, as well, some of which you can probably forage from the yard or surrounding areas (though be sure no pesticides have been used on them!).
- Calendula
- Lavender
- Sunflowers
- Geranium
- Dandelions
Of course, there are also flowers you should never give your guinea pig because they are toxic to these animals.
- Plants that are grown from bulbs (daffodils, bluebells, etc.)
- Azalea
- Buttercup
- Chrysanthemums
- Dahlias
For the most part, though, your guinea pig will only need hay/grass, a variety of veggies and usually a small amount of guinea pig pellets, to keep them healthy and happy. Whenever you decide to try out a new plant with your pet, remember to do so in small amounts so your guinea pig doesn’t become ill from a new addition to its diet.
Conclusion
While rose petals are safe for your guinea pig to eat, they aren’t very nutritious, so they should only be given as an every once in a while treat. Your pet will do much better with a diet of hay, pellets, and veggies. If you do want to use roses as an occasional snack, you might want to go with the rosehip rather than the rose petal, as this at least is packed with vitamin C. Just don’t give your cavy too many rosehips; you don’t want to overdo it on the vitamin C!
Featured Image Credit: Rose Petals, Pexels
