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Pet owners love to feed new things to their pets. If you go on Facebook or TikTok, you can find thousands of pictures and videos of animals eating. The sour faces and the expressions of pleasure are endless.
When we give our pets something new, we get excited for them and cannot wait to see their reactions. We need to be cautious, however, since some foods are good for them, and others are toxic. In some cases, a particular animal can consume only certain parts of a fruit or vegetable. Take green onions, for instance. Should you feed them to your guinea pig? Are there beneficial nutrients for the animal? And how often can they eat green onions?
Guinea pigs can indeed eat green onions. However, they should only eat the green leafy part. The bulb of the green onion (scallion) is not recommended for your pet.
Frequency
Guinea pigs should only eat green onions in moderation. A handful of the green leafy portion of the scallion one or two times a week is sufficient.
Health Benefits
Green onions provide vitamins, protein, and nutrients to your pet. They contain protein, fiber, and carbs. The protein and carbs will give your pet an energetic boost. The fiber aids in digestion and improves bowel function.
The healthy fats from the green onion will improve the guinea pig’s brain performance and function. In addition, there is no need to worry about clogging their blood vessels. The onions are devoid of cholesterol.
Vitamin C is crucial to the health of guinea pigs. It helps to prevent them from certain diseases. Diseases like scurvy can cause skin damage and can affect their bowel movements. Green onions are an excellent source of vitamin C for your little piglet, along with hay, pellets, and other foods. Green onions provide your guinea pig with folate to help pregnant guinea pigs produce a fetus of a healthy weight and prevent birth defects.
These are just some of the health benefits for guinea pigs that eat green onions. There are some things you should avoid, however.
Risks
Unlike humans, calcium can create problems for guinea pigs. In excess, it can cause them to form bladder or kidney stones. The stones can cause pain in urination, bloody urine, or worse, renal failure. If you feed them too many green onions, it can lead to diarrhea.
Since guinea pigs have sensitive digestive systems, they can have difficulty processing the elevated levels of sugar contained in green onion if given in substantial amounts. And once again, they should not consume the bulb of the scallion.
Foods to Avoid
To keep your guinea pig healthy, there are some foods that are forbidden. They include tomato leaves, potatoes, meat, corn (in excess), dairy, raw beans, rhubarb, and multivitamins. You should also avoid feeding him or her chocolate and other sugary foods or snacks.
Conclusion
Like most animals, guinea pigs have foods that are good for them and some that are not. Green onions can have some great health benefits for your pet. They can also cause serious health concerns if they eat the bulb or the leafy greens are consumed in excess. Feeding green onions to your guinea pig is an individual choice but we recommend you discuss its diet with your vet.
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