Can guinea pigs eat apricots, peaches and nectarines?

Fruits as food or treats for rodents are the subject of disputes for experienced owners and doubts for novice owners. Juicy food should be present in the diet, but figuring out which fruits and berries can be given to a pet is not always easy. Apricots, peaches and nectarines fall into the dubious category.

Opinion against

Experts who take this position categorically do not recommend giving guinea pigs apricots, as well as other stone fruits. The opinion is based on the content of toxic substances in the bones. For humans, the dose is imperceptible, but for a small rodent it can be dangerous and cause serious illness.

Opinion “for”

However, some owners sometimes treat their pets to similar fruits. Apricots are recommended to offer:

• 1 time per week;
• in the amount of 2 pieces;
• with bones removed
• dried or withered.

When deciding to offer guinea pigs peaches, it is also important to get rid of the pit. It is necessary to thoroughly wash the fruit with a special agent that removes chemicals. After the first feeding, you should observe the behavior and reaction of the body to the treat.

The nectarine is a subspecies of the peach caused by a mutation. The properties of the fruit are similar to those of its counterpart, so nectarine should also be given to the guinea pig in scanty amounts and as rarely as possible.

Such restrictions are associated not only with the presence of toxins. Fruits are high in sugar. Excess glucose is harmful to rodents because of the tendency to obesity and the development of diabetes.

If the pet loves such delicacies very much, you don’t need to refuse him a little joy. However, on the shoulders of the owners lies the control over the amount of treats and the well-being of the animal. In the absence of changes in the state, you can offer a treat to your pet and watch with tenderness how he absorbs it.

Read also our articles “Can guinea pigs be given citrus fruits?” and “Can guinea pigs eat pineapple, kiwi, mango and avocado?”.

Video: how two guinea pigs eat one apricot