Is it possible to give guinea pigs cabbage white, cauliflower and Beijing

Many novice “pig breeders” in search of an optimal and varied diet for their pets are wondering if guinea pigs can have cabbage. Indeed, in different sources you can encounter conflicting information, to the point that cabbage is very harmful for these animals.

Types of cabbage

There are many varieties of this vegetable plant. The most famous and cultivated species are white and red cabbage, cauliflower, Beijing, Brussels sprouts, Romanesco (color variety), kale, kohlrabi. Slightly different in composition, all types contain many useful substances:

• vitamins of group B and PP;
• ascorbic acid;
• folic acid;
• amino acids;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• sulfur;
• trace elements.

The plant is distinguished by a high content of vitamin C, carbon, fiber and water.

Due to their composition, all types of plants are useful for guinea pigs and are approved for use as a nutritious and healthy food.

How to give guinea pigs cabbage

The reason this product is considered unhealthy for guinea pigs is because it can cause gas. But for a healthy animal, this does not bring significant discomfort.

Problems in the form of bloating can occur for several reasons:

1. Improper nutrition (unbalanced diet with excess fats, proteins, feeding mainly dry food).
2. Insufficient motor load, which weakens the normal functioning of the intestines.
3. Feeding a large amount at one time.
4. Individual intolerance of the body.
5. Digestive system diseases.

Important! Cabbage is given to guinea pigs in small quantities, gradually accustoming the body to the product and increasing the portion in case of good tolerance. Cabbage should not be fed daily and is only a small part of a varied diet in combination with other foods.

It is preferable to feed the pet Beijing cabbage, cauliflower (including Romanesco), broccoli (green leaves and sprouts without a stem), kohlrabi, Chinese. It is better to keep white and red cabbage in the refrigerator for several days or dry the leaves before feeding.

So you should not exclude such a useful product from the diet and feed it to your rodent, observing the measure. In addition, home conditions allow you to give this vegetable all year round, and the pig always eats it with pleasure.

You can find out whether it is possible to include vegetables such as radishes and potatoes in the diet of a guinea pig by reading the following materials “Can guinea pigs be given radishes” and “Can guinea pigs be given potatoes“.