Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula? (Hazard, Serving Size & More)

You can use this fantastic vegetable slicer (available on Amazon) to slice vegetables into a variety of shapes and sizes for your guinea pigs’ meals. I enjoy presenting the vegetables in a variety of shapes and sizes to keep things interesting for the kids.

Let’s get this out of the way and learn more about the nutrients in arugula, as well as the dangers and benefits it has for our guinea pigs in the following sections.

Nutrition in arugula?

Source: USDA National Nutrient database

Arugula is packed with a variety of beneficial nutrients. The following are some of the most common nutrients that it contains:

Vitamin A: Arugula has a significant amount of Vitamin A in it, according to the USDA. As a multi-functional vitamin, vitamin A is essential for the body because it assists in a wide range of functions, including cell damage prevention, vision improvement, and other critical body functions.

Vitamin K: Arugula is also high in Vitamin K, which is another important nutrient for the body’s health. It aids in the clotting of blood as well as the faster healing of wounds, both of which are important.

Folate: Folate is a B-Vitamin that performs a variety of functions in the body. Arugula is a high-quality source of folate, which is required by the body for a variety of functions such as the conversion of carbohydrates into energy and the formation of red blood cells.

vitamin C: Arugula also contains a trace amount of Vitamin C, which is beneficial for the body. In addition to aiding in the maintenance of a healthy immune system, fighting various diseases, and the formation of blood vessels and collagen in the body, vitamin C is also necessary for the production of collagen in the body.

Is arugula safe for guinea pigs?

In fact, arugula is completely safe for our Guinea Pigs as long as it is consumed only in small amounts. Excessive feeding, on the other hand, can result in a number of serious health problems, among them.

It is well known that anything consumed in excess is harmful to one’s health, and this holds true for a guinea pig’s diet as well.

If we keep the portion sizes within reasonable limits, the food is beneficial to them; however, excessive feeding of the same can be detrimental to their health.

Some of the most common problems associated with overfeeding arugula are as follows:

Bladder stone

A bladder stone is one of the most commonly diagnosed illnesses in guinea pigs, and it is also one of the most painful illnesses they can have. This condition is most often caused by a high calcium and oxalic acid intake that combine to create the condition.

In large quantities, arugula contains a significant amount of calcium, which can result in the formation of kidney stones if consumed regularly.

Therefore, make sure to limit the amount of high calcium foods such as Arugula, Kale, and Celery that you feed to your guinea pig’s diet.

Diarrhea

Guinea pigs also have a delicate digestive system that is prone to becoming out of balance fairly quickly.

Some significant diarrhea triggers in guinea pigs include introducing new food too quickly or serving an excessive amount of a particular food.

Although diarrhea does not always result in death, it can sometimes result in a more serious medical condition.

Please Keep in Mind

Keep in mind that by providing a proper diet and appropriate serving sizes of each food, you can completely avoid all of these health problems. Arugula has a variety of health benefits for our guinea pigs when it is properly prepared and fed.

Is arugula healthy for guinea pigs?

Yes, arugula is a nutritious leafy green for our guinea pigs if we can keep the amount of it we feed them under control.. The following are some of the advantages of feeding arugula to our guinea pigs:

Improves Vision

With high levels of Vitamin A and Beta carotene, arugula is an excellent food to include in your diet to support your vision and other vital organs of the body.

Guinea pigs have degenerating eyesight that becomes increasingly poor as they grow older. Providing our guinea pigs with a diet high in these vitamins can help to improve their vision and slow the progression of their degeneration.

The inclusion of foods high in Vitamin A into your guinea pig’s diet is something you should consider.

Helps in quick recovery

Arugula contains essential nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and other antioxidants that can aid in the prevention of disease and the speedy recovery of our guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs are prone to a variety of health problems, and providing them with some food that can aid in their recovery is something you should consider incorporating into your routine.

Aside from that, vitamin C is beneficial in the prevention of scurvy, which is one of the most commonly diagnosed problems in the guinea pig population.

Top-Rated Guinea Pig Supplies: Our Top Picks! Recommended Guinea Pig Supplies: Our Top Picks!

Before you read on, here are some supplies for your guinea pigs that have been hand-picked by our experts and that you should add to your wishlist right away:

Prevents diseases

It also contains an abundance of antioxidants and other nutrients that can aid in the prevention of a variety of diseases and conditions in guinea pigs.

How often can guinea pigs eat arugula?

Because of the high calcium content of arugula, guinea pigs can only consume a small amount of it. Only 1-2 servings per week are recommended, and this should be done in moderation.

Overfeeding our guinea pigs with arugula can lead to a variety of health problems, which can be avoided by giving them only a small amount at a time.

It is recommended that you spread out your feedings throughout the day. What I usually do is that if I feed them arugula on Tuesday, I will only feed them again on Friday or Saturday if I fed them on Tuesday.

There will be a gap between each serving, which will aid in the control of calcium buildup in our guinea pigs’ bodies. (See illustration)

How much arugula can guinea pigs eat?

It is recommended that you feed your guinea pig only a small piece of the leaf at a time. It is possible to control the amount of calcium that is introduced into their diet by feeding them in small amounts; however, a high calcium diet is detrimental to their health.

I usually combine arugula with other low-calcium vegetables such as bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, and other similar vegetables to help them maintain a balanced diet.

Make a healthy vegetable mixture and serve it in a bowl to satisfy your hunger. If you have guinea pigs, you should also check out this fantastic vegetable bowl for them. This item appeals to me because it does not flip over and is the perfect size for our guinea pigs.

Recommended reading:

• List of 70+ vegetable for your guinea pigs
• List of 70+ fruits that guinea pigs can eat

Can guinea pigs eat arugula flower?

Yes, guinea pigs can consume arugula flowers; however, it is important to only feed them small amounts at a time.

The flowers also contain a significant amount of calcium as well as other enzymes, which can be harmful if fed in large quantities.

Can guinea pigs eat arugula stalks?

Yes, guinea pigs can consume arugula stalks without any negative consequences. Guinea pigs can be fed arugula leaves and stems, as well as arugula leaves and stems. Make sure to keep the servings to a minimum.

Can guinea pigs eat baby arugula?

Yes, guinea pigs can consume young arugula leaves. When compared to its older counterpart, baby arugula has an equal amount of calcium in its composition.

Essentially, it is the same leaves that have been harvested at an earlier stage for their softer leaves and mild flavor.

Can guinea pigs eat cooked arugula?

No, guinea pigs are unable to consume cooked arugula. Cooked food frequently loses the majority of the essential nutrients that our guinea pigs require to survive. As a result, it is best to provide our guinea pigs with only fresh raw food.

Cooking necessitates the incorporation of other ingredients into the food, which are not suitable for our guinea pigs’ digestive system to digest.

Cooked food can cause bloating and severe diarrhea in guinea pigs, so it is best to avoid serving it to them entirely.

How to prepare arugula for guinea pigs?

Arugula is a vegetable that, when prepared properly, offers a variety of health benefits. Prepare arugula for your guinea pigs in the following simple and straightforward manner, as shown in the video below.

• Purchase organic arugula for your guinea pigs that is fresh and in season. Arugula leaves are notorious for accumulating a lot of dirt and grit, which must be thoroughly washed away. Before continuing, soak the arugula in cold water for a few minutes to allow the dust to settle. Once you’re finished, you can either use a salad spinner (available on Amazon) to dry them off or leave them to dry in a kitchen towel while you prepare the rest of the vegetables.
• Choosing to proceed to the second step is entirely optional. You can either remove the stems by cutting them away or leave them in place if that is your preference.
• A complete vegetable bowl for your guinea pigs would be prepared in the third step, which would include mixing it with other vegetables.
• Remember to take out any vegetables that haven’t been eaten from the cage. Bacterial blooms are frequently found in the rotting flesh of fruits and vegetables. It also attracts flies and rats to your guinea pigs, which is a bad thing.

Pro tip:

You can also prepare the vegetable for a few days or a few servings at a time and store it in high-quality vegetable storage containers to keep it fresh and ready to use.

The method is extremely effective, especially if you have a hectic schedule. I personally use these fantastic Rubbermaid Freshworks storage containers that I purchased from Amazon, and they have proven to be a reliable investment for my household.

Suggested reading:

• Do guinea pigs attract rats? How to prevent the same?
• Do guinea pigs attract flies? How to prevent flies around guinea pigs?

Conclusion: Arugula and Guinea pigs

• Arugula is high in vitamins A, K, and C, as well as other essential nutrients that our guinea pigs require for proper growth.
• Is arugula safe for guinea pigs to consume? Guinea pigs can eat arugula in moderation, according to the manufacturer. Overfeeding arugula can be detrimental to the health of our guinea pig.
• If you want to avoid health problems, keep the serving size to 1-2 servings per week. Also, make sure that the servings are evenly distributed throughout the week and that they are not served back to back.
• Serve your guinea pigs no more than a single small leaf of arugula at a time to avoid overwhelming them.
• Excessive feeding of arugula can result in a variety of health problems in guinea pigs, including bladder stone formation, sludge buildup, and diarrhea.
• Guinea pigs are able to consume all parts of the arugula plant, including the leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, and fruit.
• Always keep in mind that hay is the most important component of your guinea pig’s diet. To supplement the nutrients guinea pigs require in addition to the nutrients they obtain from foraging hay, vegetables are provided to them as a food source.
• No vegetables should ever be served as a substitute for hay in your guinea pig’s diet, regardless of the circumstances.

Suggested reading:

• Hay for your guinea pigs(What type, How much and more)
• Guinea pig diet: A complete A-Z of what guinea pigs can eat!
• What can I do if my guinea pigs are not eating their veggies?

Sources: Everything you need to know about arugula, Nutrition in arugula, Diet Composition and Mineral Balance in Guinea Pigs, Dietary Vitamin C, and Vitamin E on Guinea Pig Immune Responses to Mitogens, Vitamin C requirements of the guinea-pig, Is Your Guinea Pig’s Diet Providing the Right Nutrients? Care of Guinea Pigs.