Fruits are an essential part of the guinea pig’s nutritional needs. Fruits are a good source of nutrients for our guinea pigs, which they require.
If you can include nutritious fruits in your guinea pig’s diet, you will not only keep them healthy, but you will also keep them cheerful and happy.
Now that we’ve established that our guinea pigs are capable of consuming plums, you might be wondering if doing so will harm them in any way. Also, how much plum are they allowed to eat?
How often can guinea pigs eat plums?
If you are feeding your guinea pigs plum regularly, you should consult your veterinarian.
We can give our guinea pigs plums 2-3 times a week if we give them an adequate amount of food.
Because plums contain a significant amount of sugar, serving an excessive amount of them can be a bad idea because the guinea pig’s digestive system was not designed to digest high sugary foods well in the first place.
How much serving of plum can guinea pigs eat?
Plums are more of a treat for our guinea pigs than anything else. You can feed your guinea pig one plum twice or three times a week if you wish.
Whenever possible, the pit of the plum should be removed because it contains cyanide and can be harmful to the fruit.
Wash the plum thoroughly, but do not remove the plum’s skin, as it contains the majority of the antioxidants and should not be removed.
Are guinea pigs allowed plums?
Yes, you can feed plums to your guinea pigs, but it is beneficial only if given in moderation.
Few common health concerns to look out while feeding plums to your guinea pigs:
- Indigestion/stomach ache: Plums contain a large amount of sugar, and serving it regularly may upset our guinea pig’s stomach. Guinea pigs have fragile stomachs, so it is quite hard for them to digest sugar, and they might get cramps too.
- Diabetes: It is a prevalent health issue among guinea pigs. If we feed them food rich in sugar and carbohydrates regularly, they might have diabetes and other related health issues.
- Formation of calcium stone: Plums contain the right amount of oxalates, which can lead to the creation of dangerous calcium stones, and once they are formed, it can cause a lot of pain to our guinea pigs.
Is plum good for our guinea pigs?
Yes, if we give our guinea pigs a moderate amount of plum, they are completely safe.
It contains a high concentration of nutrients that our guinea pigs require.
Plum does contain a small amount of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and other vitamins, but not in significant quantities.
These vitamins are essential in a guinea pig’s diet as guinea pigs cannot produce their vitamin and need supplements of the same in their food.
The following are some of the advantages of feeding plum to our guinea pigs:
- Boost Immune System: Plum is a powerhouse of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, and other essential vitamins, and can be a great supplement to the guinea pigs.
- It is renowned for its beneficial effects on immune health. The deficiency of vitamin C in the body results in decreased immune function and increased inflammation.
- Rich in antioxidants: Plums are rich in antioxidants, which are useful in reducing inflammation and protecting cells from damage by free radicals.
- They are high in polyphenol antioxidants, which have positive effects on bone health and help to reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Reduce heart diseases: Consuming plums regularly may have a protective effect on heart health. They have the potential to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, significant factors for heart-related diseases.
- Rich In Fiber: Plums hold the right amount of fiber in it. Raw plums contain approx two grams of fiber per fruit. Research has found that diets rich in fiber helps to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
Nutrition in plums
Plums are a rich source of different vitamins and minerals, in addition to fiber and antioxidants.
However, some of the essential nutrients are as follows:
- Calcium: Plums hold the right amount of calcium in it. Calcium acts as a fuel for the proper functioning of the body. It is a mineral that is necessary for the formation of bones and tissues in the body.
- Rich in Antioxidants: Antioxidants present in plums help to improve the immune system, and a healthy immune system can lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Plum is a good source of antioxidants.
- Vitamin C: Plums are a rich source of Vitamin C. It, also known as ascorbic acid, is necessary for improving the immune system and helps in growth, development, and repairing of the body tissues.
- Vitamin A: Plums contain vitamin A, which helps to improve the growth and development of the body. It can lower down the risk of certain diseases such as cancer.
- Potassium: Plums contain potassium, which is one of the essential minerals in the body. A diet that contains potassium helps to maintain water retention capacity and reduces blood sugar levels.
Can guinea pigs eat canned plum?
The canned plum has typically been processed, and a significant amount of their natural nutrients have been removed.
Added ingredients such as salt and other preservatives are included in the recipe.
Even if you decide to feed them canned plums, choose varieties that are low in additives.
Can guinea pigs eat frozen plum?
Guinea pigs should not be fed anything frozen. Generally, frozen food gets too cold and hard, and it becomes difficult for them to chew.
Also, it can lead to stomach upset in guinea pigs.
Even though they can be feed once the fruit is defrosted, but feeding them fresh plums will be more beneficial.
Can guinea pigs eat plum puree?
Yes, guinea pigs can have plum puree but without any additive sugar. Commercial puree should be avoided entirely.
You can wash the plum, remove the skin and the pit, then mash it or make a paste.
But don’t freeze the puree as it gets too cold and becomes hard for them to digest.
Can guinea pigs eat plum jam?
No, the jam is a processed food that is completely incompatible with the diet of our guinea pigs.
Jam is far too sweet, sugary, and unnatural for guinea pigs to eat on a regular basis.
They are unable to properly digest processed foods, and as a result, they may experience cramping and indigestion.
Can guinea pig eat plum tree branches?
No, some tree branches are toxic to our guinea pigs, and the plum tree is one of these toxic branches.
Plum trees produce fruits that contain large pits or stones, which are dangerous to our guinea pigs to consume.
If you want to learn more about what types of tree branches are safe for your guinea pig, you can check out our article on the subject.
Can guinea pig eat plum tree leaves?
No, guinea pigs can’t eat plum tree leaves as they contain cyanide and therefore are very toxic for them.
Can guinea pigs eat black plums?
You can serve black plum once or twice a week to our guinea pigs, but in a moderate amount.
Black plums contain antioxidants and might be useful as preventive agents in the pathogenesis of diseases and have similar benefits as regular plum.
Can guinea pigs eat prunes?
Prunes are high in calories and sugar. A few prunes will not harm our guinea pig, but feeding them in high quantities can be very harmful.
It is recommended not to feed guinea pigs prunes as it has high sugar in it may lead to various health hazards.
How to prepare plums for our guinea pigs?
The following are a few steps we should take into consideration before preparing plum for your guinea pigs:
- Pick clean plums for your guinea pig and wash them thoroughly to remove all surface dirt.
- You must also ensure that the plums are free of bacteria.
- The pit of the plum should be removed because it contains cyanide and may cause the guinea pig to choke.
- Keeping the skin of the plum on is recommended because it contains the greatest concentration of antioxidants.
- Please cut the plums into small pieces so that our guinea pigs don’t have any problems while eating them. Thank you for your cooperation!
- Last but not least, don’t forget to clean up any leftovers.
Conclusion: Guinea pigs and Plums
- Plums are an excellent source of a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and antioxidants, among other nutrients.
- Is it Safe for Guinea Pigs to Eat Plums? Yes, guinea pigs are capable of consuming plums.
- It is preferable if you only serve a small amount of food at a given time. Excessive serving can be a dangerous proposition.
- Always remove the pit from the plum because it contains cyanide and can cause the guinea pig to choke if left in the pit for too long.
- If you have guinea pigs, please do not feed them the leaves and branches of the plum tree because it is extremely toxic to them.
