Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beets? (9 Interesting Facts)

Guinea pigs, being herbivorous, should feed on foodstuffs such as guinea pig hay, pelleted guinea pig food, and regulated amounts of fresh veggies and fruits. In case of an imbalance in nutrition, your pig can experience chronic diarrhea, obesity, and heart-related diseases as well as liver and kidney disease. What about when it comes to beets for guinea pigs? 

Can guinea pigs eat beets? Yes, guinea pigs can eat beets. However, it is advisable to feed it to them in moderation since beets contain some amount of sugar, calcium as well as phosphorus. Although it has some benefits, beets are very acidic hence it is not recommended that you feed them to your guinea pig.

What about beetroots, can guinea pigs eat beetroots? It seems like an odd guinea pig eating beetroot when you think about it. I remember the first time my guinea pig ate beetroot it didn’t seem to enjoy it. However, after getting used to it, my guinea pig developed a liking to it.

Can guinea pigs eat beets
Can guinea pigs eat beets – My guinea pig ate beets – Can guinea pigs have beets

For those who keep guinea pigs or if you are thinking of keeping a guinea pig in the near future and want to get basic information about a guinea pig and how to adequately coexist with it, you are in the right place. Let’s start our discussion on the topic, can guinea pigs eat beets below and other affiliated questions about this herbivore that may come up?

 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beets?

Although you can feed your guinea pig beets, it is recommended to do it moderately. Beets contain vitamin c which is good for your guinea pig.  

However, it also consists of phosphorus and calcium which is not good for your guinea pig if fed in excess. Remember, therefore,  to always feed beets to your guinea pig occasionally.

 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Green Beets?

If you decide to feed your guinea pig green beets, do it sparingly. This is because green beets are high in calcium and oxalates which can affect your guinea pig health negatively if fed in excess.

So can guinea pigs eat beets since it contains components which are not good for your guinea pig’s health? If fed in moderation, you can feed your guinea pig beets, like the green beets for instance, without any health concerns.

What about beets in general, can guinea pigs eat beets? If fed in moderation, there is no reason your guinea pig can’t eat beets.

 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Yellow Beets?

Yellow beets don’t consist of any oxalates. They, however, contain a small amount of phosphorus and calcium. They are also rich in fat and sugar.

When you put this into consideration, it is advisable to feed yellow beets to your guinea pig moderately. What about beets in general? Are all beets high in fat and sugar and considering this can guinea pigs eat beets?

No. Not all beets are high in sugar and fat and if fed moderately beets are usually safe to feed to your guinea pig.

This reminds me of my guinea pig eating beetroot for the first time and not seeming to like it. I thought it had affected it negatively. I later came to learn that my guinea pig just needed a little getting used to the beetroot.

 

Guinea Pig Eating Beetroot Regularly, What Should I Do?

Guinea pigs should consume beets only in small serving sizes. Although this veggie is good and tasty for them, it is advisable to feed it to your guinea pig in moderation since it contains sodium and calcium which in excess can bring about bladder or kidney stones. 

However, beets are also important for your guinea pig as they contain vitamins, minerals, and important antioxidants which are ideal for your guinea pig. 

Due to what we’ve learned above, it is important to balance how you feed beetroot to your guinea pig. Feeding your guinea pig beetroot two or three times a week will do. If your guinea pig is feeding on beetroot regularly, it is obvious because its owner initiated it, since the guinea pig cannot do this by itself.

Therefore cut down on your guinea pig’s beetroot intake accordingly and your guinea pig can enjoy the benefits of this veggie without necessarily risking its health.

That said, before I had a guinea pig myself I was surprised whenever I saw a guinea pig eating beetroot since I thought beetroot was not tasty to these herbivores. I thought I confirmed this when my guinea pig ate beetroot for the first time and didn’t seem to like it.

However, I came to learn that guinea pigs love the taste of beetroot and that my guinea pig was just not used to it, understandably so since it was my first time feeding it beetroot.

 

Health Benefits Of Guinea Pigs Eating Beets In Moderation

When you feed your guinea pig beets moderately, there are many benefits they can get since beets contain vitamins, minerals, and important oxidants that are beneficial to your guinea pig.

With this in mind, is guinea pig eating beetroot a good idea generally considering beetroot also consists of calcium, phosphorus, and sodium which are not ideal for your guinea pig? If fed in moderation the potentially harmful components contained in beets will usually not affect your guinea pig.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beetroot Leaves?

Beetroot leaves are high in calcium and oxalic acid. It is therefore advisable to feed it to your guinea pig sparingly. That said, the bigger part of the oxalate found in urine is generated by the body rather than obtained from food.

 What about beets in general? Are all beets safe for your guinea pig and can guinea pigs eat beets?

 Although different varieties of beets contain different components, beets are generally safe to feed to your guinea pig as long as you feed it to your guinea pig in moderation. 

 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beetroot Plant?

Yes. However, you should feed the beetroot plant to your guinea pig in moderation. This is because a beetroot plant contains phosphorus and calcium which is not good for your guinea pig in excess.  

However, beetroot plants contain vitamin c which is good for your guinea pig.

So, in case you see a guinea pig eating beetroot, what would you advise its owner since it contains calcium and phosphorus. Well, since the phosphorus and calcium found in beetroot is not harmful unless you feed it to your guinea pig in excess, the best advice is to advise its owner to ensure that he or she applies the “feed it moderately” rule.

What about beets in general, can guinea pigs eat beets? The beetroot plant and beets are practically the same thing. So, yes, your guinea pig can have a taste of this veggie occasionally.

 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beetroot Seeds?

Guinea pigs can eat the flesh seeds and skin or the beetroot plant. However, before anything else, you should feed beetroot seeds to your guinea pig in small amounts.

 Beetroot seeds don’t contain any oxalates but they contain a small quantity of phosphorus and calcium.

 It is also safe to feed your guinea pig raw beetroot occasionally, that is one and twice a week to be exact.

What about beets in general, can guinea pigs eat beets? As long as you remember to feed beetroot to your guinea sparingly, there is no reason it can’t enjoy this veggie.

 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beetroot Skin Or Peel?

Yes, but remember to feed it to your guinea pig sparingly. Beetroot skin contains calcium and phosphorus which could be harmful to your guinea pig if taken in excess.

When we talk of beetroot skin, what about the different varieties of beets in general, can guinea pigs eat beets?  Yes, if given in moderation, there’s no reason your guinea pig can’t have beets.

Can guinea pigs eat beets
Can guinea pigs eat beets?

 

How Frequent Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beets?

Feeding your guinea pig beets two or three times a week is ideal. However, this can also depend on the type of beetroot you are feeding your guinea pig at a particular time, so it is also recommended that you seek professional advice.

So according to this can guinea pigs eat beets? Yes, if you feed it to your guinea pig moderately it’s okay for your guinea pig to eat it.

 

How Much Beetroot Is Too Much Beetroot For Guinea Pigs?

If you feed your guinea pig beetroot more than three times a week you are overdoing it. It is, therefore, best to adhere to these timelines and also seek a professional’s advice according to the type of beetroot you are feeding your guinea pig at a given time, just to be on the safe side.

So if feeding beets to your guinea pig can pose a danger to it, can guinea pigs eat beets, therefore? If fed moderately, yes, your guinea pig can consume beetroot safely.

 

What Should I Do If Guinea Pigs Eat Too Much Beets?

In case your guinea pig overindulges in beetroot, give it lots of liquid to neutralize the effect. However, if it is badly affected, rush it to a vet so that it can get immediate medical attention. 

So if beetroots can cause harm to your guinea pig, can guinea pigs eat beets? Are they safe for your guinea pig? Beetroot can cause harm to your guinea pig if you overfeed it. If given sparingly, however, it is usually safe for your guinea pig’s consumption.

 

How To Train Guinea Pigs To Not Eat Too Much Beets?

All you are required to do is serve your guinea pig the right amount of food and also to cut on unnecessary health unfriendly foods. So with this in mind can guinea pigs eat beets since they can be affected by them.

When you serve your guinea pig the right amount and feed it to it occasionally, beets will usually not harm your guinea pig.

 

Beetroot Nutritional Information

NutrientsQuantity
Energy43 calories
Carbohydrates9.56 g
Sugars6.76 g
Fiber2.8
Fat0.17 g
Protein1.16 g
Vitamin C4.9 mg
Calcium16mg
Iron8mg
Phosphorus40 mg

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Guinea Pigs Have Beets?

Yes, your guinea pig can have beets. That said, remember to feed beetroot to your guinea pig sparingly, since beets contain phosphorus and calcium which is not good for your guinea pig when consumed in excess.

 

Do Guinea Pigs Like Beets?

Yes. Guinea pigs generally like the taste of beets. However, don’t let this distract you from regulating their feeding times as the “feeding beetroot to your guinea pig moderately” rule still applies.

 

 Should I Feed My Guinea Pigs Beets?

It is not a must to feed your guinea pig beets. However, beetroot has some benefits to your guinea pig in terms of dietary needs, so it would not be a bad idea to consider it.

However, remember to feed it to your guinea pig moderately.

 

 Final Verdict On Can Guinea Pigs Eat Beets

So in conclusion what can we say about the topic, can pigs eat beets? Well, we can say that even though you can feed your guinea pig beetroot, it is advisable to feed it to your guinea pig in moderation.

Can guinea pigs eat beets
Can guinea pigs eat beets – My guinea pig ate beets – Can guinea pigs have beets

This is because beets usually contain phosphorus and calcium which would pose a health risk to your guinea pig if it consumes it in excess.

It would also be wise to consult a professional to know the best way to go about feeding your guinea pig this veggie as different varieties of beets can affect your guinea pig differently.

 

Other Guinea Pigs Food or Nutrition related questions answered in detail

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Strawberries?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Olives?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Squash?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Lemons?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kiwi?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Swiss Chard?

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Zucchini?

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