Last Updated on January 3, 2023 by israel
Hi guys, do you own a pet guinea pig? And are you wondering or asking the question, “can guinea pigs eat celery?” well, in this blog post, I will be answering that question, and I will also be listing a few vegetables you can feed your guinea pigs.
What Are Guinea Pigs?
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig, also known as the cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae.
Wikipedia
What Are Celery?
Celery is a marshland plant in the family Apiaceae that has been cultivated as a vegetable since antiquity. Celery has a long fibrous stalk tapering into leaves. Depending on location and cultivar, either its stalks, leaves or hypocotyl are eaten and used in cooking. Celery seed powder is used as a spice.
Wikipedia
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat celery; celery is an excellent source of nutrients/vitamins, e.g., vitamin K and Vitamin A; for guinea pigs, celery make a delicious dish for your pet guinea pigs if served well. Guinea Pigs are known herbivores who feed on several plants, of which celery is inclusive.
Celery is an excellent dish to serve your guinea pig. They’ll enjoy it, but you must be mindful not to feed them too much.
Celery is a nutritious and good vegetable that is suitable for guinea pigs. However, one must be careful because some guinea pigs are not fond of eating celery.
READ: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Parsley?
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery Stems?
Guinea pis can eat the stems of celery. They contain little but important nutrients calcium, fiber, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, etc.
The stems of celery are munchy and crunchy for guinea pigs. However, they should be eaten carefully and in bits so the stems won’t choke them.
READ: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Raspberries?
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery Leaves?
Guinea pigs can eat the leaves of celery. This part of the celery is sweet and easy for your guinea pigs to chew, strengthening their health. They contain essential nutrients like calcium, fiber, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, etc.
As a matter of fact, it contains most of the essential nutrients and has several functions. It has a different texture and taste that your guinea pigs will love. The seeds, leaves, roots, and stems are all used for medicinal purposes worldwide.
READ: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Radishes?
What Nutrients Does Celery Contain?
Celery provides various nutrients and vitamins to humans and animals; here are a few of the nutrients that can be found in 100g of celery.
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
- Calcium
- Oil
- Iron
- Copper
- Zinc
There are many more vitamins and nutrients in celery; the list above is just a few.
READ: Guinea Pigs Eat Mangoes?
Advantages Of Feeding Celery To Your Guinea Pigs (Health Benefits)
There are many advantages of feeding celery to your guinea pigs; here are some of the significant health benefits of celery.
- Stronger Bones: celery contains a fair portion of calcium; calcium helps build bones. So celery does help in strengthening the bones of humans and guinea pigs.
- Stronger Muscles: celery is rich in vitamins and helps build and develop stronger muscles for guinea pigs and humans.
- Longer Life: Vegetables, celery, in particular, can increase the life span of guinea pigs because of the additional vitamins that celery provides.
READ: Can Guinea Pigs Pear
Disadvantages of OverFeeding Celery To Your Guinea Pigs
Celery provides a lot of vitamins and nutrients to guinea pigs. It is very, very dangerous to feed a lot of celery to your guinea pigs; here are some disadvantages of feeding your guinea pigs too much celery.
- Stomach Upset: celery contains too many vitamins and nutrients which can cause stomach upset when consumed in much/large quantities.
- Stooling: Your guinea pigs can start frequently stooling whenever it consumes too much celery
There are many other disadvantages of overfeeding your guinea pig’s celery.
It has a low level of calories. It could make your guinea pigs lose weight.
It could cause intestinal upsets, GI Stasis, or diarrhea.
It could damage guinea pigs’ organs and digestive systems if overfed because of its high mineral content.
READ: Can Rabbits Eat Pineapples?
Steps In Feeding A Guinea Pig Celery
- Select and pick only fresh, ripe celery.
- Wash celery leaves and stems with clean water properly and thoroughly.
- Cut the celery into tiny chewable bits
- Dish on a clean plate or bowl.
Celery must be carefully and thoroughly washed under running water to remove germs, pesticides, herbicides, or wax that may be attached to it. You’re advised to serve celery alongside other green leaves such as cilantro, lettuce, carrot top, spring green, basil, raspberry leaves, and so on. Only give fresh or organic celery to your guinea pig.
READ: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mangoes?
How Often Should I Feed My Guinea Pig celery?
Celery is not a full-course meal for guinea pigs, hence, they should only be fed about 2 – 3 times a week, unless it’s served alongside other green leaves or plants. Beware of overfeeding your guinea pig with celery could be toxic.
The recommended amount of celery for your guinea pig is 1 cup of chopped 5-6 different types of leafy greens per 2 pounds of guinea pig’s body weight.
Conclusion On Can Guinea Pigs Eat celery?
Guinea pigs can eat celery; celery is an excellent source of nutrients/vitamins, e.g., vitamin K and Vitamin A; for guinea pigs, celery make a delicious dish for your pet guinea pigs if served well. Guinea pigs are known herbivores who feed on several plants, of which celery is inclusive.
Celery is a good choice of meal for your guinea pigs, as it is completely safe for it, provided eaten in moderation. All parts of the celery plant are safe to eat; stem, leaf, and in all manners; vegetable, spice or garnish. However, you should start with just a sprig of celery for the first time and observe your guinea pig for negative effects or indigestion, otherwise, you can increase its intake by a little.
This post was written by Israel for Animals district
