Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango? (What Part You Should Feed)

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Being small and weak, guinea pigs need healthy diets, such as fruits, to live a long life. As you know, not all fruits are good for a guinea pig’s growth.

But what we care about now is, can guinea pigs eat mango? 

Yes, guinea pigs can eat mangoes as they contain vitamins A, B, and other essential nutrients perfect for their health. But mangoes contain a lot of sugar, so your guinea pigs should eat them only once in a while.

While you consider serving your mango to your cavies, remember that quality is more important than quantity.

I believe you now know that mangoes are safe for your little pets. However, can your guinea pigs eat the whole mango including the seed? 

Just keep scrolling as I provide answers to these questions and more in this article. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat the Whole Mango?

No, guinea pigs should not be fed the whole mango because some of its parts are not good for their health.

It is important to nourish your guinea pigs with only healthy portions of mangos to prevent the cavies from potential health issues.

Nevertheless, you need to know the mango parts they can eat and the ones they should not. 

This leads to the following questions:

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Pulp?

Yes, guinea pigs can consume mango pulp but just in little amounts. Mango pulp contains essential vitamins useful for a guinea pig’s growth.

However, due to the abundant sugar in mango pulp, you must feed your guinea pigs in a small serving size. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Skin?

Mango Skin - Food for Guinea Pigs

No, your cavies are not capable of feeding on mango skin due to their roughness and firmness. Note that the skin of a mango can cause suffocation in your guinea pigs if they are not eaten thoroughly. 

Instead of giving your guinea pigs mango skin, consider feeding them the fleshy part of the fruit. Not only is this part soft, but it is also sweet and highly nutritious.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Tree Leaves?

Yes, serve mango leaves to your guinea pigs as they are safe to consume. Mango tree leaves offer a lot of benefits to your cavies, which include blood sugar maintenance.

Other health benefits of mango leaves are anti-inflammatory effects and skin support. Although a good number of guinea pigs prefer to eat the fruit, others will gladly enjoy eating the leaves. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Stones?

No, mango stones should not be fed to guinea pigs as they are dangerous to their health.

Mango stones are too harsh for your cavies to handle and may cause suffocation. 

Besides, mango stones are hard and guinea pigs have small, weak teeth that can easily get harmed.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Seeds?

No, guinea pigs should not be fed with the seeds of mango because they are hard and poisonous.

Ensure that all seeds are removed from mango before you feed them to your guinea pigs. By this, a lot of health problems will be avoided.

Read Also:  Are Guinea Pigs Herbivores?

How Many Mangoes Should I Give My Guinea Pig?

Right amount of mangoes to serve for guinea pigs

It is recommended that you serve your cavies a tiny chunk of mango only. As you know, quality is better than quantity at all times.

Giving your guinea pigs a  little amount of mango is enough to provide them with essential nutrients. 

Giving your cavies too much mango at a time can increase their risk of diarrhea, vomiting, and other stomach-related issues. There’s no doubt that your cavies will want you to keep giving them more mangoes by their reaction.

But it is your duty not to get carried away by their funny sounds and body language.

How Often Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango?

Serve your guinea pigs mangoes only once or twice weekly, just as a special treat because of their high sugar content. 

Portions of fruits served in a small, bite-sized manner will delight your guinea pigs and provide the much-needed vitamins for them. Most of the time, diets that offer a lot of benefits are of little quantity.

Read Also: Are Guinea Pigs Rodents?

Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Mango?

Yes, you can feed your baby guinea pigs mangoes but they should not be less than six months old. Usually, the infant guinea pigs’ digestive tracts are still in the early stage of development and certain diets can cause stomach irritation. 

So, don’t try feeding your baby cavies with anything that may disturb the normal function of their weak stomach. 

Nutritional Value of Mango

Here are the nutrients contained in 100 g of mangoes;

Vitamin A – 54 mgFat – 0.38 g
Vitamin B-6 – 0.119 mgLutein + zeaxanthin – 23 µg
Vitamin C – 36.4 mgSugars – 13.66 g
Vitamin E – 0.9 mgCalcium – 11 mg
Vitamin K – 4.2 µgPhosphorus – 14 mg
Dietary Fiber – 1.6 gPotassium – 168 mg
Magnesium – 10 mgFolate – 43 µg
Energy – 60 kcalCarotene, beta – 640 µg
Protein – 0.82 gCarbs – 14.98 g

Health Benefits of Mango for Guinea Pigs

Apart from being a tasty fruit, mango is also beneficial to a guinea pig’s diet. Here are some of the benefits of mango;

Fights Free Radicals

Antioxidants are packed in mangoes which help to fight free radicals causing diseases. Metabolic activities produce free radicals in the body cells of a guinea pig. These free radicals can be harmful if not managed. 

Mangoes can help fight free radicals due to their antioxidant property.

Boost the Immune System

Vitamins A, B, B-6, and K are useful properties in mangoes that improve guinea pigs’ immune systems.

Lack of a good immunity can expose your guinea pigs to the risk of several health problems. That’s why feeding them mangoes is necessary.  

Also, the immune system of your cavies is weak. Continually providing fruits rich in essential vitamins will help them live longer.

Helps with Digestion

Mango helps in guinea pigs digestion

Amylases, a type of digestive enzyme in mangoes, aid digestion. The enzymes help break down big food molecules into smaller ones. Fortunately, mangoes are rich in dietary fiber and water, both of which aid digestion.

Fiber also relieves constipation and diarrhea.

Boosts Eye Health

An antioxidant excellent for eyesight is lutein and zeaxanthin found in mangoes. Another property useful to eye health is vitamin A.

When guinea pigs fall short of these vitamins, they suffer dry eyes and night blindness.

Improves General Health

Vitamins like magnesium and potassium in mangoes aid in the regulation of blood pressure. These two properties improve the heart function of guinea pigs.

eing a major part of the body, your guinea pig’s heart should be given utmost priority.

Prevent Scurvy and Other Illness

Mangoes are also rich in vitamin C, a very important nutrient for guinea pigs. Naturally, guinea pigs are unable to produce vitamin C, which aids the production of white blood, thus preventing scurvy.

With enough vitamin C in your cavies’ diet, they’ll be free, not only from scurvy but other diseases.

Risk to Consider When Feeding Guinea Pigs Mangoes

There are dangers to consider when you choose to feed mango to your guinea pigs. Aside from the following worries, mangoes are in general safe fruit for your guinea pigs:

Sugar Overdose

Mangoes contain too much sugar and may induce diarrhea or vomiting in guinea pigs if fed in a large amount. Whenever you notice unpleasant symptoms, stop giving your cavies the fruit and provide them with water instead. 

Allergic Reactions

Guinea pig with an allergic reaction

Some food may induce allergic reactions in guinea pigs. Also, some mango portions contain harmful oil that may produce different symptoms in your cavies.

Stop providing your guinea pigs mango if you detect symptoms such as sneezing, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Read Also: Do Guinea Pigs Like To Be Held and Petted?

How to Prepare Mango For Guinea Pigs

As you consider including mangoes in the diet of your guinea pigs, preparing the fruits is also important. Once the fruit is prepared rightly, your cavies will enjoy the fruit diet, gaining vital nutrients from it. Besides, your guinea pigs will face a lesser risk of digestive problems. 

Without further ado, the steps to preparing mangoes for your guinea pigs are as follows;

Step 1: Choose fresh and ripe mangoes only.

Step 2: Make sure you have a sharp knife and a clean cutting board to use.

Step 3: Carefully wash the mango skin thoroughly under a running tap to remove dirt and pesticides.

Step 4: Cut the mangoes into cube shapes and serve your cavies only in moderation, to prevent overfeeding and health problems.

Step 5: Dispose of mangoes that are leftover to avoid pests and molds in your guinea pigs’ cage.

Take Note!

  • Although a good number of guinea pigs may not suffer unpleasant symptoms after feeding on mangoes, others may have allergic reactions.
  • Once you recognize signs of discomfort in your cavies, especially after feeding them mangoes, discontinue serving them the fruit. 
  • In cases of emergency, call a veterinary expert. Also, ensure your guinea pigs drink adequate water while awaiting treatment.

What Other Fruits Can My Guinea Pigs Eat Besides Mango?

Just like you enjoy fruits, your guinea pigs need to enjoy a variety of them too. While some fruits are unhealthy for your cavies, others offer a lot of nutritional benefits. Here are a few of them;

AppleApricotBananaStrawberryCherries
CranberriesGrapesKiwi fruitMelon (All types)Blueberries
TomatoesPapayaPeachPearPineapple
PlumsRaspberry OrangesBlackberryWatermelon

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Frozen Mango?

Feeding frozen to guinea pigs is not recommended

No, It is not advisable to feed frozen mangoes to your guinea pigs.

Generally, frozen foods irritate guinea pigs’ stomachs because of their sensitive digestive system. Compared to other small animals, there is a limit to the diets your cavies can handle.

Besides, frozen mangoes are usually hard, which is bad for the teeth of your cavies. To be on the safe side, serve your guinea pigs fresh mangoes only.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Mangoes?

No, do not feed your guinea pigs dried mangoes because most of them have little to no nutrients.  Moreover, dried mangoes have a high sugar content which can irritate your cavies’ stomach. Always feed your little pets fresh, clean, and healthy fruits only. 

Can Guinea Pigs Have Mango Juice?

Feeding mango juice to guinea pigs is not recommended

No, it is not safe to give your guinea pigs mango juice or any other juice bought from the store. Most times, juice contains too much sugar, which is bad for the sensitive stomach of your cavies. 

A much safer option is a little quantity of mango juice handmade naturally without added sugar, then diluted with water.

Fortunately, you can prepare the mango juice at home. Just ensure you don’t feed the little pets too much juice. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Oats?

No, guinea pigs with normal weight should not be fed oats because this diet is not suitable for them.

Your veterinarian may prescribe oats to help them gain weight quickly. However, that’s if your guinea pigs are very underweight or have no appetite at all.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mango Kohlrabi?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat kohlrabi because they contain iron and copper essential to fight anemia, provide energy, and strengthen their immune system. 

Also, they promote the development of new red blood cells and aid in the absorption of iron.

Final Thoughts

Serving your guinea pigs mangoes is a great way to improve their general health and well-being. Mangoes contain a lot of essential nutrients that prevent disease and help your cavies grow well.

However, moderation is the key to feeding your little pets the fruit. 

A little piece of mango, once or twice a week, offers many more nutritional benefits than serving them the fruit every day.

Also, remember to wash the mangoes well before feeding them to your guinea pig to remove dirt and pesticides. 

Consider including mangoes in your guinea pigs’ diet from now on. There will be a remarkable difference in their overall outlook and health. 

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