We finally get to answer the age-old question that scientists have grappled with for years.
Guinea pigs are one of the most kept pets in the world and some owners lack adequate information concerning their food and nutrition.
Quite the surprise, these little animals survive for as long as seven years, slowly becoming an integral part of your daily life.
But can Guinea pigs eat watermelons? The answer is yes and finds out why.
In this article, not only do we answer this mind-boggling question but also we include some extra information.
It will help with future decisions concerning how much watermelon your pet should have.
Furthermore, you will read about the number of times a guinea pig can consume watermelon.
You will gain knowledge on whether the watermelon rind and its juice are safe for consumption by your beloved guinea pig.
Can guinea pigs eat watermelon rind
Watermelons
Watermelon is a large, juicy fruit with a green envelope of a hard green layer that protects the inner from external damage.
Surely, you must have come across a watermelon at some point in your life. These succulent fruits are especially a delicacy during sunny days.
One of the reasons for their abundance as summer treats is that they keep body water and sugar at optimum levels.
Guinea pigs and watermelons
As obvious as it may sound, a majority of guinea pigs love watermelons.
Just as humans enjoy biting the sweet juices of watermelons, guinea pigs too eat them with great delights.
There are several nutritional benefits that guinea pigs accrue from consuming watermelons.
For starters, watermelons contain Vitamin C, a valuable part of your beloved guinea pig’s diet.
Despite the health benefits, it is advisable that you limit the quantity of watermelons that your guinea pig consumes.
As the old saying goes, too much of everything is poison. Excess quantities of any vegetable or fruit might prove to be harmful to the health of your guinea pig.
You will realize it vital to chop the watermelon into small pieces that they can easily chew.
It is advisable to avoid feeding your guinea pig just a small piece every few days.
Unlike people, however, guinea pigs are quite comfortable eating watermelon rinds.
One of the best practices that you should employ is to clean the watermelon well and cut out the exterior green layer.
You should not feed watermelon seeds to your guinea pig because this might harm the health of your pet.
Nutritional value of watermelons
After answering the age-old question, now we need to figure out whether guinea pigs have anything to gain by consuming watermelons.
The nutritional benefits include the following;
Sugar
Watermelon is a great organic source of crucial nutrients.
In addition, you should be aware of the enormous levels of sugar present in this fruit. Such high sugar content might actually harm your guinea pig.
As a matter of fact, this is one of the main reasons why guinea pigs should consume watermelons in tiny bits at a go.
You will find it advisable to curve the melon out so that only a tiny part remains as a treat for your guinea pig.
Besides, you can choose to cut out the outer green layer of the rind so that your pet eats only the yellow parts.
In that way, you will be able to better regulate the sugar content that your guinea pig consumes.
Guinea pigs can easily develop obesity and diabetes, which can lead to more dire health situations, just like us people.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a critical part of any pet’s diet. A guinea pig does not naturally produce Vitamin C.
That means for your guinea pig to be healthy and have a strong immune system, it is essential that you provide supplemental Vitamin C.
Inadequate supply of Vitamin C can lead to diseases such as scurvy, which can be fatal.
Most scientific experts approximate that a guinea pig should eat around 40mg for every kilogram.
Fiber
Guinea pigs should eat as much fiber as they can.
Fiber is one of the main sources of your pet’s diet since they mostly feed on grass, plants, herbs, twigs, and sometimes roots and barks.
Watermelon has little fiber content, which is satisfactory for a tasty snack.
Nutrients
In addition to Vitamin C, watermelon contains other nutrients such as Vitamin A, potassium, phosphorous, and calcium.
All these are crucial for the regular functioning of your guinea pig’s body.
Some researchers have also theorized that the selenium contained in watermelon assists in boosting the immunity of guinea pigs.
Is watermelon a delicacy for my guinea pig?
Do you know how your pet likes the food you give it? Well, this might be hard for many people to notice.
If you possess great observation skills, you will notice the same reaction if your guinea pig loves eating watermelons.
If it’s the first time your pet is eating this juicy fruit, it is wise to examine your guinea pig’s initial reaction to the first bite.
As a suggestion, you should give it a small cube of watermelon and observe the reaction.
Based on the initial response, you are welcome to offer your lovable pet an additional cube.
However, if your guinea pig does not appear to like the first bite of watermelon that you offer, it’s alright.
You should not feel obligated to offer some more. Instead, you can try giving the guinea pig the watermelon rind. Some guinea pigs actually prefer the watermelon rind to the red part.
You will have to eliminate the green part and cut the yellow part into smaller pieces before feeding it to your guinea pig.
It is advisable to clean the rind well before serving it to prevent any transmissible bacteria.
One last thing, can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelons?
Despite that, some guinea pigs do not like either the succulent part of the watermelon rind.
Don’t worry.
You can attempt offering other juicy fruits such as peaches which also contain high amounts of fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Regardless of the type of fruit that your guinea pig likes, you should avoid feeding it with the same fresh foods daily.
Instead, you should mix different types of fruits and vegetables, only providing the watermelon only once or twice a week.