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What Can Guinea Pigs Not Eat: Poisonous Plants & Bad Foods

Welcome to our ultimate guide on what guinea pigs should never eat! As loving and responsible pet owners, it’s crucial to understand the dietary needs of these adorable herbivores. Guinea pigs, in the wild, spend their days foraging for a variety of plants and grasses to satisfy their nutritional requirements. However, not all plants and foods are safe for them to consume, and it’s important to be aware of potential risks when feeding our domesticated guinea pigs.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll delve into a variety of topics, ranging from toxic plants that could accidentally find their way into your guinea pig’s habitat to a detailed list of foods that are known to be bad for them.

Guinea pigs have delicate digestive systems that require a specific diet to thrive. While they are curious nibblers, not everything that is safe for us humans is safe for them. Throughout this guide, we’ll provide you with a detailed breakdown of the common poisonous plants that could pose a threat to your guinea pig’s health. Additionally, we’ll explore a comprehensive list of foods that should never make it into their feeding bowls, including some surprising items you may not be aware of.

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    By understanding the natural foraging habits of guinea pigs and the potential dangers lurking in their diet, you can create a safe environment and make informed choices when it comes to their nutrition. We believe that a healthy and happy guinea pig is a result of a well-informed owner, and we’re here to empower you with the knowledge you need. So let’s dive in together and ensure that your furry friend receives the best care possible. Let’s learn about what guinea pigs should never eat and keep them safe from harm!

    We’re going to discuss some of the dangerous and poisonous foods and plants that people most commonly ask about. Further down the page is a list that includes many toxic wild and garden plants you should avoid.

    Quick links

    Can guinea pigs eat daisies and buttercups?

    Daisies and buttercups are poisonous to guinea pigs and so is a yellow flower, similar to the buttercup, called the celandine. ​

    daisies in the grass
    Daisies are poisonous for guinea pigs

    Buttercups and daisies can be found abundantly amongst the grass during spring and summer. This means you need to be extra cautious if you’re picking grass for your guinea pigs so that you don’t mistakenly pick either of these toxic flowers or the leaves or stems of the plants. 

    Can guinea pigs eat grass clippings?

    Grass that has been mowed is not safe for guinea pigs.  There are several reasons for this.

    Firstly, if you have a petrol or diesel lawnmower, it will be polluted by the fumes which could make your guinea pigs very ill. 

    Secondly, it won’t just be grass that is in the clippings but could be a toxic combination of various other plants such as daisies, buttercups, and other small poisonous weeds that you may not even have noticed growing in your lawn. 

    old wheelbarrow filled with grass clippings in a wild garden
    Grass clippings are not safe for guinea pigs to eat

    Another reason why grass clippings are extremely bad is fermentation. To  begin with, grass clippings ferment very quickly. Then, because the grass is all chopped up, your guinea pig will eat a lot of it quickly. After this, it will continue to ferment in their gut and could cause bloat

    Bloat can be fatal to a guinea pig if not treated urgently. If you’ve heard anyone say that they’ve fed grass clippings without any negative consequences, then they were lucky. Your guinea pigs may not be so lucky so make sure the grass you give them is always picked and not mown.

    Guinea Pig Food Chart

    Can guinea pigs eat dock leaves?

    Guinea pigs can eat young dock leaves but they are not safe for guinea pigs to eat after flowering, or when they are seeding or after seeding. The dock leaves usually first appear in spring but they are high in oxalic acid so dock leaves shouldn’t be fed in large quantities to guinea pigs. If you’re unsure it is best to not pick them at all.

    Can guinea pigs eat rhubarb leaves and stalks?

    Rhubarb leaves and stalks, whether cultivated in your garden or found in the wild, are poisonous for guinea pigs.​

    rhubarb stalks and leaves
    Rhubarb stalks and leaves are poisonous to guinea pigs

    If you grow rhubarb in your garden, make sure you don’t let your guinea pigs roam anywhere near it because if they eat this plant it can make your guinea pig extremely sick and it could well be fatal.

    Can guinea pigs eat potatoes or potato leaves?

    Guinea pigs should never eat potatoes or potato leaves because they are poisonous to them. Green potatoes, in particular, are very dangerous because they contain a harmful substance called solanine. While we humans enjoy potatoes in many different ways, it’s essential to remember that guinea pigs cannot tolerate any part of the potato plant. To keep your furry friend safe and healthy, make sure to avoid feeding them potatoes or potato leaves.

    Can guinea pigs eat meat?

    As guinea pigs are herbivores by nature, meat is not a suitable food for guinea pigs and should be avoided in their diet. Unlike omnivorous animals, such as dogs or humans, guinea pigs lack the necessary digestive enzymes to break down and process meat efficiently.

    Feeding meat to guinea pigs can pose serious health risks and potentially lead to digestive complications. The high protein content in meat may strain their kidneys and result in urinary tract problems. Additionally, meat often contains excessive fat and cholesterol, which are detrimental to a guinea pig’s overall health and can lead to obesity and related issues.

    Can guinea pigs eat cheese or dairy products?

    While dairy products like cheese may be enjoyed by humans, they are not suitable for guinea pigs and should not be included in their diet.

    Guinea pigs lack the necessary enzymes to digest lactose, a sugar present in milk and dairy products such as cheese. Consuming dairy can lead to digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhoea, and stomach problems. These symptoms can cause significant discomfort and potentially harm their overall health.

    Furthermore, cheese and other dairy products are typically high in fat, salt, and cholesterol. Guinea pigs have a delicate digestive system, and a diet high in fat can lead to obesity, heart problems, and other health complications. It is crucial to provide guinea pigs with a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber, which helps maintain their digestive health and overall well-being.​

    cheese with holes
    Cheese is not something guinea pigs should eat

    Can guinea pigs eat rabbit food?

    Guinea pigs and rabbits may both be small animals, but they have distinct dietary requirements. Although their dried food may appear similar, it’s important to note that the ingredients differ significantly.

    The primary distinction between rabbit food and guinea pig food lies in the inclusion of vitamin C in guinea pig pellets. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs are unable to synthesize their own vitamin C and require supplementation. Insufficient vitamin C intake can lead to scurvy and various other health issues in guinea pigs.

    It is crucial to avoid feeding guinea pigs rabbit food or any other food specifically formulated for a different animal, such as dogs, cats, hamsters, rats, ferrets, gerbils, mice, or other pets. These foods are not tailored to meet the nutritional needs of guinea pigs and may lack essential nutrients vital for their well-being. Providing a species-appropriate diet is vital for the optimal health and longevity of your guinea pigs.

    Find out which pellet food is best for your guinea pigs here….

    Can guinea pigs eat human food?

    Guinea pigs should avoid consuming human food, specifically cooked or processed items. This includes a variety of items like chocolate, chips, biscuits, crisps, weetabix, cereal, doritos, pizza, frozen vegetables, frozen fruit, and any other food intended for human consumption. While many fruits and vegetables are generally safe for guinea pigs, it is important to steer clear of any other human-oriented food choices to ensure their well-being.

    white, dark and milk chocolate bars
    Chocolate can be extremely dangerous for guinea pigs if they eat it

    Can guinea pigs eat bread?

    Bread is a human-oriented food that is not suitable for a guinea pig’s diet due to its ingredients and texture. It typically contains yeast, sugar, salt, milk, butter, and other additives depending on the type of bread. None of these ingredients are suitable for a guinea pig’s digestive system, as they are not part of their natural diet. Guinea pigs should not eat bread in any form, and that includes toast.

    Can guinea pigs eat popcorn?

    Popcorn is not a suitable food to give your guinea pigs. It is a high-carbohydrate snack that lacks significant nutritional value for guinea pigs who require a high fibre diet. 

    Commercial popcorn products are flavored or coated with seasonings, such as salt, butter, or artificial additives. These additional ingredients can be harmful to guinea pigs, as they have sensitive digestive systems that are not designed to process such substances and may well lead to health problems.

    Furthermore, the hard and crunchy texture of popcorn kernels can pose a choking hazard to guinea pigs. Their small size and inability to chew food thoroughly make them susceptible to choking or experiencing discomfort from ingesting large pieces.

    Can guinea pigs eat onions, onion grass or chives?

    Although many vegetables are fine for your guinea pigs to eat, onions, onion grass and chives are bad for guinea pigs and must be avoided.

    Onions contain compounds called thiosulphates, which can be toxic to guinea pigs. Ingesting onions can lead to various health issues, including digestive upset, hemolytic anemia, and damage to red blood cells. These conditions can have serious consequences for the well-being of your guinea pig.

    It’s important to note that all parts of the onion, including the bulb, leaves, and even cooked or dried forms, should be kept away from guinea pigs. Even small amounts of onion can pose a risk to their health.

    Can guinea pigs eat peanuts, or other nuts and seeds?

    Peanuts and other nuts are not suitable for guinea pigs for several reasons, one of which is their high fat content. Guinea pigs have delicate digestive systems and a high-fat diet can lead to obesity, digestive issues, and other health complications. Furthermore, peanuts and other nuts and seeds such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds can pose a choking hazard for these small animals due to their hardness, size and texture, making it difficult for guinea pigs to chew and also for them to digest properly.​

    pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds
    Most seeds are unsuitable for guinea pigs

    While many seeds are unsuitable for guinea pigs, seeds in fresh foods such as peppers, tomatoes, or cucumbers are fine for guinea pigs to eat.

    Many people also ask whether guinea pigs can eat peanut butter. Although it isn’t hard like the whole peanut, it is not the right food for a guinea pigs digestive system and is also extremely high in fat. Guinea pigs should never be given peanut butter even if you think it might be a nice treat.

    Can guinea pigs eat dried fruit?

    Dried fruit isn’t toxic but is more concentrated in sugar than fresh fruit so it isn’t good for your guinea pig to have raisins, sultanas, prunes, dates, figs, dried apricots or other dried fruits. 

    Even fresh fruit shouldn’t be given in large quantities due to the high sugar content but fresh fruit in treat sized portions to accompany their veg is fine.

    Too much fruit can cause diarrhoea so it’s important to focus more on the vegetables and herbs.​

    mixed dried fruit and banana chips
    Dried fruit is not good for guinea pigs

    Guinea pig “treats” and food mixes

    When buying treats for your guinea pigs, check the ingredients first. Some are known to have sugar, yogurt, milk and seeds in them. Although they are sold for guinea pigs, they are not suitable so you should avoid these.

    Some guinea pig food mixes may also contain unsuitable ingredients with artificial colours and flavourings, dried fruit and coloured pieces that are packed with sugar.

    What plants are poisonous to guinea pigs

    There are many wild plants, garden plants and weeds that are poisonous for guinea pigs. 

    Plants from bulbs are dangerous​

    red and white onions and garlic bulbs
    Onions and garlic are unsafe foods for guinea pigs

    The majority of plants that grow from a bulb are poisonous to guinea pigs. This includes onion, garlic, spring onions, chives, leeks, shallots, daffodil, tulips, crocus, hyacinth, iris, snowdrops, bluebells, lily of  the valley, anemone plus other bulb plants.

    Evergreen shrubs and trees

    It is safest to assume that any evergreen plant is going to be poisonous to your guinea pigs as most of them are. This includes plants such as ivy, boxwood, rhododendrons, laurel and bindweed.

    Common plants that are toxic or unsafe for guinea pigs

    In order to keep our guinea pigs safe and healthy, it’s important to be aware of the plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, and weeds that can be toxic to them. While the following list includes many common toxic plants, it’s essential to note that it may not cover every single plant that could pose a risk to guinea pigs.

    It is always safest to assume that a plant is unsuitable for your guinea pigs unless you have verified that it is safe for them to eat. Remember, this list is not exhaustive and serves as a starting point for understanding some of the plants that your guinea pigs must never be allowed to eat. Here are a few examples:

    • Acacia
    • Aconite (also known as Monkshood, Wolf’s Bane, Leopard’s Bane, Devil’s Helmet, Blue Rocket)
    • Anemone
    • Arum
    • Autumn crocus
    • Bindweed (convolvulus)
    • Black nightshade
    • Bluebell
    • Boxwood
    • Bracken
    • Bryony
    • Buttercup
    • Celandine
    • Christmas Rose
    • Clematis
    • Columbine
    • Corn cockle (a wildflower)
    • Daffodil
    • Daisy
    • Deadly nightshade (Belladonna)
    • Dock when seeding and after seeding
    • Dog mercury
    • Elder
    • Figwort
    • Fool’s parsley
    • Foxglove
    • Gypsophila
    • Hemlock
    • Henbane
    • Honeysuckle
    • Horse chestnut
    • Horsetails
    • Hyacinth
    • Iris/flag
    • Ivy (including berries)
    • Laburnum
    • Larkspur (or delphinium)
    • Laurel
    • Lenten rose
    • Lily of the valley
    • Lobelia
    • Lords and ladies (also known as Devils and Angels, Adam and Eve, Cuckoo Pint or Snakes Head)
    • Love in a mist (also known as bird’s nest or Nigellas)
    • Lupins
    • Mares tails
    • Oak
    • Poppies
    • Potato or its leaves
    • Privet
    • Ragwort
    • Rhododendron
    • Rhubarb leaves and stalk
    • Scarlet pimpernel (mostly found growing by chickweed)
    • Scarlet runner foliage
    • Snowdrop
    • Sorrel
    • Speedwell
    • Spurge
    • Toadflax (also known as common toadflax, yellow toadflax, bread and butter, butter and eggs)
    • Tomato leaves (the tomato itself is safe)
    • Travellers joy (old man’s beard)
    • Wood anemone
    • Yew

    If you suspect your guinea pig has eaten something poisonous, check out our page on accidental poisoning which includes the symptoms to look for.

    Forage safely

    Foraging is a great way to provide free food and good quality food for your guinea pigs.  But remember that some plants look very similar even though one could be safe and the other deadly poisonous.

    Always make sure you know the difference before picking and feeding to your guinea pig. Check out our foraging for guinea pigs guide….

    Take a look at the safe food list (vegetables and fruit) for guinea pigs which will help you choose a good variety of fresh food to feed your piggies. And don’t forget they also need a diet of good quality pellets and unlimited hay daily.