The short and sweet answer (pun intended), is yes! Guinea pigs can eat oranges in moderate amounts. This fruit is pretty sugary, and it’s important to be careful with how much you feed it to your piggy—make sure to know all the information that you need in order to decide whether or not you want to include this juicy fruit in their diet!
We've also got a Fruit Master List that lists common fruits that your piggy can and can't eat!
What vitamins and other nutrients do oranges contain?
Vitamin C
This can help boost immunity, and it also helps the body form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in bones. It also helps protect against free radicals! There is 53.2 mg in 100 g of oranges.
Calcium
Your piggy needs this to build and maintain strong bones! Their heart, muscles, and nerves also need it to function properly. There is 40 mg in 100 g of oranges.
Phosphorus
The main function is to help with the formation of bones and teeth! It also plays a large role in how the body utilizes carbohydrates and fats. There is 14 mg in 100 g of oranges.
What other benefits do oranges provide for your guinea pig?
In oranges, the Vitamin C works overtime for your guinea pig! It’s great for preventing scurvy and eradicates the need for taking any kind of Vitamin C supplements that you'd usually have to put into their water supply. Guinea pigs need large amounts of this vitamin, especially since their little bodies aren’t always able to fully absorb it from every single food they consume.
What are the downsides about oranges for guinea pigs?
Unfortunately, there is a downside to oranges. It’s a fruit that is high in sugar content, and their digestive system usually can’t properly break down sugars like their humans can. This can lead to an uncomfortable, upset stomach. Because of that, it’s important to be careful about how much of this fruit you’re giving them!
Guinea pigs can eat oranges, but do they like it?
Yes! And many love the peels of the orange as well.
How should you go about feeding your guinea pig oranges?
Because we need to be careful about how much we give them, it’s best to only feed oranges to our guinea pigs once or twice a week. The serving size should be about the size of your thumb, or one regular wedge of the fruit. If you're choosing to give them the skin as well, make sure to thoroughly wash the outside to get rid of any pesticides, as this can make your piggy sick.
Overall, it is OK to feed your guinea pigs oranges!
It’s important to remember that your piggies need around a cup of fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement their diet! This means variety and balance is necessary to make sure they are getting the most they can out of the nutrients in their meals.
What else can guinea pigs eat?
Check out our Fruit Master List for quick facts on common fruits that your guinea pig can and can't eat.
