Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cilantro? Benefits, Risks & How to Feed

Cilantro, also known as coriander, is a strong-smelling herb that is used in numerous dishes. It loads a punch in the nutrient department, full of antioxidants. But can guinea pigs eat cilantro? Yes, cilantro is safe to feed guinea pigs three to four times weekly. It is known to be one of the best herbs for the guinea pig, with several vitamins and minerals it has.

Cilantro is an excellent choice for staple food in the guinea pig’s diet. But there are some potential hazards you should be aware of first, and it also has some calcium that can be problematic in massive amounts. 

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cilantro?

Yes, cilantro is safe to feed guinea pigs. It is so surprising that the amount of nutrition present is in a plant that humans use only for flavoring. 

Guinea pigs can consume cilantro as it has vitamin C, which they require regularly. It contains 27 mg per 100g, close to spinach, blueberries, and oranges. Foods high in calcium are frequently a concern for guinea pig owners because of the danger of bladder stones, and cilantro is relatively high in calcium, with 67 mg per 100g. 

Cilantro has a decent calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Also, cilantro is low in sugar and thus makes an excellent herb to feed your guinea pigs daily.

How Often Can Guinea Pigs Eat cilantro?

Guinea pigs can eat cilantro almost daily, which has no negative consequence on them as long as the intake is moderated. 

You can take a break a few times a week and give your guinea pigs other foods. Make sure to monitor the guinea pig when you introduce cilantro to the diet. Everything should be smooth, but be on the lookout for the initial few days to watch their reaction.

It is best to give cilantro sprigs three to four times a week. It makes a great staple food in the guinea pig’s diet, but feeding it alongside some low-calcium foods is essential to ensure they get a reasonable balance of nutrients.

7 Benefits Of Feeding Cilantro To Guinea Pigs

The immense health advantages associated with cilantro make it suitable for daily consumption. Given below are some of the benefits of cilantro:

1: Fiber Aids in Lowering Cholesterol 

Since cilantro contains fiber, this plant’s dietary characteristic maintains a good cholesterol level. It also implies you can lessen the chances of heart failure and heart disease for the guinea pig.

2: Minerals are Good for Proper Physical Growth 

When it comes to the growth of the body, the only concern most people have is putting up surplus weight. But failure to have adequate body growth may be disastrous for your guinea pig. A few minerals in cilantro help with this element of your pet and enable healthy weight gain.

3: Repairing Tissue  

Like any other animal, a guinea pig also undergoes wear and tear from tissue degeneration. And these tissues have to be repaired at the pace they wear out. Vitamin A and C present in cilantro helps to build new tissues.

4: Prevention of Scurvy 

Scurvy is a deadly disease that can snatch away the guinea pig’s life. It begins with rough fur, then diarrhea, bleeding, and discharge. This can be deterred when you feed the guinea pig with cilantro. Guinea pigs require vitamin C to impede this disease. Since they can’t produce the vitamin alone, they depend on vitamin C-rich foods like cilantro.

5: Prevents Health Issues 

The minerals present in cilantro can help keep some ailments away. For instance, the presence of antioxidants can aid in reducing the impacts of oxidative stress. 

Cilantro also carries low sugar levels, which help maintain the guinea pig’s weight. There is no danger of your guinea pig being overweight when it consumes cilantro.

6: Increases Stimulation 

If the guinea pig is lazy or has been sick recently, you can increase its energy levels by giving them cilantro. Stimulating your guinea pig can also be a means to find out if it is lazy or sick.

7: Boosts the Immune System 

Numerous vitamins and minerals are found in cilantro, which can help raise the immune system. As a result, your guinea pig will be able to fight off some ailments due to a robust immune system.

4 Risk of Feeding Cilantro to Guinea Pigs

While some significant advantages come from eating cilantro for your guinea pig, there are some hazards too. If not done in moderation, given below are the side effects:

1: Leads to Bladder Stones 

Some minerals in cilantro can result in bladder stones in guinea pigs since it has small quantities of oxalate and calcium. This problem can occur, particularly when you overfeed them.

2: Lead to Allergic Reactions 

In rare instances, some guinea pigs can get allergic to cilantro. So closely watch their behavior when you first introduce cilantro. Some of the signs include itching and rashes. These are a few reasons you need a vet’s intake before giving cilantro or any other foodstuff to the guinea pig’s diet.                    

3: Leads to Difficulty in Digestion 

When you overfeed the guinea pig with cilantro, it runs the danger of getting bloated or having stomach upsets. Remember that your guinea pig has a sensitive digestive system; even cilantro can upset it.

4: Results in Diarrhea 

With digestion issues, you can expect the guinea pig to encounter diarrhea too, as cilantro is rich in water content. You should immediately stop if there is any trace of loose stool or diarrhea after introducing cilantro. At times diarrhea can be severe and may result in dehydration. 

How to Feed Cilantro to Guinea Pigs?

Choose the Fresh Leaves 

The preparation method needs to be executed properly. But first, you must get fresh cilantro leaves from the market, and Overstayed cilantro has no nourishing value for your guinea pig.

Wash Properly 

Next, thoroughly wash the leaves to eliminate the pesticide sprinkled on them, and washing also removes the dirt from its stem and leaves. Finally, sprinkle bits of water on the herb to keep your pig hydrated while they eat it.

Chop Them Into Small Pieces 

The next step involves chopping the plant into small parts and feeding the guinea pig by hand or in a bowl. Also, you can spice it up by putting in carrots and cucumber.

Feed Them In Small Amount Initially 

If the guinea pig has never eaten cilantro, introduce one sprig initially to give their body time to adjust to the new food. Be sure to see and remove any uneaten food; otherwise, it could attract flies. Sometimes the pigs take some time to adjust to a new type of food, particularly a strong-smelling herb like cilantro, so if they do not consume it right away, try it for a few more days. It also helps to give the new vegetable separately from their regular vegetables, such as celery, spinach, and asparagus. 

Observe the pig for several hours after they eat the new food. As long as there is no odd behavior, you can slowly increase the quantity of cilantro next time. 

Conclusion

So can guinea pigs eat cilantro? Yes, guinea pigs can eat cilantro, but with a few safeguards. Cilantro is a highly healthy herb for humans and guinea pigs. Small quantities of cilantro are safe to integrate into your guinea pig’s diet daily. 

Ensure they only get a few sprigs of their leaves added to other leafy green vegetables adequate for pigs to eat. Remember that most of their diet should always come from hay. All vegetables should be examined before feeding them to your pet.

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