Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula?

Can guinea pigs eat arugula?

Absolutely! Guinea pigs can eat arugula. Loaded with useful nutrients and vitamins, arugula makes a healthy and nutritious treat for guinea pigs as far as it is being offered in moderation. But before you go ahead and start feeding arugula to your guinea pig, you should know that there are some potential health risks involved as well. But fret not, we are going to cover everything there is to know about adding this delicious treat to your guinea pig diet.

Guinea Pig Diet

Guinea pigs are natural herbivores. In the wild, they used to go about their day by grazing on grass, herbs, and whatever plant-based food they could find out there. But in captivity, the duty of feeding guinea pigs and making sure all their nutrient needs are met is placed on the shoulders of their loving parents. In captivity, the bulk guinea pig diet consists of timothy hay and guinea pig pellets. In addition to this, guinea pigs should also be given daily doses of vitamin C through either vitamin C supplement pills or vitamin c drops for guinea pigs.

More so, to make our guinea pigs diet a bit interesting, loving owners are also advised to offer fresh and raw vegetables and fruits to their little furry friends. As we are on the topic of fruits and vegetables for guinea pigs, it is pertinent that we discuss can guinea pigs eat arugula, especially if you love this unique, zesty-flavored leafy green veggie.

Arugula and Guinea Pigs

Also known as rocket or rucola in the leafy green veggies world, arugula is one of the most popular salad greens. The unique texture and taste of arugula are used in a variety of cuisine across America. Arugula leaves not only add a whole lot of interest to the plain salads but also throw in a powerful nutritional punch.

If you happen to have this zesty veggie sitting on your kitchen table, probably you have wondered if it would be okay to share the peppery taste of arugula with your little friend. Can guinea pigs eat arugula? What about baby arugula? Can guinea pigs eat baby arugula? Is arugula safe for guinea pigs? If yes, then how much arugula can guinea pigs eat, and how often? Can guinea pigs eat arugula leaves? Can guinea pigs eat arugula stalks? Can guinea pigs eat arugula flowers? Can guinea pigs eat cooked arugula?

If you have been overwhelmed by these questions, then you should continue reading as we are going to address all your concerns regarding “can guinea pigs eat arugula?”

Can Guinea Pigs Have Arugula?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat arugula as it is loaded with useful vitamins and minerals for guinea pigs. That said, you cannot throw a whole bundle of arugula to your guinea pigs. Like other fruits and vegetables that are healthy for guinea pigs, arugula is healthy for guinea pigs as long as it is being offered occasionally in small amounts as a treat. Keep on reading as we are going to dig further into the details of arugula for guinea pigs.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Baby Arugula?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat baby arugula. Baby arugula is simply arugula that is harvested at a young. Where mature arugula is spicier and has a strong peppery taste, baby arugula is milder in taste. They have delicate leaves. So, I guess, our guinea pigs would appreciate baby arugula a little more than mature arugula. In fact, the strong taste of mature arugula can sometimes make guinea pigs not want it. That said, our little furry friends would surely go crazy to nibble on the delicate leaves of baby arugula.

We assume it goes without saying that as with mature arugula and other veggies and fruits, baby arugula should also be offered to guinea pigs in small amounts, and that too occasionally.

Is Arugula Safe for Guinea Pigs?

Absolutely! There is nothing inherently in arugula that would be inherently toxic to guinea pigs. So, as long as we are feeding arugula to guinea pigs in moderate amounts, it will be safe and healthy for them. Having said that, eating arugula in excess might cause gastrointestinal problems, blood issues, and a risk of kidney stones in our cute little friends. Therefore, we must never forget that Moderation is the key!

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula Flower?

Yes, guinea pigs can eat arugula flowers as well. But again once in a while in small amounts. Arugula flowers contain a high amount of calcium and some enzymes that could be considered a potential health risk for guinea pigs if eaten in excess.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula Stalks?

Yes, guinea pigs can have arugula stalks as well. In fact, guinea pigs can eat whole arugula—baby arugula, flowers, and stalks—but only in moderate amounts. So you can go ahead and serve arugula leaves to your guinea pig without cutting the stalks.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cooked Arugula?

Sorry, but we have to say NO here. Guinea pigs cannot have cooked arugula. In fact, guinea pigs cannot have any cooked food. Guinea pigs’ digestive systems are not designed to deal with processed food. Eating any cooked food would make our guinea pigs bloat and suffer from severe diarrhea. So, it is for the best that we avoid cooked foods altogether and stick only to fresh and raw veggies and fruits when treating our guinea pigs.

Do Guinea Pigs Like Arugula?

Arugula—mature arugula—can have a strong zesty taste. So, you can expect your guinea pig not to go crazy for arugula. However, the milder taste of baby arugula and its delicate leaves would surely make you guinea lap up for a bite.

To find out if your guinea pig likes arugula or not, you can try to offer them a small piece of it and see how they respond.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula Every Day?

Knowing that arugula is a safe and healthy snack for guinea pigs to eat, you must be wondering if you can feed arugula to guinea pigs every day. Well, no, you cannot make arugula an integral part of your guinea pig diet. The Guinea pig routine diet must consist of timothy hay and guinea pig pellets. Fruits and veggies should only be offered occasionally in small amounts as a treat.

How Often Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula?

Despite the litany of nutritional benefits that arugula has to offer, it is best that we only offer it to guinea pigs once or twice a week. Anything more than that would be counterproductive for our little cavies. Overfeeding arugula can make our guinea pigs bloat and suffer from severe diarrhea.

How Much Arugula Can Guinea Pigs Eat?

You should offer arugula to your guinea pig in small amounts—a small leaf at a time would be the perfect sizing. Arugula is loaded with calcium and given that massive calcium intake would be terrible for guinea pigs, it is best that we offer them arugula in small amounts. This way we can make sure that a limited amount of calcium is going into our guineas’ tummies.

You can also try adding arugula with other low calcium vegetables such as squash, collard greens, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, store-bought mushrooms, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. our guess is your little furry friend would really appreciate this interesting blend of fresh green veggies.

Arugula Nutrient Profile

According to the US Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of raw arugula contain the following amounts of respective nutrients.

Health Benefits of Arugula for Guinea Pigs

The above nutrient profile of arugula tells us that it has to offer loads of nutritional benefits to our little furry friends.

Fibers Help in Digestion

The fact that arugula has a good amount of fibers, helps them in digestion. The dietary fibers present in arugula help work up our guineas’ stomachs and digestion. It smoothens the bowel movement.

Antioxidants Help Fight Free Radical Damage

Arugula is loaded with antioxidants like vitamin A and beta carotene, which help our piglets fight the free radical damage. Thereby, reducing the risk of cancer in our little piggies. More so, these antioxidants also help our guinea pigs with inflammation and improve the health of their kidneys, heart, lungs, and vision.

Iron Helps With the Transportation of Oxygen in the Blood

Arugula provides a considerable amount of iron to our guinea pigs. Iron is essential for the proper oxygenation of the blood in humans, according to the WebMD. It is said specifically about humans, but in this case, guinea pigs are no different from humans.

Vitamin C Helps Prevent Scurvy

Our guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C but they need a certain amount of it to stay healthy and properly function. That said, guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C just like humans, and therefore, require an external source of it. Otherwise, in case of deficiency of vitamin C, our piglets develop a condition known as scurvy. So, eating arugula may help your pet ward off scurvy as it contains a good amount of vitamin C—15 mg per 100 g. According to the VCA hospital, guinea pigs need around 10 to 50 mg of vitamin C per day.

Vitamin K Helps in Blood Clotting

Arugula contains a decent amount of vitamin K, which helps our piglets heal their wounds quickly. Actually, vitamin K is a great coagulant and helps clot the blood in the wounded area and fast-pace the healing process.

Final verdict: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Arugula?

Absolutely! Guinea pigs can eat arugula. Arugula is loaded with useful nutrients and minerals, which are essential for the proper functioning of guinea pigs. So, arugula can be a great addition to a guinea pig diet, provided you do not overdo it and only offer it to your guinea pigs in small amounts, occasionally as a treat.

Check out other guides to what guinea pigs can or cannot eat: