Salty, crispy, and deep fried.
What’s not to like about French fries? Everyone loves French fries. They make a perfect snack for humans but what about our little furry friends? Can guinea pigs eat French fries? No! Continue reading to learn why French fries are bad for guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat French Fries?
No, guinea pigs cannot eat French fries.
It seems pretty obvious that French fries won’t make a good snack for guinea pigs, as anything processed is not good for their stomachs and French fries are highly processed.
Continue reading to learn why French fries are bad for guinea pigs. Before moving any further, let’s first take a quick look at the nutrition profile of French fries.
Nutritional Profile of French Fries
Below we have listed important nutrients present in 100g of French fries, according to the USDA Food Central.
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Calories | 196k |
| Protein | 1.93g |
| Fat | 13.1 |
| Carbohydrates | 18.5 |
| Fibers | 1.6g |
| Vitamin C | 9.7mg |
| Sugars | 1.25g |
| Calcium | 9mg |
| Phosphorus | 52mg |
| Magnesium | 23mg |
| Potassium | 401mg |
| Sodium | 141mg |
Looking at the nutrient profile of French fries, you might think that they are probably not too bad for guinea pigs. They seem to have considerable amounts of fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, and some antioxidants. But you should know that the health risks of French fries outweigh the benefits for guinea pigs. Let’s discuss the health risks of French fries for guinea pigs to help you understand why you should never share fries with your guinea pigs.
Why French Fries Are Bad For Guinea Pigs?
Processed foods are a big NO-NO for guinea pigs; they cannot digest them properly and immediately experience stomach upset. As French fries are highly processed, they are not good for guinea pigs. Besides fries contain way too much fat and carbohydrates to be a healthy snack for guinea pigs. Fries are also high in sodium, and potassium, which make them unhealthy for guinea pigs.
Below, we have discussed the health risks of guinea pigs eating French fries.
1. French Fries Are Highly Processed
Guinea pigs are natural herbivores and are designed for fresh hay, grass, herbs, veggies, fruits, etc. They cannot properly digest processed foods. Therefore, eating French fries would lead to improper digestion, abdominal pain, and diarrhea in guinea pigs.
2. French Fries Are High in Fats and carbohydrates
French fries contain loads of fats and carbohydrates, which are not healthy for guinea pigs. A diet high in fats and carbohydrates would lead to rapid weight gain in guinea pigs, making your guinea pig obese. Fat guinea pigs, looking like a ball of fur, might look cute and all; but keep in mind that being overweight is unhealthy, as it leads to many problems like arthritis and heart issues in guinea pigs.
3. French Fries Contain Lots of Salts
While salt is crucial for the proper functioning of a guinea pig, too much salt could be a problem. Eating too much salt would put guinea pigs at risk of dehydration, bladder stones, and sludge. Coupled with excess calcium and phosphorus, high sodium could cause serious urinary problems for guinea pigs. Check out Guinea Pig Pee Color Chart to catch urinary issues in guinea pigs at the earliest by understanding the change in their urine color and consistency.
4. Vegetable Oil Is Bad For Guinea Pigs
One may think that cooking oil comes from vegetables, so it should be alright for guinea pigs to consume. But it is not the case. According to the USDA nutrient profile, vegetable oils are 100% fats (100g of fats per 100g of oil). The oil that your guinea pigs would be ingesting with fries, would not only be all fats but also be processed, making it even worse for your guinea pig. It would lead to immediate stomach upset and rapid weight gain in guinea pigs. In the long run, it would negatively affect the cardiac health of guinea pigs.
5. Seasoning and Flavorings
Eating plain fries is no fun. You have got to dip fries in ketchup or some sauce and throw some masala onto them. While these flavorings and seasonings would make fries even more palatable for humans, they make it worse for guinea pigs.
Final Verdict: Can Guinea Pigs Have French Fries?
No! Guinea pigs cannot eat french fries. French fries are highly processed and guinea pigs cannot properly digest processed food.
Besides being highly processed, french fries contain lots of fats and carbohydrates, increasing the risk of obesity. They are also high in salt, which could make guinea pigs dehydrate or increase the risk of urinary issues. On top of all, seasoning and flavorings would make french fries even worse for guinea pigs.
Check out other guides to what guinea pigs can or cannot eat:
