We all know that guinea pigs are herbivores. They eat vegetables, hay, grasses, and even herbs. They also love fruits. According to the VCA hospital, Timothy hay is a basic diet for guinea pigs. But serving a varied diet with herbs is essential to keep your pet healthy and satisfied. So, what about rosemary? Can guinea pigs eat rosemary?
Yes, guinea pigs can eat rosemary. However, serve your pet this herb in a limited portion. Why? Rosemary contains a lot of calcium, and excess calcium is dangerous to their health. Cavies absorb more calcium from their food than we do. Calcium is essential, but in excess, it could combine with oxalate acid and lead to bladder or kidney stones in a guinea pig. So, you must serve your pet a small quantity of rosemary. Introducing your guinea pig to rosemary too quickly is also not something we should do as it can cause them sick. We should do it in the correct portion and with low frequency at the beginning. Rosemary can be a good source of nutrients, like vitamin C and vitamin A. I recommend a few rosemary leaves each week.
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How Much Rosemary Should Guinea Pigs Eat?
Rosemary has thin green leaves. The leaves resemble a needle. One fresh sprig of rosemary contains 3.5mg of calcium. Guinea pigs don’t need a lot of rosemary in their diet. They should eat two to three sprigs per week. Cavies absorb half of the calcium they consume. That is dangerous because bladder stones are formed when calcium binds with oxalic acid in their body.
But note: This doesn’t mean that they don’t need calcium in their body. The PETMD explains that lack of calcium in their diet to lead to a condition called hypocalcemia. And when cavies have a calcium deficiency or hypocalcemia, they exhibit symptoms such as muscle spasms, dehydration, convulsion, or depression. Therefore, it is imperative to introduce a calcium-based diet like rosemary to your pet’s diet. Guinea pigs should eat two to three sprigs of rosemary twice a week but not more.
guinea pigs can eat rosemary. However, serve your pet this herb in a limited portion. Why? Rosemary contains a lot of calcium, and excess calcium is dangerous to their health. Cavies absorb more calcium from their food than we do. Calcium is essential, but in excess, it could combine with oxalate acid and lead to bladder or kidney stones in a guinea pig. So, you must serve your pet a small quantity of rosemary. Introducing your guinea pig to rosemary too quickly is also not something we should do as it can cause them sick. We should do it in the correct portion and with low frequency at the beginning. Rosemary can be a good source of nutrients, like vitamin C and vitamin A. I recommend a few rosemary leaves each week.
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Rosemary Benefits For Guinea Pigs
Most people know rosemary as a spice or skincare ingredient. But do you know the nutritional benefits of rosemary when ingested, especially for guinea pigs? Let’s see what this herb offers.
If you have a pet suffering from scurvy or needs more vitamin C in her diet, you can serve her some rosemary twice a week. Rosemary contains vitamin C, and it also has vitamin A. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and can improve your pet’s immune system.
Guinea pigs can’t synthesize their own vitamin-C so they need to have vitamin-C from external sources such as fruits and vegetables. Guinea pigs need around 90mg of vitamin-C every day! in 100g of fresh rosemary there is ~22mg of vitamin-C (1 teaspoon contains 1.12g rosemary, I guess 1-2 leaves contains 50g…), so make sure you fill the gap with other vitamin-C sources. It can be kale, spinach, turnip greens, parsley, romaine lettuce, and dandelion greens. You can also use in addition, commercial pellets for guinea pigs to give them all the vitamins they need.
If at all you prefer to serve other foods with vitamin C or A, you need rosemary to provide thiamine for your pet. This nutrient is essential in ensuring the proper functioning of the brain and muscles. Because the herb contains Niacin, you can use rosemary to protect your pet from having heart diseases. Also, plants containing niacin help relieve pains for pets suffering from arthritis.
Cavies need energy. So, herbs containing riboflavin like rosemary is excellent to help them convert food into energy. And lastly, rosemary contains vitamin B6 which is an excellent supplement to improve your pet’s mood and prevent depression.
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Rosemary Nutrition & Benefits List
| Vitamin/Mineral | Amount in 100g | Benefit/Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin-C | 21.8mg | Guinea Pig Must have ~90g daily of Vitamin-C. 1-2 leaves of fresh rosemary are ~50g. |
| Vitamin-A | 146mcg | Antioxidant which will help our guinea pigs immune system |
| Niacin/B3 | 0.91mg | Prevent heart disease. It may also improve levels of a certain type of fat called triglycerides in the blood. |
| Vitamin-B6 | 1.74mg | Helps the central nervous system and metabolism. Its roles include turning food into energy and helping to create neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. |
Guinea pigs can’t synthesize their own vitamin-C so they need to have vitamin-C from external sources such as fruits and vegetables. Guinea pigs need around 90mg of vitamin-C every day! in 100g of fresh rosemary there is ~22mg of vitamin-C (1 teaspoon contains 1.12g rosemary, I guess 1 leaf contains 50g…), so make sure you fill the gap with other vitamin-C sources. It can be kale, spinach, turnip greens, parsley, romaine lettuce, and dandelion greens. You can also use in addition, commercial pellets for guinea pigs to give them all the vitamins they need.
How To Serve Rosemary For My Guinea Pig?
It isn’t enough to pluck some sprigs of rosemary and toss them to your pet. So before you serve her rosemary, wash the herb. The purpose of this is to eliminate all traces of pesticide that may remain in it. So, unless you grow your own rosemary, it’s safer to assume that it was sprayed with pesticides.
Make sure that the sprigs plucked or bought are fresh. Never serve rotten sprigs to your cavy. You don’t have to chop or cut the fresh herbs because cavies can safely chew the leaves themselves. Don’t serve the leaves with the stems unless they are tender. You can also combine the herb with other vegetables like cucumber or carrot.
Introduce rosemary into your pet’s diet slowly. Why? When cavies are new to a diet and a serve in large proportions, they may have GI problems because they are not used to the diet. So, serve one sprig of rosemary to your pet once a week until you’re certain she has adjusted to the new diet. Then, your guinea pig can eat rosemary twice a week.
Related Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Get Worms?“
Introduce rosemary into your pet’s diet slowly. Why? When cavies are new to a diet and a serve in large proportions, they may have GI problems because they are not used to the diet. So, serve one sprig of rosemary to your pet once a week until you’re certain she has adjusted to the new diet. Then, your guinea pig can eat rosemary twice a week.
Rosemary Risks For Guinea Pigs
Ordinarily, rosemary is nutritional and medicinal, especially for humans. But if guinea pigs eat rosemary excessively, they become prone to certain health risks. This herb has high calcium. For daily consumption, cavies need a low-calcium calcium diet. Cavies absorb up to 50 percent of the calcium they consume.
And when calcium combines with oxalate, they could have bladder stones, sometimes, kidney stones. So, if you allow your guinea pig to eat rosemary more than twice a week, your pet is prone to health risks. When cavies are fed a high-calcium diet, some of the signs they exhibit are lethargy, diarrhea, stomach upset, or bloating. It’s crucial to control the quantity of rosemary served to your pet to retain a balance of nutrients and diet.
Related Article: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cucumber Skin?“
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Rosemary Stems?
Yes, Guinea pigs can eat rosemary stem. Even the stem of this herbal plant has medicinal properties and antioxidants. However, sometimes, they are woody and may be difficult for cavies to chew. So, serve the stems for your pet to eat only when you confirm that they are tender. Young stems are always more tender than the old ones. So, cut long stems into pieces before serving your pet.
if you allow your guinea pig to eat rosemary more than twice a week, your pet is prone to health risks. When cavies are fed a high-calcium diet, some of the signs they exhibit are lethargy, diarrhea, stomach upset, or bloating. It’s crucial to control the quantity of rosemary served to your pet to retain a balance of nutrients and diet.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eta Banana Peels?“
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs can indeed eat rosemary. They derive Vitamin C, A, B6, Thiamin, and riboflavin from it. Keep in mind to feed it to your pet in moderation. Allow your guinea pig to eat rosemary only twice every week, 1-2 leaves, unless, you deprive her of calcium. Doing so could lead to hypocalcemia.
However, I always recommend that if you are unsure whether your pet needs more calcium, seek professional advice from a pet. It is crucial to know the nutritional facts of every food you serve your pet. Ensuring that your pet eats a balanced and regulated diet will make her live a healthy life.
