It’s better for your guinea pigs to not eat applesauce. Although these animals love apples, your guinea pig shouldn’t eat apple sauce because it is cooked. The best kind of food for guinea pigs is raw food. Besides, it contains a very high level of sugar and cavies cannot handle so much sugar. Cavies do better with hay, grasses, fresh veggies, and fruits with low sugar levels.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Peas?“
Is It Healthy To Give Applesauce To Guinea Pigs?
Applesauce is not healthy for your guinea pigs. Cavies and cooked food just don’t go well. Adding that the fact that applesauce contains high amounts of sugar and you have your answer. There are lots of healthier snacks that they could munch on. Grass for example is a lot healthier and more welcome to cavies. The same goes for cinnamon. On no account should you feed your guinea pig cinnamon applesauce!
The safe choice is to remove applesauce from your piggy’s diet completely. If the quantity is little, the sugar content would be low. Then, it’s not so bad for them. In any case, ensure that the applesauce does not have any cinnamon, especially if it is store-bought. You must be careful to keep it as a very occasional treat so that they do not get too much sugar in their system. The healthy way is to ration sugar intake for all their meals.
The safe choice is to remove applesauce from your piggy’s diet completely. If the quantity is little, the sugar content would be low. Then, it’s not so bad for them. In any case, ensure that the applesauce does not have any cinnamon, especially if it is store-bought. You must be careful to keep it as a very occasional treat so that they do not get too much sugar in their system. The healthy way is to ration sugar intake for all their meals.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Radishes?“
How Often Can I Give My Guinea Pig Applesauce?
Guinea pigs need treats occasionally in their diet. So fruits and veggies are recommended. However, applesauce is not a treat to give to your pet. Your pet can’t digest processed food. If you give applesauce to your pet, she could have GI problems. So, never give applesauce to your guinea pig unless it is uncooked! Remember that you can offer them other fruits as treats. Fruits like bananas, tomatoes, and carrots are better alternatives.
if still, for some reason you want your cavy to taste applesauce, give it no more than once a week and each time, just set one-two drops on a plate and serve your pet.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Drink Orange Juice?“
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Unsweetened Applesauce?
If the applesauce were uncooked, the answer would be yes but take note, unsweetened is not the same as sugar-free. Even if it contains no added sweetener, remember that apples have a natural sweetness. That means you shouldn’t give them more than they should have. Portion control plays an essential role in determining if the habit is safe to imbibe.
For baby piggies, you should give them very little on special occasions. Adults can handle the sweetness a little better but you have to be cautious. Don’t give your pet store-bought applesauce. The preservatives, artificial sweeteners, coloring, and sugar are unsafe for your pet to ingest. So, guinea pigs shouldn’t eat sweetened applesauce— it is detrimental to their health and comfort. But most importantly, your pet shouldn’t eat cooked applesauce even if it is unsweetened!
For applesauce with cinnamon, be aware that cinnamon is harmful to guinea pigs because their digestive systems cannot handle it. It upsets their stomach and can make them ill.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Sage?“
Can Guinea Pigs Drink Apple Juice?
Apple juice is as great for your cavies as actual apples. They will enjoy it as well. But you must watch out for seeds while juicing the fruits. Apple seeds contain a chemical called cyanide. Cyanide is very harmful to guinea pigs, so you should prevent it from getting into their meals. Homemade juice is healthier than store-bought juice. The latter contains a lot of unhealthy additives and preservatives.
Besides, the concentration of artificial sugar can also be harmful to their health. This is because guinea pigs cannot process sugar as well and may become diabetic or obese. Either way, their health is in question. The healthiest way is to make plain and fresh apple juice for them. It is a nice change from the boring sips of water. It is also a great way to hydrate any pigs who do not like to drink water.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cherry Tomatoes?“
Related Questions
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Apples?
Cavies eat lots of fruits and veggies for growth and nourishment. One of such fruits happens to be apples. Apples provide enough vitamin C for guinea pigs. Both mature and baby cavies can eat them, although, pups should only have very little. You should never give your pig a whole apple to eat. Cut them in quarters and take out the core, including all the seeds. Apple seeds are harmful to piggies, so do not be careless!
Apple barks make a complete treat for them so you can leave it on. Like other treats, be sure to give them only a little and do it once in a while. If your piggies have never had apples, introduce it slowly and see if they like it. It is okay if they don’t, there are many more options!
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kiwi Skin?“
Can Guinea Pigs Have Cinnamon Applesauce?
The answer here is a capital NO! Cinnamon is harmful to guinea pigs because their digestive systems cannot handle it. It upsets their stomach and can make them ill. Since your pigs cannot speak to you, you may be unable to detect the cause of their illness. It can even cause long-term organ damage and death. This is avoidable so why should you take the risk? The ratio does not matter here. Don’t give it to them at all. Meals or treats with cinnamon are dangerous. It is high on the list of things they should never eat.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Have Applesauce?
No, they can’t. Baby Guinea pigs or pups can be put on the same diets as the older ones once they are three months old. What you would have to watch out for is portion control. Much sugar is unsafe for cavies or pups so you must remain cautious. So, it is safer to leave applesauce out of the meals or special treats.
Further Reading: “Can Guinea Pigs Eat Mandarins?“
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs are tender creatures. Like children, they like several things and will eat them whether they are healthy or not. It is your job as the owner to guide and control their eating habits so that they stay healthy and well. Remember that apples or applesauce are not healthy to your pet as it contains a lot of sugar and other unnatural ingredients as it is usually cooked. If for any reason you want your baby to taste some applesauce do it once a while and only 1-2 drops just as a treat.
Instead, make an apple salad for your pet. You can regulate the sugar by adding some regular lettuce or cucumber to the applesauce. The adverse effects of excess sugar in their bodies will outweigh the excitement they will show when you spoil them. Do not be swayed!
