Guinea pigs are much like humans because they gain many vitamins and nutrients from herbs and plants. Given that guineas are herbivores, this is more than evident. However, it is essential to know which herbs are right for your guinea, as some may contain essential oils that could be harmful to a guinea. Many pet owners have often wondered, can guinea pigs eat sage? If so, how much? What are the benefits?
Yes, sage is safe for guinea pigs to eat. Sage can be incredibly beneficial to guineas in the long run! Sage leaves are high in vitamins, which is crucial given that guineas cannot produce some vitamins independently. However, it is essential to note that sage leaves should not be a steady food supply. Sage leaves contain an essential oil that could lead to long-running health issues if fed too much to a guinea. If your pet guinea enjoys it, however, a few leaves once a day should not hurt.
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Table of Contents
Is It Safe For My Guinea Pig To Eat Sage?
Sage leaves have been around for centuries and are used for many medical purposes and culinary use. Since it has been around this long, it has undergone many changes, such as essential oils. In this case, for a guinea pig, it would not be safe to feed them sage as a steady diet. However, it would be suitable for animals like rabbits and hamsters as these creatures cannot produce these oils on their own. Sage is safe to eat for guinea pigs so long as it is not fed regularly or in large quantities.
Sage is safe to eat for guinea pigs so long as it is not fed regularly or in large quantities.
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Benefits Of Eating Sage
Sage holds many benefits going back centuries. Sage leaves hold many uses for medicinal purposes and culinary use. Most frequently sage has been found as a lawn ornament. However, the benefits of eating sage are great for humans and guinea pigs alike. This is because sage is exceptionally high in nutrients such as iron, vitamin B6, vitamin K, and much more. These nutrients benefit guinea pigs since they cannot create some of the vitamins on their own.
It is said that just a small number of sage leaves will contain around 10% of a human’s vitamin K intake. This number is significant when thinking of sage being eaten by a guinea pig. Sage leaves also contain many antioxidants that could prevent your pet guinea from disease and other health issues. This herb can also be beneficial for guinea pigs’ teeth, as the antimicrobials on the leaves will rid them of dental plaque.
Sage leaves are also used to decrease stomach problems in guinea pigs. It can also be incredibly beneficial in an instance where your guinea pig is having a loss of appetite. Feeding them a few sage leaves could ease their stomachs enough to where they will want to eat. Sage is also beneficial to a guinea’s mental performance and mood.
Here is a summary of the vitamins/minerals in one spoon of sage (0.7g):
| Vitamin/Mineral | Amount in one cup of cherry tomato | Benefits/Risks for guinea pigs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0.1g | Increases your pet strength, lower the blood pressure, and speed-up the metabolism |
| Calcium | 10mg | Notice that normal adult guinea pigs should eat around 8g of calcium per day per kg of pellets. If A Guinea pig eats 1/8 cup of pellet each day, it means ~130mg of calcium each day. |
| B-6 | 0.02mg | May Prevent and Treat Anemia |
| Vitamin-K | 8ug | Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that the body needs for blood clotting, helping wounds to heal. There's also some evidence vitamin K may help keep bones healthy. |
| Magnesium | 4mg | It Has Anti-Inflammatory Benefits. It Reduces Insulin Resistance and will help lower blood pressure. |
Sage also contains small amounts of zinc, copper, and vitamins A, C, and E.
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How Often Can My Guinea Pig Eat Sage?
If you plan to feed your guinea pig sage leaves, the serving size is the most essential to understand. Guinea pigs will typically tend to not like sage after eating it a few times, however, the benefits are too great. To ensure a safe and healthy guinea pig, it is wise to keep their sage intake to only around 1 or 2 times a week, with about 2 or 3 leaves. As herbivores, guineas will certainly enjoy the mixture of these herbs with their regular diet, and if their intake does not exceed the recommended amount, they should be okay.
To ensure a safe and healthy guinea pig, it is wise to keep their sage intake to only around 1 or 2 times a week, with about 2 or 3 leaves.
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Related Questions
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Rosemary?
Rosemary is another herb that is perfectly safe to eat for guinea pigs. However, like sage, it is best to keep this herb to a strict limit in a guineas diet. This herb contains great amounts of calcium that while healthy can also be extremely dangerous if too much of this herb is fed to a guinea. Rosemary contains many good sources of nutrients such as vitamin A and vitamin C. So, this herb needs to be added to your guineas diet at least a couple of times per week. Two or three sprigs a week should be the perfect amount as one fresh spring will contain 3.5mg of calcium. I recommend you read my detailed article about that topic.
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Can Guinea Pigs Eat Thyme?
Guinea pigs can eat thyme the same way as rosemary and sage. Like rosemary, this herb contains high amounts of calcium that could lead to many health issues if fed to a guinea in excess. However, it is best to only feed guineas this herb a few times per week. The nutritional benefits of thyme are incredible, ranging from maintaining a healthy weight and digestion to healthy blood and acting as an antioxidant. This a suitable plant to feed your guinea if rosemary or sage do not pan out, just so long as you stay around the recommended serving size.
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Final Thoughts
Sage is a highly recommended herb to feed your guinea if you are lost on which foods will provide the most nutritional benefits. This herb contains lots of vitamin B6 and vitamin K which are essential to a guinea’s health. It can provide many great benefits such as acting as an antioxidant, increasing mood, easing stomach pain, cleaning teeth, and losing appetite. This herb is just as healthy for guineas as it is for humans.
However, it is highly recommended you stay feeding this herb to your guinea only a few leaves, a couple of times a week. The essential oils often found in sage can lead to extreme health issues in the long run, so it is best to stay around this serving size to ensure optimal results and a healthy guinea. Do not be shy to mix this herb in with your guineas diet!
