Can Guinea Pigs Eat Kale?
Guinea pigs can eat kale, and is one of the fresh green leafy vegetables that is often a favorite with guinea pigs. But should they be eating a lot of this vegetable, or should we be careful about how much we feed them? And what nutrition does kale offer our small pets? Let’s take a look more closely at this vegetable.
How much vitamin C is in kale?
Kale is packed with vitamin C and is in fact higher in this vitamin than most other vegetables with about the same amount per 100g as a kiwi fruit and twice as much as an orange. This nutrient is vital for guinea pigs as they can’t make vitamin C but need to take it in their food.
You needn’t give vitamin C supplements to your guinea pigs as it’s much better for them to get this in their food. This is why it’s so important to feed them foods like kale which is rich in this vitamin.
How much fiber is in kale?
Fiber is another important element in a guinea pig’s diet and kale is abundant in fiber. It is actually one of the most fibrous vegetables they can eat.
Fiber is necessary to move the food through your guinea pig’s intestines keeping their digestive system in good order.
Is kale high in sugar?
All vegetables contain a certain amount of sugar but this is something that we need to keep to a minimum as too much sugar can cause diarrhea and other health problems. Luckily, kale is very low in sugar with nearly a fifth of the amount carrot contains. You may also be interested to know that sweet red peppers contain 4 times as much sugar as kale.
How much calcium is in kale?
Kale is extremely high in calcium which is an essential mineral for guinea pigs and will help keep their bones strong and their teeth healthy.
There is concern with the connection between calcium and bladder stones. However, providing you give your guinea pig a good balanced diet and don’t over indulge them on a select few vegetables they should get a good healthy range of vitamins and minerals.
How often and how much kale can guinea pigs eat?
Overall, kale is a great food for your guinea pigs to eat on a regular basis so it’s safe to feed them this vegetable a few times a week. But don’t feed kale exclusively and make sure you mix it in with other vegetables such as sweet bell pepper, Romaine lettuce, cilantro, parsley, carrot, tomato, celery, and cucumber.
For more ideas on what fresh foods you can feed your guinea pigs, check out our safe fruit and vegetable sheets. This is a digital download which you can purchase online and print at home and are available to buy here on Etsy.
Nutritional information for kale
Below is the nutritional value per 100g of kale
- Vitamin C: 93.4 mg
- Calcium: 254 mg
- Phosphorous: 55 mg
- Fiber: 4.1 g
- Sugar: 1 g