Guinea pigs are unable to eat bird seed.
Since they’re prone to chewing, they’re made to gulp it down all at once. In severe cases, they may even vomit, resulting in a large mess.
So, can guinea pigs eat bird seed? Guinea pigs love to eat bird seed.
However, feeding them bird seed is not a good idea. Bird seed is very high in fat and can cause health problems in guinea pigs.
Furthermore, bird seed contains seeds that can harm your guinea pig’s health as well. Finally, if birds eat seed that’s meant for guinea pigs, they can develop intestinal worms that can be passed to guinea pigs.
For these reasons, feeding your guinea pig bird seed is not a good idea.
What Exactly Are Bird Seeds?
Contents
Bird seeds are a type of small edible seed found in many different kinds of birds and animals.
Grass, legumes, and other plant seeds are all examples of common types of seeds found in birds and animals.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Bird Seed?
No, guinea pigs should not eat any type of grain or bean product (including ground-up beans), including: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Oats?
While they may consume bird seed if they wish to, it is a very bad idea to do so and can result in death if not treated immediately.
These products may lead to stomach blockage and may be fatal to your guinea pig if not treated right away.
Why is Bird Seed Bad for Guinea Pigs?
Bird Seed Can Attract Pests
If you live in an area where pests like rodents are common, you should consider not feeding your guinea pig any food with corn or grains in it because these attract mice and other pests that may threaten the health of your guinea pig or other pets in your house.
This clearly poses major risks for the well-being of your pet because mice can carry many diseases and parasites that can affect your pet or even yourself if allowed to stay in your house for a long period of time.
Bird Seed Can Cause Intestinal Blockages
Because it has a lot of fat, bird seed can cause intestinal blockages in guinea pigs.
This may be a major health risk for your pet because blockages can block the intestine and prevent the normal passage of food through the intestines to the stomach and bowels.
Bird Seed Is Low in Nutrients
Even though bird seed has some nutrients like protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, it isn’t as healthy as hay or pellets, which are better choices for feeding birds.
In guinea pigs, low nutrient content can lead to malnutrition and obesity, which can cause various health problems for your pets, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney problems, and heart conditions.
Bird Seed Contains a Lot of Calories and Fat
Guinea pigs are prone to obesity, so it’s important to make sure that your pet doesn’t get too many calories from its diet.
Unfortunately, bird seed has lots of calories and fat, which can increase your guinea pig’s weight very quickly and cause severe health problems.
A cup of bird seed, for example, contains around 600 calories, which is way above what your pet needs in a day.
What Happens If My Guinea Pig Eats Bird Seed?
It is unlikely that your guinea pig will eat too much bird seed at a time because it prefers to eat other food items with higher nutritional value, such as hay, grass, and other veggies.
Keep an eye on your pet, though, in case it eats some bird seed by accident. If it eats enough of it to cause an obstruction in its digestive tract, it will need medical help right away or it will die.
If your guinea pig vomits after eating any food with corn or grains in it, you should immediately take your pet to the vet to check for possible obstructions in the digestive system.
Guinea pigs are prone to respiratory infections, so keep a check on their sneezing, coughing, and breathing as it may indicate a possible respiratory infection caused by inhaling particles of food during vomiting.
If you are worried about your guinea pig eating too much corn or grain-based foods, talk to your vet about the types of foods that are suitable for your guinea pig’s diet so you can avoid feeding it these foods in the future.
Can Guinea Pigs Be Allergic to Bird Seed?
Bird seed may sometimes cause allergic reactions in guinea pigs if it contains additives like preservatives and other chemicals that can cause reactions in some pets.
Corn is the most probable element that will cause allergic reactions in your guinea pig. So, you may want to talk to your vet about providing different alternatives as treats for your pet.
Wheat, oats, and barley are some of the other common ingredients that may cause allergic reactions in guinea pigs. So, you should avoid using these ingredients in the food you feed your pet.
Consult your physician if your guinea pig has trouble breathing or if it looks sick after consuming any foods that might cause an allergic reaction.
Also Read: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pecans?
Conclusion
Bird seed is not a good food choice for your guinea pig because it has many calories and may cause digestive problems.
If your guinea pig eats too much bird seed, it could get fat, not get enough nutrition, or get a blockage in its intestines.
If your guinea pig ate bird seed, contact your veterinarian right away to find out if it is safe to feed it any other food or if it needs to receive immediate medical attention.
You shouldn’t be concerned about your guinea pig not getting enough to eat; it is smart enough to choose nutritious foods over junk foods.
