GuineaDad Food Blog: Can guinea pigs eat apples?

(Updated 2023.07.26)

Can guinea pigs eat apples? The easy answer is yes!
Guinea pigs can eat apples, but as with all fruits and vegetables, in moderation! It’s important to know all the information you can get in order to determine whether or not any one food is good for your piggy or not.

Watch this short YouTube reel for a quick summary: 

We've also got a Fruit Master List that lists common fruits that your piggy can and can't eat!

What vitamins and other nutrients do apples contain?

Vitamin C

This vitamin helps with maintaining their immune system and is necessary for growth and development of body tissues! It’s also involved in many other bodily functions, such as the absorption of iron, the maintenance of things like cartilage, bones, and teeth. There is 4.6 mg in a 100 g portion.

B-Complex

Helps with regulating their nervous system. It also helps with breaking down carbohydrates and transporting nutrients through the body. 

Fiber

Helps maintain and regulate the digestive system, as well as helps guinea pigs not overeat, which they have a tendency to do! There is 2.4 g in a 100 g portion.

What other benefits do apples provide for your guinea pig?

Apples contain vitamins like iron, magnesium, potassium and others in quantities that aren’t quite significant enough to talk abt individually, but they still contribute to your guinea pig’s overall need! Things like iron are important for maintaining healthy blood, and magnesium has a plethora of benefits in the body, like supporting healthy sugar levels and anti-inflammatory properties. 

What are the downsides about apples for guinea pigs?

In general, something that you should always treat with caution is your guinea pig’s sugar intake! This means the amount of fruit they are consuming needs to be monitored, as fruits usually have high sugar contents. Apples are no different, and need to be served to your piggy’s in moderation.

Another thing to be cautious of is to carefully examine the pieces of apple that you’re feeding them—this is to ensure that you don’t accidentally give them the seeds! Many fruit seeds, including apple seeds, contain cyanide, which can make your piggy sick, or even kill them if they have more than one accidentally. Apples are also on the more acidic side, which is not good for the guinea pig’s overall health.

Guinea pigs can eat apples, but do they like it?

Now that we've covered that guinea pigs can eat apples, a natural follow-up question should be do guinea pigs like apples?

Are you ready for the answer?
Yes! It’s a well-known fact that our piggies love sweet things, and apples are certainly included. Obviously, all animals are different and some will have different tastes, but most animals will love these crunchy, sweet treats.

Are apple skins okay to give guinea pigs?

Can guinea pigs have apples? Yes! Can guinea pigs eat apple skins? Also yes! 
Apple skins have many health benefits for humans and guinea pigs alike, including fiber and quercetin. We know that fiber helps promote gut and digestive health, but did you know that quercetin is linked to many cognitive benefits like increasing focus and staving off Alzheimer's and dementia?

Just make sure that all apple skins are very thoroughly washed before feeding them to your guinea pigs, as the detrimental effects of residue from pesticides could outweigh any of those positive cognitive effects from the quercetin!

How should you go about feeding your guinea pig apples?

Because we want to limit the amount of apples, and fruit in general, that our guinea pigs eat, we do want to be cautious about how much we’re giving them! How much apple should you give guinea pigs?

Feeding your piggies two, one-inch slices of an average sized apple (which is between 150-200 g) should be enough! They should also only be given apples once or twice a week as a treat. Guinea pigs should only be eating raw fruits and vegetables, so yes, guinea pigs can eat raw apple, and they can eat the skin—just make sure to wash it properly beforehand.

Overall, it is OK to feed your guinea pigs apples!

As much as we would love to feed our guinea pigs as many fruits and vegetables as they want, it’s important that we keep a close eye on their diets and the amounts of anything that we give them! Monitoring their diet to this level is the key to keeping them happy and healthy.

What else can guinea pigs eat?

Check out our Fruit Master List for quick facts on common fruits that your guinea pig can and can't eat.

If you want to treat your guinea pigs to a tasty and nutritious snack, try out our Pea Flake Treats! They're a good source of various vitamins such as A, K, C, and other minerals. Once guinea pigs get a taste of this hearty treat, they'll wheek for more. Shop here: