Can Guinea Pigs Eat Bread?

Guinea pigs have become really adorable pets, they are small, restless, curious, playful, and are always full of energy, all this activity makes their appetite insatiable and they spend a lot of time looking for something to eat. 

For this reason, it is very important to have the correct and accurate information on how to feed them in the most appropriate way. Next, we will talk a little about bread and the convenience or not of supplying them with this type of food in their daily diet.

What is bread?

Bread is a traditional food that has been part of the food culture of humanity for thousands of years. Its consumption has spread throughout the world and today it represents one of the main sources of carbohydrates in many cultures.

This food is prepared based on wheat flour, yeast, water and salt for its most basic and traditional form, however, hundreds of additional ingredients are currently used to provide it with a wide variety of flavors, smells and textures. Among them we can highlight, butter, oil, honey, milk, sesame, pepper, cardamom, star anise, bacon, rosemary, sage, parsley, and sesame, among many others.

What are the nutritional properties of the bread?

In essence, bread is an indisputable energy source, since it is basically made up of slow-absorbing, complex-chain carbohydrates. In addition to this, it has small amounts of plant-based proteins, B vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.

An important aspect to note is that to the extent that various ingredients are added to the bread making, its nutritional components will also change, for example, in the case of wholemeal bread, its nutritional contribution of fiber is quite significant. On the other hand, if the dough is made with milk, its protein and calcium content will increase considerably.

Guinea pig feeding

The Answer
In cold seasons, guinea pigs can eat from 20 to 30 grams of bread, and in warm seasons – already from 10 to 20.

The diet of the guinea pigs should be based mainly on fresh and good quality hay or grass, in addition to this, it is important that they consume some fruits and vegetables to satisfy all their nutritional requirements and thereby maintain their overall health.

Can guinea pigs eat bread?

Answer:
As we already mentioned,  guinea pigs feed mainly on hay, grass, fruits, and vegetables. These products guarantee adequate nutrition that will give them the opportunity to grow and develop optimally.
 
In this sense, we can affirm that guinea pigs should not eat bread, since although it is true that this product is not poisonous for them, it is not the most appropriate to meet their nutritional needs.

A little bread will not hurt them, but it is not the best for them, since in larger quantities, it could cause some disorders in their digestive system, such as diarrhea, bloating, and general discomfort, among others. In addition to this, due to its low nutritional value and its high level of carbohydrates, bread tends to fatten guinea pigs and does not nourish them in the most adequate way.