Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pistachios? Facts About Nuts in Their Diet

Pistachios have a lot of nutrients and are a perfect snack for humans when we feel a little hungry. You will often find a lot of seeds and nuts in rodent mixes, so it’s no surprise you might wonder if they can eat pistachios, too.

Here’s what you need to know.

Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pistachios?

Guinea Pigs can eat tiny amounts of pistachios. Even though pistachios are not poisonous or toxic, there are still health risks if you feed your guinea pig these nuts. Pistachios are not really in guinea pigs’ natural diet, and there are tons of better food options for your little cavy friend. 

We will give you better options in the end.

If you still really want to implement nuts in your guinea pig diet, make sure they are raw and not salted and roasted – like the ones you often find at the local market. A cup of roasted pistachios has way too much sodium for a guinea pig.

Risks of Feeding Pistachios to Guinea Pigs

To fully understand the health risks of pistachios, we need to see what type of nutrients pistachios contain.

These are multiple health problems a guinea pig might face from eating large quantities of pistachios. 

These are the three common ones:

Obesity

Nuts like pistachios contain massive amounts of fat and carbs, giving them way more energy than they need – this makes them fat in the long run. The combination of carbs and fat makes pistachios even worse for their tiny body.

Digestion Problems

Even though nuts are not toxic to the body, pistachios can be challenging for their digestive system. This is because their stomachs are sensitive and thrive on a low-carb, high-fiber diet. In addition, high-fat concentrations are not very common in their everyday diet, so digestion problems may occur.

Urinary Stones

Nuts, in general, are often high in calcium, and pistachios are one of them. If they digest foods too high in calcium, their kidneys can’t eliminate the excess build-up. If this process continues, there is a chance for your guinea pig to develop urinary stones.

These painful small stones will cause a lot of trouble for your little guinea pig buddy. Stones stuck in the urinary tract will cause blood in the urine and general pain while they move around and pee.

Left untreated, it might lead to kidney failure and excessive blood loss.

Are There Some Benefits of Giving Pistachios to Your Guinea Pig?

In general, pistachio is a nutrient-rich source that also gives a lot of energy compared to its weight. It has some Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Iron but is mostly known for being high in calcium and magnesium.

Unless you find a starving guinea pig, there is really no reason to feed it pistachios.

Here’s What Should You Feed Your Guinea Pig Instead

Instead of seeds and nuts like pistachios, guinea pigs love pellets as a treat. Pellets are also a better option for your guinea pig regarding their health.

With the most basic diet, a guinea pig will live a happy and joyful life with tons of energy, and they need no fancy nuts. However, a diet with unlimited Timothy hay or other low-calcium hay is the ideal diet. 

Of course, you can supplement with natural greens and vegetables like lettuce, kale, carrot tops, celery, and broccoli. The pellets should have high fiber and preferably be based mainly on Timothy-hay.

Conclusion About Guinea Pigs and Pistachios

We know now that Guinea Pigs are better off without pistachios in their diet. 

Even though pistachios are not toxic and can digest minimal amounts, there are way better and more affordable options. Try looking for Timothy-hay-based pellets as a little treat now and then instead.