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Can guinea pigs eat spinach?

wheekingdead

New Born Pup
Joined
Dec 1, 2018
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Colorado US
Help......I have read some places that piggies CAN eat spinach, but then in other places that they CAN NOT eat it. Is it safe or not?
 
They can eat it but it is high in calcium which needs to be kept low in the diet. If you are going to feed spinach only feed a couple of leaves and no more once in a week but also ensure that all other high calcium veg is kept limited at all times. For example, if I feed my pigs some spinach in a week then I won’t feed any kale or parsley at all that week (kale and parsley is also high calcium).
Any high calcium veg should be strictly limited to reduce the risk of bladder problems.
 
We fed it occasionally once every 4 weeks or so when cooking with it and we have a few leaves spare.

Very high in calcium
 
Thank you Piggies&buns and sport_billy
Pleasure, is that your piggy in your avatar? They are beautiful! You know we have a photos section don’t you? Be lovely to see some more photos of them!
 
Pleasure, is that your piggy in your avatar? They are beautiful! You know we have a photos section don’t you? Be lovely to see some more photos of them!
Yes, that is spud. I got him for chirstmas last year. I will make sure to post some more pictures.
 
Hi I heard that spinach is high in oxilates which can cause bladder stones NOT calcium,so not to overfeed it,but then also that kale is high in calcium so this should be fed less,but then I heard that I should feed MORE calcium rich foods because the calcium binds with the oxilates and helps get rid of them instead of forming stones?
My pigs love spinach AND kale😳😫🤔
 
I think that oxalates are the way that plants bind excess calcium, so plants that are high in oxalates often contain a lot of calcium. Kidney stones are often calcium oxalate. Kale and spinach are both high calcium so should be fed very sparingly, once or twice a week in small amounts, to help avoid kidney problems and bladder stones.
 
Cucumber, romaine lettuce, celery, and cilantro are in their daily menu for my boy Finn and Lara. All other veggies, herbs and fruits are given in rotation for variety sake and because they can’t be given daily.
 
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