Important feeding info on bananas!

[stumo32]

Hello, I'm a parent to 3 kids. Their mother bought 4 guinea pigs roughly 7 months back.
We have all the info on what to feed them and what not to feed.
Bananas are on the list of what to feed them, what a list and Internet search does not show is that over ripe bananas are a choke hazard to guinea pigs.
I only found this out by searching a specific sentence in Google after one of the guinea pigs died choking right infront of them bless them
On many other searches nothing is mentioned about choking. Yes we knew not to feed too much over ripe fruit as it can cause bloat.
This choking info was hard to find though unless I typed "can guinea pigs react to an over ripe banana"
Only then did I see this info.
Hopefully writing this it can save some other little guinea pigs around the world. We are now 1 down poor little thing.
RIP Oreo, loved by Mason, Lily and Ryan x

 

[Truffolo]

Thank you for sharing this. Very sad to hear that your guinea pig has passed. I will certainly be taking bananas off the menu.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I'm a parent to 3 kids. Their mother bought 4 guinea pigs roughly 7 months back.
We have all the info on what to feed them and what not to feed.
Bananas are on the list of what to feed them, what a list and Internet search does not show is that over ripe bananas are a choke hazard to guinea pigs.
I only found this out by searching a specific sentence in Google after one of the guinea pigs died choking right infront of them bless them
On many other searches nothing is mentioned about choking. Yes we knew not to feed too much over ripe fruit as it can cause bloat.
This choking info was hard to find though unless I typed "can guinea pigs react to an over ripe banana"
Only then did I see this info.
Hopefully writing this it can save some other little guinea pigs around the world. We are now 1 down poor little thing.
RIP Oreo, loved by Mason, Lily and Ryan x

Hi and welcome

BIG HUGS

I am ever so sorry for your losses and your bad experience.

Personally, I don't feed banana or much in the way of fruit since it is not part of their natural diet unless mixing a very little pureed banana into recovery formula for a piggy totally off their food.
Fruit in larger amounts and on a daily basis is too sugary for them; even more so overripe fruit.

Unfortunately, there is a huge difference between 'edible' and 'suitable to feed regularly and in large quantities'.
That is the reason why our very detailed food guide is featuring a sample menu which is fruit-free and why we strongly recommend to feed fruit sparingly and a little as an occasional treat in our comprehensive guide.

Because of that, we haven't come across any cases of choking on banana in the nearly 20 years of our forum existence.

But that is of course no consolation for you. I have however parsed in a link to this thread here as a first-hand experience warning if that will help your pain and prevent the risk of further deaths.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[stumo32]

Thank you for the response. I will definitely delete fruit from the menu I think. It was a horrible experience as all the kids witnessed this happen also, all are devastated. I too feel the guilt as I could not get sense out of them for actually what had happened, kind of think I could of helped her maybe get out the wedged in food but it's all ifs and buts I suppose.
Thank you for the advice and kind words.
Stu

 

[weepweeps]

I’m so sorry for your loss and that your children witnessed it. How awful for them.

Maybe there will be something in this guide to help them. I love the video of the guinea pigs over the rainbow bridge.

Human Bereavement - Grieving, coping tips and support links for guinea pig owners and their children

Popcorn high over the rainbow bridge Oreo.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

I'm so sorry, what an awful thing to happen.
Little Oreo is now at peace over bridge

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the response. I will definitely delete fruit from the menu I think. It was a horrible experience as all the kids witnessed this happen also, all are devastated. I too feel the guilt as I could not get sense out of them for actually what had happened, kind of think I could of helped her maybe get out the wedged in food but it's all ifs and buts I suppose.
Thank you for the advice and kind words.
Stu

Please have a read through out diet guide. You may find it very helpful.
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Your children may find this little animated Rainbow Bridge song soothing and uplifting after their traumatic experience. It actually works for all ages, from toddlers to great-grans:
Rainbow bridge video I made, I hope it can bring some comfort to others

We also have a collection of practical tips and resources for parents on how best to deal with a loss and support their children at different ages and in different ways (religious and non-religious); from filmed discussions to lists of helpful advice. As a parent, you know best what each of your children responds best to so we have tried to offer as much of a range as possible.
Pet Death: How To Tell The Children? (Tips and Resources)