Parsely? why is it bad for GP?

[Sherrilynn770]

Hi and thanks to all who gave advice on Lyla...but now I am wondering whats wrong w/ giving parsely to piggies? --Have been giving for ages.

Thanks-sherrilynn770

 

[katiepops]

I think the previous comments were specifically about giving parsley to pregnant guinea pigs. It's fine otherwise.

 

[4piggiepigs]

Because it can bring on labour early

 

[katiepops]

Because it can bring on labour early

Thanks, I realised I knew what I meant but everyone else had to learn to mind read!

 

[flintstones]

It's also high in Calcuim so should only be fed as a treat as it can contribute to bladder stones.

 

[Freela]

My pigs love parsley... we give it in small amounts, no more than once every couple of weeks. It's high in calcium, which can contribute to bladder stones, which is why they say not to give it in large amounts all the time.

 

[4piggiepigs]

Thanks, I realised I knew what I meant but everyone else had to learn to mind read!

I did read your mind lol

 

[Piggyologist]

I saw Vedra (The Cambridge Cavy Trust) today. She advised not to give guinea pigs parsley, because of it high Calcium content as someone's already mentioned here. This can cause many problems, including bladder and gut lining inflammation, bladder stones, and even swollen feet.

 

[Wiebke]

Parsley also contains some compounds that are the same as the ones that trigger labour. That is the reason why we do not recommend feeding parsley to pregnant sows.

Coriander/cilantro is a good replacement.

 

[Piggyologist]

And coriander has plenty of vitamin C, which is really good for them. I wish they loved coriander as much as parsley: some days they don't even finish it.

 

[Piggyologist]

It's also high in Calcuim so should only be fed as a treat as it can contribute to bladder stones.

What amount (grammes of parsley for grammes of guinea pig weight) is considered a treat?

We have already excluded spinach and parsley from guinea pig diet, but trying to find out exactly how much and how often we can give them for "desert" 8
Is 5 grammes per 1300 of pig weight once in a couple of days too much?

 

[Sherrilynn770]

Parsely and Spinach

My pigs are tending towards tumors, I wonder if this could be why?...I didn't realise how much calcium is in the Parsely & Spinach, both things my gang eats all the time, I thought it would be a good thing as in humans...

--Thanks I shall cut those out of their regular diet.

-sherrilynn770

 

[Piggyologist]

My pigs are tending towards tumors, I wonder if this could be why?...I didn't realise how much calcium is in the Parsely & Spinach, both things my gang eats all the time, I thought it would be a good thing as in humans...

--Thanks I shall cut those out of their regular diet.

-sherrilynn770

Tumors or fatty lumps?

What water do you give them? It's important to read the label for calcium content. For guinea pig perfect diet it has to be as low as possible, must be less than 4% (less than 40mg/litre). Not speaking about the tap water, which is so full of rubbish I would never risk giving it to my pets

 

[ajb]

Parsley is also a diuretic.

 

[Sherrilynn770]

Thank-You, ---would spring water work? Here in the States, we have flouride and other junk in the tap, I have access to Natural Spring (bottled water) & Distilled, though I have never seen a calcium content on water?

Thanks for anything further! sherrilynn770

 

[flintstones]

What amount (grammes of parsley for grammes of guinea pig weight) is considered a treat?

We have already excluded spinach and parsley from guinea pig diet, but trying to find out exactly how much and how often we can give them for "desert" 8
Is 5 grammes per 1300 of pig weight once in a couple of days too much?

I rarely feed parsley, about once a month. I don't have a weight to give or an amount I tend to avoid high Calcuim foods too some degree.

 

[piggyme234]

Thank-You, ---would spring water work? Here in the States, we have flouride and other junk in the tap, I have access to Natural Spring (bottled water) & Distilled, though I have never seen a calcium content on water?

Thanks for anything further! sherrilynn770

I live in an area that has a lot of calcium naturally in the water. I have a Brita water filter for my pigs to take out the calcium and the flouride etc that is added to tap water. I would worry about giving my girls bottled water as it often has a high mineral content including often calcium.

As for their food I roughly go by these charts. I don't get a calculator out but I try to give even amounts of high and low calcium foods.
http://www.guinealynx.info/charts.html

It took a while but I finally found this thread that explains everything so well. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30297