Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dandelions? (How Much is Safe?)
Dandelions are abundant in most urban areas and completely free if you can get them from your own yard. Most people see them as pest plants, but they are actually a great source of nutrients. But are they safe for guinea pigs?
Dandelion leaves, flowers, stems, and roots are safe for guinea pigs to eat. Be sure to pick them from an untreated area that has not been exposed to pesticides, animal urine, or car exhaust fumes.
Dandelions contain many great nutrients that can benefit your guinea pig’s health. But there are some potential risks associated with feeding them too frequently. Read on for more information on how to safely feed this common leafy plant.
You can also check out the Guinea Pig Food Chart for an alphabetical list of everything your piggy can eat and how often they can have it, along with calcium and Vitamin C levels for each food.
Nutritional Value of Dandelions for Guinea Pigs
Dandelions may seem like regular garden weeds, but they are deceptively very vitamin-rich! The table below outlines the nutritional data of dandelions per 100 grams:
| Nutrient | Amount (per 100g) |
| Calories | 45 kcal |
| Protein | 2.7 g |
| Fat | 0.7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 9.2 g |
| Fiber | 3.5 g |
| Sugar | 0.71 g |
| Vitamin C | 35 mg |
| Calcium | 187 mg |
| Phosphorus | 66 mg |
| Magnesium | 36 mg |
| Potassium | 397 mg |
| Iron | 3.1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 10200 IU |
| Vitamin K | 778 µg |
Benefits of Feeding Dandelions to Guinea Pigs
As you can see from the table above, dandelions are a very nutrient-dense green to include in your guinea pig’s diet. The vitamins and minerals found in dandelions have countless benefits for your guinea pig’s health, which I’ll outline below.
Dandelion is an Excellent Source of Nutrients
Dandelions provide an excellent source of nutrients for humans and guinea pigs alike. They provide a decent amount of Vitamin C, in addition to Vitamins A and K.
Vitamin C helps protect the immune system and prevent scurvy. Dandelion contains a decent amount of Vitamin C, approximately 19.2mg per cup. It’s crucial to include a variety of Vitamin C rich foods in your guinea pig’s regular diet.
Dandelion also contains significant amounts of Vitamins A and K, which are responsible for aspects like healthy vision, blood clotting, and strong bones.
Dandelions are also rich in minerals, including iron, magnesium, and potassium. Potassium helps regulate fluid in the body and may even reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.
Minerals like iron and magnesium play an essential role in all parts of the body and are often hard to find in common vegetables and fruits.
Dandelions Are Antioxidant-Rich
Additionally, dandelions contain lots of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important to help neutralize the negative effects of free radicals within the body. Antioxidants protect the body from all kinds of infections and diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Dandelions are also a good source of fiber, which is crucial for good digestive health.
This plant also has high levels of beta carotene, which is excellent for eyesight and helps to protect against cell damage.
Dandelions also have the potential to reduce blood sugar thanks to two bioactive compounds called chicoric and chlorogenic acid.
Dandelions contain high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols. These have the potential to reduce inflammation caused by disease, so they may be beneficial to feed to guinea pigs with arthritis, chronic lung inflammation, or other diseases that cause inflammation.
Polyphenols are found throughout the entire plant, but the flower contains the highest concentration of this compound.
Risks of Feeding Your Guinea Pig Dandelions
While dandelions have numerous benefits for your furry potato, there are a few things you should know before including them in your guinea pig’s regular menu.
Dandelion Contains High Levels of Calcium
Dandelions have fairly high levels of calcium, and they also contain some phosphorus. These can contribute to bladder stone formation if you’re not careful of portion sizes and the frequency at which you feed these greens.
As long as you feed them in reasonable quantities, the benefits far outweigh the risks. However, if your guinea pig has had bladder stones or sludge in the past, you may want to skip feeding dandelions or offer them very sparingly.
It’s a good idea to ensure that your guinea pig is drinking plenty of water to flush out the excess calcium they consume. Also, avoid feeding dandelions around the same time as other high-calcium greens such as kale, collard greens, parsley, mustard greens, and cilantro.
Also, watch for dry powdery white urine stains left around your piggy’s cage. If you see this, it indicates that you should temporarily restrict the feeding of dandelion and other high-calcium veggies.
Calcium Levels in Leafy Greens (per 100 grams)
To compare, here are some calcium levels of other common greens that are often fed to guinea pigs. As you can see, dandelions are not at the very top of the list, but they are fairly high in comparison to other popular greens like lettuce.
| Romaine Lettuce | 33mg |
| Escarole | 47mg |
| Swiss Chard | 51mg |
| Spinach | 99mg |
| Mustard Greens | 115mg |
| Parsley | 138mg |
| Dandelion | 187mg |
| Collard Greens | 232mg |
| Kale | 254mg |
| Thyme | 405mg |
Wild Dandelions Could be Contaminated With Pesticides or Pollution
Pesticides are also a significant risk. It is crucial to pick dandelions from an area that you know is safe and completely untreated. Weed eaters are very toxic and can easily be fatal if your guinea pig consumes them. Do not try to rinse off the pesticides, as there is no guarantee that all of them will come off.
Also, avoid picking dandelions from areas where dogs may have urinated or near roadsides where the grass is exposed to car exhaust fumes. Always hand-pick your dandelions or cut them with scissors.
Never feed grass or dandelion cut from a lawnmower, as it will be mixed with fuel from the mower. Feeding this to your guinea pig can cause severe stomach problems and even bloat, which is very dangerous for piggies.
Picking dandelions from your own yard is a good idea if it is untreated. If you don’t have a safe yard to pick dandelions, ask your friends and neighbors if their yards are untreated. They will likely be more than happy for you to pull up the weeds for them.
If you don’t have access to dandelions due to the weather or lack of safe areas to pick from, you can sometimes find fresh dandelion leaves at grocery stores or health food stores.
Other Considerations When Feeding Dandelion
Dandelions can cause your guinea pig’s pee to temporarily turn orange or red due to the natural pigments in the plant. This can also happen with foods like carrots, watermelon, beets, or radicchio.
Although it may look like blood, this is totally normal, so don’t panic if you see a change in color shortly after feeding your guinea pigs this plant.
Like other foods, there is always a chance that your guinea pig is allergic or has a bad reaction to dandelions.
This is rare, but it’s always important to introduce new foods gradually and keep an eye on your guinea pig in case they have an adverse reaction.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dandelion Leaves, Stems, Flowers, and Roots?
All parts of the dandelion plant are safe to feed to guinea pigs. This includes the leaves, stems, flowers, and roots. You may want to avoid the fluffy seeds that the flowers turn into, as this could be messy and ticklish for the guinea pig to try to eat.
Each part of the plant contains nutrients that can greatly boost your piggy’s health.
For example, the bright yellow flowers are exceptionally high in polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can protect against disease and reduce inflammation.
The root of the dandelion contains high levels of a carbohydrate called inulin.
This prebiotic supports the growth of healthy bacterial flora in the guinea pig’s intestinal tract. These healthy bacteria work together to fight off disease and keep the body healthy.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Dried Dandelion?
It is safe to feed dandelions that you have dried out yourself or dried herbs that are sold specifically for small pets.
Avoid other types of dried dandelion (such as for tea) as they may be intended for different purposes and contain additives that are not safe for piggies.
Some types of hay for guinea pigs contain dried dandelion for an extra health boost and foraging fun.
You can also purchase packages of dried dandelion for small pets and mix them in with your guinea pig’s pellets and hay for an additional source of enrichment.
How Often Can You Feed Your Guinea Pig Dandelions?
You can feed two or three dandelion leaves along with a flower and stem 2-3 times a week. However, it’s best to spread out the days, so your guinea pig is not eating them on back-to-back days.
You should not feed dandelions to your guinea pig every day due to the high calcium level.
If you’re feeding dandelions regularly, be sure to mix up your guinea pig’s diet with plenty of low-calcium foods for a good balance. Some good low-calcium options include cucumber, tomatoes, apples, zucchini, and sweet bell peppers.
You can also take your guinea pig outside to graze on grass and dandelions in the nice weather.
If you do this, make sure you have an enclosed space like an exercise pen to keep your pigs safely contained. Supervise them closely so they are safe from birds and other animals that may be roaming around.
If your guinea pig is not used to eating fresh grass, acclimate them slowly by taking them out for short periods of grazing at first. You can gradually increase the length of time they spend outside each time.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Dandelions?
Most guinea pigs LOVE dandelions! I’ve never had a guinea pig refuse them. In fact, dandelions are often a favorite food of many piggies! Guinea pigs love leafy textures, and they are usually drawn to nibble on them automatically. Some guinea pigs may prefer different parts of the plant, but most will come to love the whole thing eventually.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Eat Dandelions?
Dandelions provide a great source of nutrients for baby guinea pigs. They are a good source of Vitamin C and calcium, which are both important for healthy growth in young guinea pigs.
You can introduce dandelions in small amounts to baby guinea pigs while they are with their mom.
Once weaned at 3-4 weeks old, they can eat dandelions more readily like adults. Be sure to introduce all new fruits and veggies gradually to give their bodies time to adjust to the new food.
Growing Dandelions For Your Guinea Pig
If you don’t have an endless supply of dandelions in your yard, your property is treated, or you live in an apartment, you may want to consider growing your own dandelions. They are very easy to grow and can thrive in planters on a balcony or in a garden.
You can either collect and re-plant clusters of dandelions in a pot or patch in the garden or grow them from seed. Once you have growth, cut the stem and leaves off, but leave the roots intact. This way, they will grow back and provide a continuous supply of healthy greens for your guinea pigs.
How to Safely Prepare and Feed Dandelions to Your Guinea Pig
To feed dandelions to your guinea pigs, you’ll first want to locate a safe and untreated area you can pick them. Once you have that, wander outside and pick some healthy-looking dandelion plants by hand or with a pair of scissors. You can also leave the roots intact so you can re-harvest them at a later date!
Guinea pigs especially love the small, new leaves. The larger leaves tend to have a more bitter taste, but many guinea pigs love this as well.
Bring the plants inside and rinse them thoroughly to remove small bugs and dirt. After that, pat them dry and offer them to your guinea pig.
If your piggy has never eaten dandelion before, introduce one leaf first. Wait for a day and keep a casual eye on your guinea pig to ensure that they have no adverse reactions to the new food.
If everything looks good, you can gradually increase the amount next time.
If your guinea pig is hesitant to try the new food, leave it in the cage for a couple of hours to give them time to nibble it at their own pace. Be sure to remove any uneaten food after a few hours. If they don’t eat much, try it a few more times, as guinea pigs often take their time to try something new.
More Healthy Leafy Greens That Guinea Pigs Can Eat
Did you know that guinea pigs can also eat swiss chard, spinach, and turnip greens? These vitamin-rich superfoods contain numerous nutrients that give your guinea pig a huge health and immunity boost.
Guinea pigs can also eat fruits like blueberries, oranges, and kiwi! These provide a great boost of Vitamin C and antioxidants that help fight off infections and illness.
For a complete list of all the foods guinea pigs can eat, check out our detailed list of safe foods that guinea pigs can eat.