Can Guinea Pigs Eat Broccoli?
Risks, Benefits & Serving Size

Dr. Edele Grey, DVM

March 10, 2022

To keep your guinea pig healthy, you should feed a diet of mainly hay with some leafy veggies. Fruits are a great addition too, but only as a treat. It takes a bit of research to figure out which vegetables are okay for your pet. Some are to be avoided altogether, and others need to be fed in reduced quantities.

Yes, guinea pigs can eat broccoli. It is a healthy treat when served in moderation. Still, because broccoli contains oxalates and calcium, feeding too much may cause urinary stones. Also, stick to our vet-approved recommendations on feeding because broccoli may cause bloating, diarrhea, and digestive upsets in guinea pigs.

Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse loaded with all sorts of goodies for your guinea pig. This is a great vegetable to feed to your pet. They love the taste and can eat the whole plant, including the flower, leaves, and stalk. No trimming, no waste!

Nutritious as it is for your guinea pig, broccoli needs to be fed in smaller quantities. It doesn’t contain anything toxic to your pet, but it has a lot of calcium and oxalates. More on this later, but too much of this combo isn’t a good idea for guinea pigs.

Hay is the most important component of your guinea pigs’ diet. By choosing the right type of hay and ensuring consistent quality, you will support your pet’s wellbeing. Find out more.

We’ve already mentioned that broccoli contains lots of beneficial nutrients for your guinea pig. Even a tiny serving will give your pet a good dose of useful stuff.

What makes broccoli so good for your pet is the overall rich nutrition value.

1. Vitamin C Bomb

The single biggest benefit is the high amount of vitamin C that this veggie contains. Vitamin C is a crucial component of your guinea pig’s diet. These little animals cannot synthesize or store vitamin C in their own bodies. Their only way of getting it is as a dietary source.

Without sufficient vitamin C, guinea pigs are prone to suffering from a disease called scurvy. So to keep your guinea pig healthy, you need to feed it a sufficient amount of vitamin C daily.

Some owners choose to achieve this by adding artificial vitamin C supplements to their pet’s food. But you can just as easily manage by adding food rich in this nutrient to your guinea pig’s diet. Broccoli is one option.

2. Good Source of Fiber

Fiber is another important component of a guinea pig’s diet. The reason for this is two-fold. First, guinea pigs have open-rooted teeth that never stop growing. If not worn down properly, they will grow too long and cause your pet discomfort. Lots of fiber in your pet’s diet will help wear down their teeth.

The second reason fiber is important is because it keeps your guinea pig’s tummy healthy.

Broccoli as a whole, is very fibrous and makes a healthy chew for your pet. This is true of the entire plant, not just the head.

3. Broccoli Contains Phosphorus Too

Phosphorus is an essential mineral for guinea pigs. While its main use is in the formation of bones and teeth, it has other important uses too. Phosphorus is needed for the body to make protein. This mineral also works with the B vitamins to help in maintaining good kidney function and nerve signaling.

4. A Nutrition Bomb

What also makes broccoli so good for your pet is the overall rich nutrition value. It contains a multitude of nutrients. Apart from vitamin C, fiber and phosphorus, it’s an excellent source of vitamins K and A, and it also contains several of B vitamins.

Broccoli also packs a punch in minerals. Potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron, and copper are all on this list.

Also Read: Vet-Explains: The Best Cages for Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs love the taste, and broccoli gives them lots of beneficial ingredients like vitamin C and phosphorus. And on top of it all, the plant contains nothing toxic to them. But don’t be in a hurry to dish out a lovely big chunk for your furry pet.

1. Broccoli Contains Calcium and Oxalates

These two ingredients you really have to watch out for in your guinea pig’s diet. Unlike most animals, guinea pigs cannot regulate their calcium intake. Their bodies absorb as much as they consume. When there is excess calcium, your guinea pig has no way to get rid of it. This calcium binds with oxalates to form painful bladder stones.

Broccoli happens to be rich in both of these ingredients. If your guinea pig consumes too much too frequently, it will likely lead to bladder stones. It is best to feed broccoli in strict moderation. It is especially true if your pet is also receiving other high-calcium treats like strawberries.

2. Careful with Pesticides

Many of us may not be the greatest fans of broccoli, but several pests are. Snails, caterpillars, and many other bugs adore it. Commercial broccoli growers are forced to use pesticides to deter these critters.

Unless you’re buying organic, there could be traces of these chemicals present on your broccoli. It makes sense to thoroughly wash it first before feeding any to your pet.

3. May Cause Digestive Upsets

Guinea pigs are known to have very delicate and sensitive stomachs, with a precise balance of bacteria that ensures healthy digestive function.

Eating too much broccoli can upset this balance, leading to bloating and diarrhea. Both of these conditions are very uncomfortable for your pet. Severe cases may even require a visit to the vet to relieve your guinea pig’s pain.

We’ve already mentioned that broccoli, nutritious as it is, must be fed in moderation. This is to primarily prevent your guinea pig from ingesting too much calcium and oxalates.

But how much is too much?

Serve Either Floret or Leaves

Guinea pigs should be fed their broccoli raw, never cooked. It’s also a good idea to separate the leaves from the flower. If feeding the flower, you can offer half a floret with the stalk underneath it. If feeding the leaves, take a couple of small ones and let your guinea pig munch them up.

Don’t Feed Too Frequently

It’s best not to feed your guinea pig broccoli more than three times a week. It’s also a good idea not to feed this veggie on consecutive days. If you feed the floret on one day, skip the next, and feed broccoli leaves on the third.

If you’re not comfortable feeding your pet broccoli, you can replace it with another veggie like cauliflower. You can also opt for pellets with the required vitamin C pre-added. It will ensure that your pet is getting enough vitamin C without risking them taking in too much calcium.

Also Read: Safe & Cozy – Best Beds For Guinea Pigs

Broccoli is often referred to as a nutrition powerhouse, and with good reason. This vegetable doesn’t contain much fat or sugar but is rich in so many other nutrients.

The high calcium content is the biggest reason you should only feed broccoli to your guinea pig in moderation.

Low-calorie, Low-fat Food 

You will only get 34 calories from eating 100 grams of broccoli. And fat contributes only 0.4 grams, so it is practically nonexistent. It is a very healthy balance for guinea pigs.

They don’t do well on a diet high in fat. And being prone to obesity and related problems, they really don’t need the excess calories. 1.9 grams per 100 of protein only adds to the goodness.

Low on Sugar, Good on Fiber

One hundred grams of broccoli yields 6.6 grams of carbs, of which only 1.7 grams is sugar. It is very nicely balanced out by 2.6 grams of fiber for the same 100 grams.

High-fiber, low-sugar foods are best for your guinea pig. They keep the digestion going smoothly and help prevent conditions like diabetes.

A Plethora of Vitamins and Minerals

This vegetable really packs a hefty nutritional punch. Unlike some others that will give a good dose of just one or two nutrients, broccoli offers quite a lot.

Broccoli contains various vitamins, among them C, K, and several from the B group. Vitamins C and K really stand out, with a whopping 89.2mg and 101.6 IU per 100 grams of broccoli respectively.

Several essential and non-essential minerals are also present. Phosphorus, calcium, potassium, manganese, and iron are just a few examples. There are 66mg of phosphorus and a good 47mg of calcium for every 100 grams.

This high calcium content is the biggest reason you should only feed broccoli to your pet in moderation.

Fed in small quantities, broccoli makes a great treat for your guinea pig. They love the taste and will eat any part of the plant, be it flower, stem, or leaf. This veggie comes with a good dose of all-important vitamin C and plenty of other nutrients.

If your pet has bladder stones or some other health condition, best consult with your vet first. There are other foods rich in vitamin C that don’t pack as much calcium, like cauliflower.

If you’re still worried, there are other alternatives; including good quality pellets that have been pre-mixed with vitamin C.

Can guinea pigs have frozen broccoli?

Yes, guinea pigs can have frozen broccoli once it’s thawed if it hasn’t been processed before freezing. Frozen veggies are generally just as nutritious as fresh ones if they haven’t been cooked before freezing. However, you need to make sure that salt, sugar, or other additives have not been added to the frozen broccoli before you feed it to your guinea pig.

Also, defrosted foods may develop bacteria quite quickly, so it’s best not to store them for long periods. It’s always better to feed your pet fresh veggies, but guinea pigs can have frozen broccoli as well once it has been defrosted in the room temperature.

Vet’s Comment

Broccoli won’t make many of us humans drool thinking about it, but if guinea pigs could drool, they would, while thinking about a bounty of broccoli.

As for us, broccoli is full of vitamins and minerals that benefit our cavy friends, and they can eat every part of the plant, so zero waste!

The downside to broccoli, however, is its high levels of calcium, which can form bladder stones when combined with oxalic acid. Broccoli should be fed in moderation and only a couple of times per week to prevent any adverse effects.

– Dr. Edele Grey, DVM

NOTE: Advice provided within this article by FeedingMyPet.com is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Please discuss your pet’s specific dietary needs (based on his breed, weight, age, and health status) with a veterinarian.

Read Next:

• High-quality guinea pig food will keep your pet healthy. Check out our top picks here.
• What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat?
• Can You Leave a Guinea Pig Alone for The Weekend? Vet Explains
• Best Paper Bedding for Guinea Pigs in 2022