Can Guinea Pigs Eat Basil?

The guinea pigs are probably the cutest rodents as house pets on earth. Yet, most people are still skeptical of keeping them as pets, even though it’s very easy to look after these cuties! Since guinea pigs are herbivores, they completely rely on plants for nutrients.
Now, as they are herbivores, most herbs can be consumed by our little friends and yes, basil is on the list so the short answer to the question; Can Guinea Pigs eat Basil, is yes… and the long answer? Well you’ll have to stick with us till the end to find out!
Now that you know that basil is not exactly harmful for your little friends, let’s cover other aspects while we’re on the topic.

What are herbs?

But wait, here comes another question, what exactly are herbs? How are they different from the regular plants?
The answer is quite simple, herb is a plant that does not produce resilient woody skin unlike plants, instead they perish back at the end of growing season, whereas plants stay pristine throughout winter. Everything from basil, lettuce to spinach can come under the term ‘herbs’.

What is basil?

Basil is a form of aromatic herb belonging to the mint family, native to tropical Asia. There are many different types of this unique plant, each kind very different in their own way. We will be going through the list of the types which our little friends can consume without any problem. Guinea pigs can easily eat every part of this aromatic herb! Besides, basil contains various nutrients which are pretty beneficial for our little friends. Nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate and many others needed for a perfect health.

Mediterranean Basil

This type of basil is also known as Italian basil. It has delicate, broad, sleek leaves and is used in most of Europe. Guinea pigs can have Mediterranean basil but be sure to give them in limited quantity.

Greek Basil

Greek basil is known for its peppery-like leaves and wonderful taste. It is one of the most favored type of basil because of its spicy taste. Though as every guinea pig has a preference of its own you should only feed it in moderation.

Lemon Basil

Like its name suggests, this type of basil has a strong citrus-y scent and taste, therefore it might be best to not give this to your piggies very often.

Thai Basil

This kind is packed with a strong and spicy aroma making it a favorite of some guinea pigs but as the taste could be slightly overwhelming for them and due to its high calcium content it could lead to urinary problems so we don’t suggest including it in their diet, instead you could use it as a treat once in a while!

Purple Basil

This variety adorns darker purplish leaves. Though it is not as sweet as most basil, it has a strong clove taste so it would be advised to give this kind to your little friends in minimum quantity.

Given from the above information, we can note that though basil isn’t exactly harmful for your little rodent friends, it isn’t exactly healthy to be included in the main diet either. As basil contains high amount of calcium and phosphorus, a high amount of intake can easily cause urinary problems, digestive problems or even food allergies.

Benefits of Basil

But let’s not have thoughts of gloom and doom, basil is also used as remedies to cure different problems for guinea pigs. If you notice your piggy bloating, you can feed it a small bit of basil, it also helps in heartburn, digestion problems and even in dehydration! Therefore it is recommended to only give your little friends basil as a form of treats to munch on. It also provides the piggies with Vitamin C which they are not able to produce on their own, Vitamin C is very beneficial for prevention of scurvy. Basil also contains Zinc which is highly important for pregnant guinea pigs and even for their pups. The antioxidants in basil helps in improving their cardiovascular activities.

Scurvy in Guinea pigs

Scurvy, in other words, is also known as Vitamin C deficiency. This is caused by lack of Vitamin C in your piggy’s diet. Symptoms of scurvy include:
Rough coat
Lethargy/fatigue
No appetite
Stiff joints
Nose/ eye discharge
To prevent scurvy disease, basil is very efficient. Maintain a proper diet and occasionally add basil in it too.

Promotes digestion

Another benefit of adding basil in your guinea pig’s diet is that it helps improve the digesting of food. Basil is known to have natural fibers and protein which helps in digestion and also gives them energy to go on for a day.

Supplies antioxidants

Vitamin A is an antioxidant found in basil and it helps boost the immune system in guinea pigs. Basil also provides Vitamin K which helps in ensuring healthy bones and blood clotting in case of injuries.

Other Food for Guinea Pigs

There are many vegetables and fruits that you should definitely add into your little friend’s diet.
Cabbage
Tomato
Broccoli
Artichoke
Carrots
Cilantro
Bananas
Apples
Grapes
Strawberries etc.

Below are the nutrients in a serving size of 3 oz. (100 g)

Energy: 23 kcal
Protein: 3.15 g
Total lipid (fat): 0.64 g
Carbs: 2.65 g
Dietary fiber: 1.6 g
Sugars: 0.3 g
Calcium: 177 mg
Iron: 3.17 mg
Magnesium: 64 mg
Phosphorus: 56 mg
Potassium: 295 mg
Sodium: 4 mg
Zinc: 0.81 mg
Copper: 0.385 mg
Selenium: 0.3 μg
Vitamin C: 18 mg
Vitamin B-6: 0.155 mg
Vitamin A: 264 μg
Vitamin E: 0.8 mg
Vitamin K: 414.8 μg
Thiamin: 0.034 mg
Riboflavin: 0.076 mg
Niacin: 0.902 mg
Folates: 68 μg
Carotene, beta: 3142 μg
Lutein+zeaxanthin: 5650 μg

Can I Give My Guinea Pig Basil Flowers?

The answer to this is quite simple, yes you can totally give your little friend some basil flowers! Though the consumption should be less often than the leaves. There are various varieties of flowers and some can be toxic for guinea pigs so we advise thoroughly researching on the topic before choosing which kind you want your piggies to eat. Basil flowers have a milder taste and some guinea pigs would actually prefer these over basil leaves! Just be sure to give them fresh and well washed flowers.

Can I Give My Guinea Pig Basil Stalks/ Basil Stems?

Yes you may give your little friend some basil stalk to munch on but be sure to not overdo it as the stalks are known to have more fiber than the leaves which if consumed in excess, could lead to severe stomach pain or more. However, you’ll see that your little friends will quite enjoy munching on the stems more than the leaves because of its crunchy texture and flavor. We suggest giving them the smaller and younger stems/stalks because they get bitter as they age and they would get too bitter for your piggy’s liking.

Tips to keep in mind

As we mentioned before, excess use of basil in your guinea pig’s diet could cause severe harm to it. That’s why we suggest keeping these tips in mind to avoid any fatality.
Only give your guinea pigs some basil two to three times per week and per serving we suggest giving only two to three average sized leaves. Try to tear up the leaves into bite sized pieces to avoid choking hazard. Do the same with the stalks/stems and be sure to always provide fresh and thoroughly washed vegetables or fruits. Discard any leftover food after an hour to avoid any contamination or your little friends overeating and getting a stomachache.
Don’t force your piggy to eat basil as animals have different preferences of food just like humans and would not prefer it. Always give them fresh and clean basil, avoid giving them wilted or damaged food as that could jeopardize their health. If it’s the first time you are going to feed your guinea pig some basil, note the health of your piggy before AND after feeding some basil. Keep checking its health for a few days and if you notice any slight changes in its behavior or its health then immediately stop giving it any basil and clean its cage thoroughly including putting out fresh food and water, throwing away the previous ones. Nursing guinea pigs can also munch on bits of basil but keep a close eye on their health.
If it’s possible, consider growing your own herbs, as that way, you could avoid giving herbs which have harmful pesticides sprayed onto them, besides herbs are very easy and convenient to grow in your own house! If that’s not a possibility, try to buy organic herbs. Yes, organic herbs are more costly but trust us, it is totally worth it as you have your little friend in great health because of it!
Other herbs like basil which our furry friends can consume without much of a problem are, dill, parsley, dandelion, fennel etc.

Random Facts on Basil

• It is estimated that basil has about 150 species but not all are edible.
•The origin of the name ‘basil’ comes from the Greek word ‘basileus’.
• The translation of ‘basileus’ roughly means ‘king’ or ‘royal’.
• Basil was widely used around the world in folk medicines, in fact, this tradition is still followed by different people.
• It is said that basil originally originated from India.
•Each type of basil is different in flavors and color because of the various uses of essential oils by the cultivars.
• Basil is used for the prepping of holy water in some orthodox churches.
• Basil is an annual plant.
• Basil easily repels insects and is found to be toxic to mosquitoes!

Can I Give My Guinea Pig Cooked Basil?

It is suggested to not give cooked basil to your guinea pigs as they contain additives like salt and spices which can be harmful, besides, cooking it can take away its natural nutrients which in turn would not really benefit your little friend. It would be better to give them raw and fresh basil.

What is the Best Way to Prep Basil for Guinea Pigs?

If you are still not sure how you should prepare basil for your furry friends, fear not! That’s why we’re here to help you out.
First make sure to pick the freshest and undamaged part of the plant. Never give your piggies wilted or damaged plant as that could harm them internally.
If you are deciding to feed them leaves, them just wash them thoroughly and mixing them up with other assorted vegetables and fruits then, just let your piggies pick through the bowl and eat what they like.
If you are going to give them flowers then first make sure you research properly on which type is edible and not harmful for them, them just pluck them and wash them thoroughly before letting the piggies munch on them. Please make sure to not feed them basil flowers more often.
If you are going to give your furry friend’s stalks or stems of basil then wash them thoroughly and be sure to pick out the thinner and younger stems/stalks as they are more favorable, cut them into small pieces and mix them with your guinea pig’s favorable food.

Conclusion of This Article

In conclusion, we can say with confidence that yes indeed, guinea pigs can eat Basil but only if the owner is careful of only feeding it only two to three times a week. And the serving size would be a few leaves for an average adult guinea pig. The basil flowers are also edible but not really preferred as they have a milder taste and most flowers are toxic for your piggy’s health. The stalks and stems, you could say are a fan favorite among our little furry friends! Though again these shouldn’t be fed very often as well. And keep in mind to feed them in the right way for easy consumption.