All of us love tortillas, the truth be told. But, can guinea pigs eat tortilla chips?
We love how versatile tortillas are. Quesadillas, tostadas, enchiladas, tacos – all have tortillas as the main ingredient – are probably familiar to you. Tortillas are flat, usually corn or wheat-based breads. Like crepes, they are slightly thicker and more uneven than French crepes. The purpose of this article is to examine whether guinea pigs can eat tortillas or not.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tortillas Chips?
Tortillas are not safe for guinea pigs to eat, since they are processed foods. All processed foods pose a threat to our guinea pigs. It is generally believed that guinea pigs do not digest grain foods well and can suffer stomach problems as a result.
It causes cramps, bloating, stomach pain, problems with bowel movements, gas, or loose stools for the guinea pig.
Yes, we confirmed that tortillas are not suitable for guinea pigs. It won’t die, though it’ll have stomach problems if it tries a small bite. You can give our guinea pigs plenty of other foods that won’t harm them. Even though the tortilla is super-tasty, the guinea pig will probably love it, it’s still a type of processed food that’s not good for them.
What Are Nutritional Value Factors of Tortillas?
The following nutrition facts are for one tortilla, 46 g.
Calories are high – 144 calories. There are too many calories in one tortilla. Those on a diet will find it somewhat fattening, and guinea pigs will likely find it fattening as well.
There are 23.6 grams of carbs in this food, and there are 3.8 grams of protein. There are definitely going to be consequences to the healthy weight of the guinea pig with this amount of carbohydrates, as well as the protein content here.
The amount of fiber is 1.4 grams. The amount of fibers we need every day is the same as this.
It contains 0.9 grams of sugar. Even though this amount of sugar is very low, guinea pigs have difficulty digesting sugars. You shouldn’t feed your guinea pig tortillas because of this reason.
Amount of fat – 3.6g. This is a relatively normal amount of fat.
2% vitamin K. When injured, prothrombin is produced, preventing severe blood loss.
Thiamin makes up 17%. Known also as vitamin B1, it helps keep the health of the intestines, stomach, heart, brain, and muscles. This vitamin also relieves constipation in humans.
The riboflavin content is 7%. Vitamin B2 is riboflavin. In addition, B2 improves the flow of oxygen throughout the body by converting the consumed food into energy.
The niacin content is 8%. It is also known as vitamin B3. Vitamin E lowers cholesterol levels, prevents heart disease and diabetes, and improves skin quality.
Are There Any Health Benefits of Tortillas For Guinea Pigs
Tortillas cannot be consumed by guinea pigs. In fact, tortillas are not even considered a treat because they cause stomach upset and digestive problems. Although cavies could eat tortillas, it is processed food, so it offers little nutritional value – some vitamins and minerals. Hence, guinea pigs should not eat this flatbread.
Is It Safe For Guinea Pigs To Eat Tortillas?
Corn is not a great food for a cavy, and tortillas are made of corn. As with any fried or baked food, tortillas are even worse. Oils and salt have been added. Piggies cannot digest oils, which makes them even more caloric.
Even a small amount of tortilla will cause your pig to become very gassy. Food with too much salt is also a problem. Piggies don’t have sweat glands covering their skin like humans do.
They don’t lose sodium through sweat, so they don’t have to consume it through food like we do. Cavies suffering from kidney or bladder stones can be very painful because they are fed salty foods.
Risks of Feeding Guinea Pigs Tortillas
- Complications of the urinary system – Guinea pigs will suffer many urinary complications if they eat tortillas. There is a risk of kidney and bladder stones, pain when urinating, blood in the urine, and frequent urinary infections. It can cause renal failure if not treated in time.
- Problems with digestion – Sugar is also present in the tortillas, though not too much. Nevertheless, sugars are not digested well by guinea pigs. They cause cramps, gas, and indigestion.
- Weight gain – Calories and carbs are abundant in this food. The high calorie content and high carbohydrate content are sure to alter the guinea pig’s healthy weight. Tortillas are packed with carbs, which are known to cause rapid weight gain.
Any processed food can cause serious digestive problems for them. You should never feed them to guinea pigs.
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Doritos?
No. Doritos are primarily made with corn and cornflour, plus corn syrup. Guinea pigs cannot consume them because they are too sweet and too calorie dense. It can also cause diabetes and other metabolic disorders, and ultimately premature death. However, Doritos as guinea pig food is not without its problems. Doritos contain a variety of other additives, first of all cheese flavored flavoring.
It still causes guinea pigs to become bloated and get diarrhea, even though they contain much less lactose than milk. Polysaccharides found in milk and dairy products cause gastrointestinal upset in Guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs’ stomachs can also be irritated by buttermilk solids, corn oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, and hydrogenated rapeseed oil. The onion and garlic powders in Doritos are also irritating to their digestive tracts.
In addition to these ingredients, preservatives, artificial colors, and aroma intensifiers may be harmful to humans. They are much more dangerous to a cavie due to their smaller size.
Is It Safe To Feed Guinea Pigs Other Snacks?
You should not feed guinea pigs Doritos if you are still wondering if they eat them. Human snacks are actually not good for them, nor should they eat any cooked human foods.
Despite the fact that most snacks contain ingredients that are safe for a cavie, there are many that are not.
Pigs don’t do well with food colors, they are just not good for them. Their very sensitive stomachs can be irritated, and they contain no nutritional value. You should never feed your guinea pigs human food.
Conclusion – So, Can Guinea Pigs Eat Tortilla Chips?
Since tortillas are processed foods, guinea pigs should not eat them. Our guinea pigs are at risk from eating all processed foods. It is generally believed that guinea pigs do not digest grain foods well and can suffer stomach problems as a result.
One last thought on food before we part. It is crucial to be careful when it comes to food, which is why I only buy guinea pig food from a reliable source like Amazon. It is a great idea to order some great treats if you are not sure what to order.