Can Guinea Pigs Eat Celery? Portions, Strings, and Risks

Short answer: yes, in moderation

Celery is safe for guinea pigs and is not toxic. It offers a little vitamin C, vitamin K, and water, and most guinea pigs enjoy the crunch.

Keep it to a one inch piece, two or three times a week, as part of the daily cup of mixed vegetables rather than as a staple.

The strings question

Celery stalks contain tough fibrous strings. These are not poisonous, but a long string can catch in the teeth or be swallowed in an awkward piece. Chopping celery into short, roughly one centimetre lengths cuts the strings and removes the problem, which is simpler than peeling.

Leaves are the better part

Celery leaves carry more vitamin C and more nutrients than the stalk and have no strings at all. If you buy celery with leaves attached, wash them well and offer a small handful alongside other leafy greens.

Like most leafy greens, celery leaves also carry a moderate amount of calcium and oxalates, so rotate them rather than feeding a pile every day.

Why not more than a few times a week

• •High water content can cause soft stools when fed in large amounts.
• •Moderate calcium contributes to bladder sludge and stones in guinea pigs already prone to them.
• •Celery is low in useful calories and fibre compared with hay, so it should never displace hay.
• •Its vitamin C content is far lower than bell pepper, which remains the more efficient daily source.

How to serve it

Wash thoroughly, chop into short pieces, serve raw and at room temperature, and remove anything uneaten after a few hours. Never cook it, and never feed celery that has gone limp or slimy.

Introduce it like any new food: a small piece, then 24 hours of watching droppings and appetite before offering more.

Checking other vegetables

Our guide to safe and toxic guinea pig foods covers the common staples, and the Wheeky Guide app includes a searchable database of over 2,000 foods rated safe, toxic, or feed rarely, with portion notes for each.