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Yes, guinea pigs can eat apples as a treat. Give a thin slice or two per guinea pig, skin on, with the core and pips cut out, once or twice a week. The PDSA lists apple as a safe fruit but warns against the pips, and every welfare source we use keeps fruit small because of its sugar.
| Safe? | Yes, as a treat |
| How much | 1 or 2 thin slices, about an eighth of a medium apple |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Fresh, washed, skin on, core and pips removed |
| Watch out for | Pips, sore lips, soft droppings |
Are apples good for guinea pigs?
A little apple is fine, but it is a treat, not a health food. Worked out from the Guinea Lynx food chart, apple with skin has about 10 g of sugar per 100 g (3.5 oz) and under 5 mg of vitamin C. That is very little towards the 10 to 50 mg of vitamin C VCA says a guinea pig needs each day. VCA does say apple is a good choice of occasional fruit because of its fibre.
The worry is sugar. The PDSA says fruit should be given in very small amounts, and that hay and grass should make up 85 to 90% of what a guinea pig eats. Too much fruit can upset the gut bacteria. The Vet Desk also notes that apple is acidic, and too much can make a guinea pig's lips sore.
How much apple can a guinea pig have?
Sources differ a little here. The RSPCA allows up to a quarter of an apple a few times a week as a treat, while the Vet Desk says a thin slice one or two days a week. We follow the smaller amount: one or two thin slices, about an eighth of a medium apple, once or twice a week, which also matches Woodgreen's once or twice a week for fruit. A guinea pig's diet has to make room for a cup of veg and unlimited hay every day, as our guinea pig diet guide explains, and a quarter apple is a lot of sugar for an animal that small.
How to prepare apple
- Wash it. Rinse the apple well under cold water.
- Cut out the core and pips. The PDSA and Burgess both say no pips.
- Slice thinly. Leave the skin on and cut slices about 5 mm (1/4 in) thick.
- Serve and tidy. Remove anything left within 4 hours, before it browns and spoils.
If one guinea pig steals every slice, hand-feed each one its own piece. It is fairer, and it turns the weekly apple into handling practice.
Skin, pips, core and other apple foods
- Skin: yes, washed. It holds much of the fibre.
- Pips and core: no. Cut them out.
- Crab apples: the Vet Desk says safe in smaller amounts, core removed.
- Cooked apple, apple sauce, pie: no.
- Dried apple and apple juice: no. Too much sugar.
- Apple tree twigs: owners often give these to chew, but our sources don't cover them, so ask your vet first.
Who should skip apple?
Babies under 3 to 4 months, according to the Vet Desk, plus guinea pigs that are overweight, have loose droppings or sore lips.
What to offer instead
A slice of pear is a good swap on another week. Strawberries give far more vitamin C, and banana is safe but even sweeter. See what can guinea pigs eat and our guinea pig care guide for the rest.
Apple questions
Can guinea pigs eat apple skin?
Yes. The Vet Desk advises leaving the skin on, because it holds much of the apple's fibre. Wash the apple well under cold water first to remove residue from growing and storage. Red and green apples are both fine; red ones are sweeter, so keep the slice thin.
Are apple seeds poisonous to guinea pigs?
The PDSA and Burgess both say not to feed apple pips, which contain a compound that can release cyanide when crushed. The Vet Desk says one or two swallowed by accident are very unlikely to cause harm, so don't panic, but always cut the core and pips out.
Can guinea pigs eat apple every day?
No. Apple is fruit, and the PDSA says fruit should be given in very small amounts because of its sugar. Woodgreen suggests once or twice a week. For a daily crunchy treat, bell pepper or a little cucumber does the job with far less sugar.
Can guinea pigs eat cooked apple, apple sauce or dried apple?
No. The Vet Desk advises against cooked apple, and shop-bought apple sauce and juice usually carry added sugar. Dried apple rings concentrate the sugar into a chewy piece, and Woodgreen warns against dried fruit in guinea pig food. Fresh apple is the only form worth giving.
