Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
No, guinea pigs should not eat potatoes. The PDSA, RSPCA, Woodgreen and Burgess all list potatoes among foods to avoid, and the PDSA and Burgess name the skin too. That covers raw, cooked, mashed and fried. Potatoes carry natural toxins, especially in the skin, eyes and green patches, and they are far too starchy for a guinea pig's gut.
| Safe? | No |
| How much | None |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all, in any form |
| Watch out for | Peelings, crisps, chips, garden potato plants |
Why can't guinea pigs eat potatoes?
Two reasons. First, potatoes are nightshades and carry natural toxins, mostly in the skin, sprouts and any green parts. The vet-reviewed guide at The Vet Desk says guinea pigs are not equipped to handle the alkaloids on potato skin. Second, potato is mostly starch. Guinea pigs are strict plant-eaters built for hay and leaves, and a load of starch upsets the gut bacteria they rely on, causing gas and bloating that can slow the gut to a stop.
Every UK charity we checked agrees. The RSPCA puts potato on its can't-eat list, the PDSA lists potatoes and their skin, Woodgreen rules out any part of the potato plant, and Burgess calls potatoes and potato skin poisonous to guinea pigs.
Raw, cooked, peel, crisps and the plant
| Form | OK? | Why not |
|---|---|---|
| Raw potato | No | Toxins and starch |
| Peel and green or sprouting potatoes | No | Where the toxins are strongest |
| Boiled, mashed, roast or jacket potato | No | Starch, butter, salt |
| Crisps and chips (fries) | No | Fried, salted, often onion or garlic flavour |
| Leaves, stems and flowers | No | Nightshade plant parts |
My guinea pig ate some potato: what should I do?
- Take the rest away. Remove any potato, peel or crisps from the cage and check the floor.
- Offer hay and water. Make sure there is plenty of fresh hay and water to keep the gut moving.
- Watch for 24 hours. Look for a swollen belly, hunching, teeth grinding, fewer or smaller droppings, sleepiness or not eating.
- Ring a vet if worried. Call a vet straight away if you see any of those signs, if a lot was eaten, or if it was green or sprouting potato. A guinea pig that stops eating needs a vet the same day.
A single nibble of cooked potato or one crisp is unlikely to cause harm, according to The Vet Desk, but don't wait to see if signs get worse. Guinea pigs can't vomit, so never try to make them sick. Our guinea pig health guide covers the warning signs in more detail.
What about sweet potato?
Sweet potato is a different plant, but it is also starchy, and a vet-reviewed guide says it is not safe for guinea pigs, so we'd skip it too. See our page on sweet potato for guinea pigs.
What to offer instead
If you want a crunchy root, a small piece of carrot a couple of times a week is safe. For daily vitamin C, use bell peppers. Keep onions and tomato leaves and vines off the menu too. See the safe food list, our guinea pig diet guide and the guinea pig care guide.
Potato questions
Can guinea pigs eat potato peel?
No. The PDSA lists potatoes and their skin among foods to avoid, and Burgess names potato skin as poisonous. The skin, especially green patches, eyes and sprouts, is where potatoes hold most of their natural toxins. Keep peelings in the food bin, not the cage.
Can guinea pigs eat cooked or mashed potato?
No. Cooking lowers some toxins but leaves the starch, and cooked potato is usually buttered or salted. Guinea pigs should only eat raw plant foods, and potato is on the charity avoid lists in any form. Don't share roast, boiled, mashed or jacket potatoes.
Can guinea pigs eat crisps or chips?
No. Crisps and chips (fries) are fried, salted and often flavoured with onion or garlic powder, which are also on the avoid lists. One stolen crisp is unlikely to cause harm, but watch your guinea pig for the next day and keep them out of reach.
Can guinea pigs eat potato plant leaves?
No. Potato plants are nightshades, and their leaves, stems and flowers hold more toxins than the tubers. Keep guinea pigs well away from potato beds when they graze outside, and never put potato tops in with their greens.
