Can Guinea Pigs Eat Moldy Food? (The Honest Truth)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com and other affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Wanna read something more boring than watching paint dry? Click HERE for a peek at my disclosure.
You’ve just brought home your new guinea pig, and you’re excited to start spoiling him rotten. But as you peer into his food dish, you see that there’s already some mold growing on the food. What do you do? Can you feed a guinea pig moldy food?
No, guinea pigs can’t eat moldy food. If they did, it could make them very sick or even kill them eventually. Moldy food has toxins in it that can poison your guinea pig. Mycotoxins in mold can also lead to the death of a guinea pig.
Guinea pigs are small animals and even a tiny amount of a poisonous substance can make them very sick. Eating moldy food can be dangerous for your guinea pig.
So, let’s make sure that we avoid giving our guinea pigs any moldy food, right? Keep reading to get tips on how to avoid moldy food and what to do if your guinea pig does eat some.
What Makes Moldy Food So Dangerous To Guinea Pigs?
Moldy food is dangerous for guinea pigs because it has toxins in it that can kill them. The toxins are called Aflatoxin, Ergot, Chaetomium, and Stachybotrys Chartarum. Moldy food can make guinea pigs sick to their stomach, damage their liver, and weaken their immune system.
Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin can make guinea pigs very sick. This includes making their organs heavier or smaller, and causing them to stop growing. It can also make their stomachs hurt. If guinea pigs eat aflatoxin for a long time, it can damage their liver.
If food like hay or pellets are stored in a place that isn’t cool and dry, they can have high levels of aflatoxins.
Sniff hay or pellets and you should be able to tell right away if it’s moldy. There’s a stuffy smell from mold that you won’t miss. Remember to do this every time you buy a new batch and before feeding your piggie.
Ergot
Ergot is a mycotoxin found in molds. This toxin can cause problems with the blood circulation of guinea pigs. When guinea pigs eat it, they may have a hard time moving around. Why?
Ergot can cause muscle pain. And your little friend isn’t going to want to be active and play if it’s in pain. I mean, seriously , would you want to play if your muscles hurt?
And inactivity can lead to a bunch of other health problems for piggies like obesity and heart disease. This is a horribly perfect domino effect that you want to avoid at all cost.
If you want more information on the different types of foods that guinea pigs can eat, check out this post: What Fruits Can Guinea Pigs Eat? (What You Need To Know) and What Guinea Pigs Can Eat (Everything You Need to Know)
Chaetomium and Stachybotrys Chartarum
These toxins specifically target the immune system of guinea pigs, making them more susceptible to getting infections AND getting sick.
If your piggie is exposed to mold over a long period of time, their bodies won’t be able to fight it and they could get very sick. Something as simple as a cold could be deadly if their immune system has been weakened.
Some small animals like guinea pigs can die from exposure to (or even eating) tiny amounts of mold that wouldn’t hurt a bigger animal.
How Are Guinea Pigs Affected By Mold?
Mold can be dangerous for guinea pigs. It can make them sick and damage their internal organs. You might not realize there’s a problem until it is too late.
Stomach pains
Moldy food contains toxins such as Aflatoxin. If guinea pigs eat moldy food, they can have stomach pains. The mycotoxins in moldy food seep into the digestive system and cause stomach pains.
The danger lies in long-term exposure. The longer it takes you to realize that your fur babies are being exposed to mold, the more time the toxins have to do damage.
Liver Damage
Molds can hurt your guinea pig’s liver if they are exposed to it for a long time. Mold slowly poison internal organs causing damage. This also makes the internal organs weigh less.
You might not be able to see that the liver is damaged right away (or even realize that your fur baby is sick) because guinea pigs are prey animals and hide their illnesses to avoid looking weak.
Remember check your little pet’s food for mold AND also their cage. If there’s sections of their cage that stay damp and/or have poor ventilation, mold will grow.
Make Guinea Pigs Lose Mobility
Mycotoxins in mold can hurt guinea pigs by making it hard for their blood to circulate. This can also make it hard for them to move their muscles, which might make them feel numb or in pain. If you have a guinea pig, watch out for these symptoms.
Attacks Their Immune System
There are two types of mold, Chaetomium and Stachybotrys Chartarum, which can make people and animals sick. The mold produces toxins that lower immunity and make people more likely to get infections.
If an animal’s immunity is not strong, they can get very sick and die. This is especially true for animals like guinea pigs that are sensitive to diseases. It doesn’t take long for a guinea pig’s health to go down. That’s one of the reasons why weekly health checks are important.
Respiratory System Infections
Inhaling mold will give guinea pigs respiratory infections. If they keep breathing in mold, it will make their lungs work too hard and fast and they will die.
Respiratory infections are deadly to guinea pigs and some of them can turn into pneumonia which kills guinea pigs in two to three days – if not less.
Make sure your guinea pig’s enclosure is always dry and well-ventilated. Remove fruits and vegetables leftovers after feeding them. Otherwise, mold might grow on them.
Death
All of the problems mentioned can get worse and lead to death. Mold poisoning will slowly damage a guinea pig’s internal organs and eventually kill the guinea pig. If caught early, mold poisoning can be treated.
Signs of Mold Poisoning in Guinea Pigs
Mycotoxin poisoning (mold poisoning) has several symptoms. It’s important to know what symptoms to look out for. Especially since guinea pigs are exceptionally good at hiding their symptoms.
You should look out for:
- Swelling on the face
- Stomach pain
- Discharge from nose and eyes
- Blood in urine and feces
- Low body temperature
- Loss of appetite leading to weight loss
- Piggie may refuse to eat
Mycotoxin can also be detected through a test that . So if you suspect your guinea pig might have ingested some or been exposed to a lot, take your fur baby to the vet.
How To Avoid Moldy Guinea Pig Pellets
It’s typically for guinea pig owners to give their piggies pellets to help meet their nutritional needs. But, pellets can get moldy very quickly. Here’s some steps you can take to make sure you avoid moldy pellets:
- Examine the bag before serving them to your guinea pig.
- If the pellets are discolored or smell bad, throw them away
- Don’t stock pellets. Just buy small amounts at a time so that they don’t spoil.
- Keep the pellets in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.
Buying small packages might mean you buy pellets more frequently. As inconvenient as this is, remember, piggies’ health is the most important thing.
You don’t want your little fur baby with mold poisoning, right?
How To Avoid Moldy Guinea Pig Hay
Hay is the main nutrient for adult guinea pigs. Guinea pigs need an unlimited supply of hay to eat day and even night. Unfortunately, hay can get moldy. Here’s what you should do to avoid that issue:
- Always store hay in a cool, dry place.
- Never store hay in a place that might get water since it will develop mold.
- Replace hay immediately if it gets wet. Remember, never give your guinea pigs wet hay.
Always give your piggies a fresh batch of hay every day. Make sure to completely remove yesterday’s hay from their enclosure. By the way, if you’re having trouble getting your guinea pig to eat enough hay, check out the article 7 Simple Ways to Get Guinea Pigs to Eat More Hay.
Before you top off hay for your guinea pig. Check to see if the hay underneath is wet. If it is, chuck the wet pieces into the trash before adding fresh hay on top of it. Some people don’t and that can be a big mistake.
How To Avoid Moldy Vegetables And Fruits
The rule of thumb with veggies and fruits is to NEVER feed your guinea pigs anything that you wouldn’t eat yourself. So, if you notice mold on any of the veggies or fruits you’re feeding your piggies, toss it in the trash.
Now to keep your produce fresh, you should:
- Only serve your piggie fresh fruits and vegetables. Expired vegetables and fruits are likely to have mold.
- Remove any leftover fruits and vegetables from their cage.
- Dig around their cage for vegetables and fruits. If they’re buried then it will likely get moldy really fast. And you don’t want your little friends finding the old fruit or veggies and then eating it.
Always spot clean your guinea pig’s cage every day. As you remove bedding with urine, also remove leftover vegetables and fruits. Remember old fruits and vegetables don’t just cause mold. They also attract flies and insects that might carry infections.
Watch this video on how to keep fruits and vegetables fresh:
What If I Accidentally Fed My Guinea Pigs Moldy Food?
If you accidentally fed your guinea pigs moldy food, stay calm and watch your guinea pig carefully.
Take them to the vet if you notice any serious concerns. However, if the amount was small, odds are that your guinea pig will be fine.
Some guinea pig owners have had to deal with mold before. I did some research to find out what they did about it. I wanted to know what people did after they accidentally fed their guinea pigs moldy food.
I surveyed 20 guinea pig owners and here is what I found out:
- If their guinea pig ate moldy food, some pet parents observed their little friend carefully for any bad after effects.
- Many piggies seemed okay after ingesting moldy food if it was in small amounts. This was only the case one time.
- Continued ingestion of moldy food led to death for some piggies.
Here’s some highlights from my survey:
- Many parents had accidentally fed their piggies food that was moldy. For some it was bell pepper, for others it was hay and pellets.
- In some cases, nothing happened to the guinea pigs.
- In some serious cases, some piggies died due to mycotoxin poisoning.
- One parent said he wasn’t aware that the pellets he used had mold until his little furry died.
- In another case, some parent lost her piggie to moldy Timothy hay that she had freshly bought.
- Piggie parents said you should smell and inspect the food every time before serving your piggie. For fruits and vegetables, remember to taste them if you suspect it’s moldy.
Warning: ALWAYS check whatever hay or food you feed to your guinea pigs.
What Can Kill Your Guinea Pig?
Guinea pigs can die from respiratory diseases, heart diseases, food poisoning, and other infections. They can also choke to death or be injured in fights. Additionally, guinea pigs can starve to death or die from dehydration.
There’s many things that can kill a guinea pig. So, do your best to keep them safe and healthy.
By the way, don’t freak out and think that if you get a pair of guinea pigs that they’re just going to keel over and die.
You just have to do your research and make sure that you’re setting up an environment that’ll help them live a long and happy life.
If you need to brush up on your knowledge of guinea pig care, check out an article I wrote called A Beginner’s Ultimate Guide to Guinea Pig Care (The Only One You Need).
What Can’t Guinea Pigs Eat?
Don’t give guinea pigs food that is high in sugar or fat. You also shouldn’t give them processed or cooked food. Junk for is one of the worst things you can give a guinea pig.
Food with additives is also not good for them. This means that you shouldn’t give them treats like chocolate, cake, or candy.
Canned food, frozen food, and heated food should not be fed to guinea pigs. Guinea pigs should only eat hay (and LOTS of it), pellets, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
How Long Do Guinea Pigs Live?
Guinea pigs live an average of 5 to 9 years. Some live well beyond 10 years. For a guinea pig to live longer, they need:
- Large, clean enclosure
- Companionship in the form of a bonded pair
- Unlimited hay and some limited pellets
- Fruits and vegetables
- Daily vitamin C
- A clean and fresh supply of drinking water
- Weekly health checks
When choosing a guinea pig, try to buy them in established pairs. Typically, most guinea pigs live longer and happier lives when they have a partner.
Final Thoughts
Okay, let’s summarize, shall we?
- Moldy food is deadly for guinea pigs. It can cause stomach pains, liver damage, loss of mobility, or even death.
- You should check if the hay and pellets you feed your piggie have mold. Mold has a smell so sniff their food every time.
- Only give your guinea pig fresh fruits and vegetables. Check their cage for old vegetables and fruits to avoid them eating the old produce or from attracting pests that’ll cause other health issues.
- If you suspect your guinea pigs have mold poisoning (mycotoxin poisoning), you should take them to the vet.