DANGEROUS FORAGESIn Australia a thousand known species of plants are poisonous to both humans and animals hence it is vitally important that your are 100% certain that the forages you offer your guinea pig are safe for consumption. One of the most common misconceptions regarding forages is that the animal will instinctively know what is safe to eat. In the wild animals learn visually and by numerous trial and error. An animal will usually be taught by older animals in the herd as to which forages are healthy, safe and are the best to consume. Once you take an animal out of this environment and in this instance a domesticated animal - it is up to you as the caretaker to ensure all forages you offer are safe.How Toxicity in Plants effects Guinea PigsMost plants contain chemical compounds called phytates. In small amounts this chemical is relatively harmless but certain plants contain higher amounts increasing the toxicity level. This can be potentially fatal is these plants are fed. Other plants are strictly poisonous and should never be fed at all. Vegetables that are safe to consume but contain slightly increased amounts of Physates and goitrongenic compounds include bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Gaitrongenic compounds prevent the uptake of iodine. These cruciferous vegetables are safe to feed to your cavy however should not be fed daily. It is always important to research the vegetables and fruits you feed your guinea pig in addition to forages to ensure you offer a complete balanced and healthy diet. Symptoms of ToxicityIf your guinea pig happens to consume a poisonous or harmful plant there are certain symptoms to look for: Respiratory distress (shortness of breath, lack of breathing, increased heart rate) Increased SalivationRestlessnessDiarrhoeaScratching at mouth or faceIncreased UrinationMuscle Twitching or shakingSeizuresIf you suspect or even assume that your cavy has ingested any harmful forages call and take you cavy to a vet immediately. Do not wait until it is too late to assist!Poisonous Plants ListHere is a list of common plants that you should not offer to your guinea pig. This list is yet to be completed and will be updated periodically. If in doubt please use the links provided below to help research and assist in identifying plants. Plants are listed by common name only. Click on a letter below to view. ABCDE F GH I JLM NOP RSTWYZAAfrican milk bush Agapanthus AllamandaAngel's trumpet Angel's wings Aroid plantsArrowhead vineArum lily Aussie gold BBarbados nut Baronne de RothschildBead tree Bellyache bush Be-still treeBird pepperBlack bean Blackberry nightshadeBlind-your-eyeBluebrush PeaBottle TreeBrackenBrazilian nightshade Brazilian pepper treeBroad-leaved pepper treeBurrawang palm Bush AllamandaBushman's poison Butterfly FlagByfield FernCCalla lily Caladium Candelabra cactus Cape lilac Castor bean Castor oil plantCestrumsCerimanChalice vineChilean cestrum Chilli pepperChinaberryClustered fishtail palmCodiaeumCommon nightshadeCook tree Coral plant Cotton-leaf physic nut Crab's eye Crown-of-thorns Cunjevoi Curcas bean CycadsDDarling peasDasheenDicky plantDieffenbachia Dumbcane DurantaEElephant earsEllangowan poison bushFFishtail palmFlamingo flower Flamingo lily FoxgloveFrogsmouthFruit salad plantGGeisha girl Giant stinging treeGidee-gidee Gimpie gimpieGlossy nightshadeGolden cupGolden dewdrop Golden showerGoldfingerGout plantGout stickGreen cestrumGreen poisonberryGrevillea Robyn GordonGuatemala rhubarbHHydrangea IIodine bushIris JJapanese wax treeJapanese wisteria Jequirity bean Jerusalem cherryJoseph's CoatKKarabil LLady of the night Lady's slipperLantana Lucky nut MMadonna lily Malabar tree Madeira winter cherryMapoonMilky mangrove MolleMoreton Bay chestnut MortiiMulgaNNaked lady NardooNight blooming jessamineNodding blue lilyNorwood beautyOOleander Oleander rose laurel PPalma christi Pencil tree Peace lilyPepper treePepperinaPimelea ferrugineaPersian lilacPhilodendronPhysic nut PimeleaPineapple zamia Pink oleanderPlumbago Poison sumach Precatory bean Prickly or spiny plantsPrimula Prince of WalesPrincess MaryPurge nutRRattle Pods (All Species)Rhus River poison treeRock Fern Rosary tree Rosary peaSSago palm Scarlet Rhus Sheena's gold Silky oakSky flower Slipper flowerSpotted Emu BushSnowflake Snows of KilimanjaroSolitary fishtail palmSticky Tail FlowerStinging trees Stinging nettlesSumach Swiss-cheese plantSyngoniumTTail flowerTaroTartanTree datura Tree zamiaTrumpet flowerTulip cedarWWax treeWaxflowerWeir VineWhite arum lilyWhite butterflyWhite cedarWhite oleanderWild parsnipsWild passionfruitWild pineapple Winter cherry Wintersweet Willow-leaved jessaminewoolly waterlilYYellow Allamanda (sometimes pink)Yellow oleanderYellow tail flowerYesterday, today and tomorrow ZZamiaZigzag plant
In Australia a thousand known species of plants are poisonous to both humans and animals hence it is vitally important that your are 100% certain that the forages you offer your guinea pig are safe for consumption. One of the most common misconceptions regarding forages is that the animal will instinctively know what is safe to eat. In the wild animals learn visually and by numerous trial and error. An animal will usually be taught by older animals in the herd as to which forages are healthy, safe and are the best to consume. Once you take an animal out of this environment and in this instance a domesticated animal - it is up to you as the caretaker to ensure all forages you offer are safe.How Toxicity in Plants effects Guinea PigsMost plants contain chemical compounds called phytates. In small amounts this chemical is relatively harmless but certain plants contain higher amounts increasing the toxicity level. This can be potentially fatal is these plants are fed. Other plants are strictly poisonous and should never be fed at all. Vegetables that are safe to consume but contain slightly increased amounts of Physates and goitrongenic compounds include bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Gaitrongenic compounds prevent the uptake of iodine. These cruciferous vegetables are safe to feed to your cavy however should not be fed daily. It is always important to research the vegetables and fruits you feed your guinea pig in addition to forages to ensure you offer a complete balanced and healthy diet. Symptoms of ToxicityIf your guinea pig happens to consume a poisonous or harmful plant there are certain symptoms to look for: Respiratory distress (shortness of breath, lack of breathing, increased heart rate) Increased SalivationRestlessnessDiarrhoeaScratching at mouth or faceIncreased UrinationMuscle Twitching or shakingSeizuresIf you suspect or even assume that your cavy has ingested any harmful forages call and take you cavy to a vet immediately. Do not wait until it is too late to assist!Poisonous Plants ListHere is a list of common plants that you should not offer to your guinea pig. This list is yet to be completed and will be updated periodically. If in doubt please use the links provided below to help research and assist in identifying plants. Plants are listed by common name only. Click on a letter below to view. ABCDE F GH I JLM NOP RSTWYZAAfrican milk bush Agapanthus AllamandaAngel's trumpet Angel's wings Aroid plantsArrowhead vineArum lily Aussie gold BBarbados nut Baronne de RothschildBead tree Bellyache bush Be-still treeBird pepperBlack bean Blackberry nightshadeBlind-your-eyeBluebrush PeaBottle TreeBrackenBrazilian nightshade Brazilian pepper treeBroad-leaved pepper treeBurrawang palm Bush AllamandaBushman's poison Butterfly FlagByfield FernCCalla lily Caladium Candelabra cactus Cape lilac Castor bean Castor oil plantCestrumsCerimanChalice vineChilean cestrum Chilli pepperChinaberryClustered fishtail palmCodiaeumCommon nightshadeCook tree Coral plant Cotton-leaf physic nut Crab's eye Crown-of-thorns Cunjevoi Curcas bean CycadsDDarling peasDasheenDicky plantDieffenbachia Dumbcane DurantaEElephant earsEllangowan poison bushFFishtail palmFlamingo flower Flamingo lily FoxgloveFrogsmouthFruit salad plantGGeisha girl Giant stinging treeGidee-gidee Gimpie gimpieGlossy nightshadeGolden cupGolden dewdrop Golden showerGoldfingerGout plantGout stickGreen cestrumGreen poisonberryGrevillea Robyn GordonGuatemala rhubarbHHydrangea IIodine bushIris JJapanese wax treeJapanese wisteria Jequirity bean Jerusalem cherryJoseph's CoatKKarabil LLady of the night Lady's slipperLantana Lucky nut MMadonna lily Malabar tree Madeira winter cherryMapoonMilky mangrove MolleMoreton Bay chestnut MortiiMulgaNNaked lady NardooNight blooming jessamineNodding blue lilyNorwood beautyOOleander Oleander rose laurel PPalma christi Pencil tree Peace lilyPepper treePepperinaPimelea ferrugineaPersian lilacPhilodendronPhysic nut PimeleaPineapple zamia Pink oleanderPlumbago Poison sumach Precatory bean Prickly or spiny plantsPrimula Prince of WalesPrincess MaryPurge nutRRattle Pods (All Species)Rhus River poison treeRock Fern Rosary tree Rosary peaSSago palm Scarlet Rhus Sheena's gold Silky oakSky flower Slipper flowerSpotted Emu BushSnowflake Snows of KilimanjaroSolitary fishtail palmSticky Tail FlowerStinging trees Stinging nettlesSumach Swiss-cheese plantSyngoniumTTail flowerTaroTartanTree datura Tree zamiaTrumpet flowerTulip cedarWWax treeWaxflowerWeir VineWhite arum lilyWhite butterflyWhite cedarWhite oleanderWild parsnipsWild passionfruitWild pineapple Winter cherry Wintersweet Willow-leaved jessaminewoolly waterlilYYellow Allamanda (sometimes pink)Yellow oleanderYellow tail flowerYesterday, today and tomorrow ZZamiaZigzag plant