Can guinea pigs eat beets?
PDSA and the Royal Veterinary College list beets, but the University of Edinburgh names them only as an occasional treat. Go easy on the leaves: they’re high in oxalic acid (Royal Veterinary College, NC State).
How to serve it: washed, a small piece
Good to know: The German TVT advises little root vegetable in general. Merck says beet greens are high in vitamin C, but because of the oxalate, offer a leaf only now and then.
Questions
Can guinea pigs eat beets every day?
No, only now and then and in small amounts.
Can rabbits eat beets?
Yes, but only a little. The Royal Veterinary College lists beets as suitable but urges care with the leafy tops, which are high in oxalic acid. Like other non-leafy vegetables, the root should be a smaller part of the fresh food (RWAF).
Sources
- PDSA – Safe veg and greens for guinea pigs (graphic)
- Royal Veterinary College – Feeding your guinea pig (2020)
- University of Edinburgh – Clinical review: Guinea pig nutrition – what do we know? (In Practice, 2023)
- NC State Veterinary Hospital – Caring for Your Pet Guinea Pig
- TVT Merkblatt Nr. 159: Meerschweinchen (2020)
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Housing and Nutrition of Guinea Pigs
Last checked: October 2026