Can Guinea Pigs Eat Sage? 4 Excellent Benefits

Can guinea pigs eat sage? Well, the answer is in the affirmative. In fact, it is loaded with vitamins and minerals that can be good for your guinea pigs. Who doesn’t love to eat? I think everyone does, especially foods that are your favorite.

But we will not be talking about human food, well it is a food for humans too, but we’ll be talking about what your pet guinea pig can eat. Being herbivore, they naturally eat vegetables and fruits. And a small change in their diet can also cause their health patterns to fluctuate.

You will learn more as you read through the pages.


Adding Sage To Guinea Pigs Diet

In changing their diet pattern, you should gradually introduce the new food by adding them in a minimal amount to their diet. But just to be sure, consult a veterinarian first before adding fresh food to their diet.

A small imbalance in nutrients they consume in their diet can cause problems for their health. Diarrhea, obesity, liver or kidney diseases may complicate their bodies.

Have you ever thought of feeding your guinea pig with sage? Yes, sage! But do you have any idea of what sage is? It is not the one with magic and has powers kind of sage, but we are talking about the food.

Is it edible? Yes, it is. Can it be cooked? Of course! Can my pet guinea pig eat it? Yes, they can. But first, what is a sage?


What is a sage?

The sage that we are talking about here is what we commonly have known as “common sage” or “Mediterranean herbs.” It has been used for a couple of centuries now used primarily for medical and culinary use.

Sage has a green leafy structure. The leaves are the ones you feed your guinea pig with.

It has a pungent smell that adds a warm feeling to your dishes. The leaves are often sliced into chiffonade, chopped, or minced. Large sage leaves can also be deep-fried and used as a garnish to various viands you make.

Attributes like essential oils, its sweet smell, when used in cooking, make them suitable for your pets like rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs as they lack the ability to create essential oils for themselves.


Benefits For The Guinea Pigs

Can guinea pigs eat sage? This herb doesn’t only have a distinctive taste, but several nutritional values also. Sage is high in vitamins K, A, B, C, and E. A good source of fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese.


  • Great source of vitamins

As guinea pigs need immunity, they will also need to have a high intake of vitamins. Sage can provide their needs of vitamins since it contains vitamins K, Vitamins A, B, and C too.

These vitamins will not only boost their immune system but will also increase their defense against diseases and bacteria. Consuming this can result in a healthy cavy.


  • Dental care

Not only will these leaves be good for their teeth, but the antimicrobial property could also defeat microbes that cause dental plaque. (please read here how to trim Guinea pig teeth at home)


  • Ease of digestion

Sage leaves have been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Studies have proven that sage leaves relaxes the stomach and decrease the severeness of diarrhea. It also fights diabetes and helps when your guinea pigs loo their appetite.

So it is advantageous when you see that your guinea pig has lost its appetite. Or maybe when your guinea pig changes behavior over the food you offer, give them some leaves of sage, it might help them.


  • Mental health

Some scientists say that letting your guinea pig eat sage can boost their mental performance. It enables them to do specific tasks; you can even train them then. (please read here how to keep Guinea pig happy)

You may look at sage as a portion of good food for your cavy, but wait! There’s more to this than you think.


Risks Of Sage

If you think that since sage has a high number of essential oils, your guinea pigs are going to need them. Of course, they will need them, but having a high concentration of essential oils in someone’s body can be toxic. Not only for humans but for your pet guinea pig too.

Sage herbs are known to have much variety of oils within. The sage oil contains thujone, which is known to be silent poison if regularly taken. Not only that but these oils, when taken at a high rate, can also cause your cavy restlessness and increase in heart rate.

Feeding them more than they could take could lower their sugar level excessively, wherein your guinea pig may start to act out. The overall risk just reminds you to be cautious about the daily intake of this plant. Nothing excessive could be right.

Yes, you can feed your guinea pigs with sage but always keep in mind to provide it to them in moderation.


How Much Can You Feed Them?

Because of the presence of the essential oils that, when taken regularly, is poisonous, scheduling or dosage control when feeding sage to them might be beneficial.

Guinea pigs have a lifespan of almost 4 to 8 years when fed healthy. It is not like your guinea pig will do something to get you to provide them with sage but having to eat the same thing every day could be dull.

Some of your pets will show tantrums when it is eating time. They would like you to change some things in their diet when that happens. Being a herbivore animal, hays are their primary food. Having some other endive(can Guinea pig eat endive), apple fruits(Can Guinea pigs eat apples), or the sage mix things up can be a good idea.

Giving them 2-3 leaves once or twice a week is the recommended dosage of feeding these sage to your guinea pigs. Usually, guinea pigs don’t like to eat them after having a few, so you don’t necessarily have to include them in their diets.

But if it so happens that your cavy loves to eat sage, feeding them a leaf per day might not cause any harm. Overfeeding them with it is a bad idea. If they didn’t finish what you gave them, remove it immediately because there is always a chance of overeating.



Most of these adorable creatures are fragile and are supposed to be handled with extra care. Giving them enough food and love is the way to go. In feeding your guinea pig, it is recommended to provide them twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.

Anything left from their food must be removed to avoid overeating. If you are still wondering if guinea pigs can eat sage, Yes, they can but with extraordinary moderation.

Having some spare change to their diet is not harmful, do it slowly and not immediately. Can guinea pigs eat sage? Any vegetables or fruits are healthy for them. Remember to follow their schedule, habits, and diets to have a healthy living cavy within your reach.