Food safety
Can Guinea Pigs Eat Cilantro? Yes, a Good Leafy Herb
Yes, guinea pigs can eat cilantro, and VCA Animal Hospitals lists it among good vegetable choices alongside romaine, green and red leaf lettuce, broccoli, carrot tops and beet greens. The leaves and soft stems can both be fed. Like every fresh food, it works best as one part of a varied mix, introduced slowly to a guinea pig that has not had it before. A few washed sprigs added to the day's greens, with unlimited hay and a vitamin C-fortified pellet, is a good way to serve it.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why cilantro is a good choice
VCA's guinea pig feeding guide names cilantro among its good vegetables, with green and red leaf lettuce, romaine, broccoli, cauliflower, endive, carrot tops, beet greens, carrot and squash. It is low in sugar, so it can earn a regular place rather than a treat slot.
The foundation does not change. Merck says good-quality grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass should be the main food and available at all times, with about two tablespoons of guinea pig pellets a day.
Cilantro and vitamin C
Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C and need it from food every day, as VCA and Merck both explain. VCA lists bell pepper, tomato, turnip, collard greens and asparagus as vegetables high in vitamin C, and Merck adds broccoli, parsley, red cabbage, turnip greens and kale.
Cilantro is not named on either list, so treat it as a good everyday green rather than a vitamin C source. Pair it with a vegetable such as bell pepper and a fresh, fortified pellet.
How to prepare cilantro
Rinse the bunch well, as VCA advises for all fresh greens, and discard yellowed, slimy or wilted sprigs. Trim off the tough stem ends and any roots, and keep the leaves and soft upper stems.
Serve the sprigs in a small, heavy dish with other greens, as Merck suggests, and remove whatever is left after a few hours. Skip salsa, guacamole and other dishes containing cilantro, which usually include onion, garlic and salt.
Guinea pigs need floor space as much as fresh food; a small animal playpen or a large indoor cage gives them room to explore between meals.
How much cilantro to give
A few sprigs, roughly a small pinch of leaves, is a good share of the day's greens for an adult guinea pig. Combine it with a larger amount of romaine or leaf lettuce, which Merck recommends as daily greens.
Rotate cilantro with other vegetables through the week. Merck advises broadening the diet gradually with small amounts of vegetables, so variety is built up over time rather than all at once.
Young and newly adopted guinea pigs
Merck notes that guinea pigs form food preferences early and recommends keeping a newly adopted animal on the diet it knows, introducing new foods slowly. A guinea pig that has never had cilantro may ignore it at first.
Offer a single sprig beside familiar greens and try again over a few days. Merck also says young, growing and pregnant guinea pigs can have alfalfa-based pellets, while adults do better on timothy-based ones.
Signs of trouble and when to call a vet
Soft droppings or a guinea pig that eats less after a new green are signs to remove it and return to hay and familiar foods for a day or two. Merck notes diet-related upsets can cause diarrhea, gas, bloating and loss of appetite.
Some guinea pigs with digestive illness decline quickly, according to Merck, and may need fluids and syringe feeding from a vet. A guinea pig that has stopped eating, has diarrhea or seems weak should see a vet who treats small mammals the same day.
Other greens to rotate with cilantro
Merck recommends carrot tops, romaine, green leaf and red leaf lettuce as daily greens, and VCA adds endive, beet greens and broccoli. Mixing several keeps meals interesting and spreads nutrients across foods.
Merck advises limiting high-calcium greens such as parsley, kale and spinach, and VCA advises avoiding iceberg lettuce, oats, seeds, nuts and dry cereals. Ask your vet if you are unsure about a new food.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can guinea pigs eat cilantro stems?
Yes. The soft upper stems can be fed along with the leaves. Trim off the tough ends and roots, wash the sprigs well and add a few to the day's greens.
Can guinea pigs eat cilantro every day?
A few sprigs can be part of the daily greens, since VCA lists cilantro as a good vegetable. Rotate it with lettuces and other vegetables so it is not the only green in the bowl.
Is cilantro high in vitamin C for guinea pigs?
It is not on the vitamin C lists from VCA or Merck. Use it as an everyday green and rely on bell pepper, broccoli and a fortified guinea pig pellet for vitamin C.
Is coriander the same as cilantro for guinea pigs?
Yes, cilantro is the US name for the leaves of the coriander plant. Feed the fresh leaves and soft stems; the dried seeds sold as coriander spice are not a guinea pig food.
Can guinea pigs eat cilantro roots?
Trim them off. The roots carry soil and are not part of the fresh greens VCA recommends. The washed leaves and soft stems are the parts to feed.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
