Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: Are Ficus tree leaves poisonous to baby guinea pigs?
QUESTION:
I bought a guinea pig and it died after 2 weeks. It had been transfered to my
grandparents house once but was only outside a minute. Whileat my
grandparents house she ate an entire Ficus tree leaf. My mom told me that
they were poisonous. I was wondering if they were poisonous to baby guinea
pigs. The whole time we had her she was always real quiet, did not eat a lot and
was not very active. We now have two more guinea pigs who are just the
opposite of that. When she died she looked like she was screaming or gasping
for air. Do you think that the leaf killed her or do you think that something
else did? One more question. The guinea pigs we now have are both males. They are
from the same litter and have never been seperated. Someone told me that if they
stay together they will kill each other, is that
true???
ANSWER:
Guinea pigs can die suddenly from a variety of diseases, so it did not have to be
the ficus. The white latex in ficus sap is darned irritating and can cause a lot
of pain and discomfort in the mouth if the leaves are munched on. I would have
thought it would take a lot more than one leaf to kill it, though. Other common
killers of guinea pigs are antibiotics. Many that are safe for me, you, my sheep
and a rat will result in the death of guinea
pigs.
Sometimes male rodents will chew each other up if housed together. maybe yours
won't. Look for sores randomly distributed about their bodies. Sure signs of
unacceptable sibling rivalries.