Copyright © Guinea Pigs Australia. All rights reserved Dangerous Forages 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 Pigs Most 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, brocolli, 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 Toxicity If 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 Salivation Restlessness Diarrhoea Scratching at mouth or face Increased Urination Muscle Twitching or shaking Seizures If 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 List Here 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. A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T W Y Z  A African milk bush                                        Agapanthus Allamanda Angel's trumpet Angel's wings Aroid plants Arrowhead vine Arum lily Aussie gold B Barbados nut Baronne de Rothschild Bead tree Bellyache bush Be-still tree Bird pepper Black bean Blackberry nightshade Blind-your-eye Bluebrush Pea Bottle Tree Bracken Brazilian nightshade Brazilian pepper tree Broad-leaved pepper tree Burrawang palm Bush Allamanda Bushman's poison Butterfly Flag Byfield Fern ____________________ C Calla lily Caladium Candelabra cactus Cape lilac Castor bean Castor oil plant Cestrums Ceriman Chalice vine Chilean cestrum Chilli pepper Chinaberry Clustered fishtail palm Codiaeum Common nightshade Cook tree Coral plant Cotton-leaf physic nut Crab's eye Crown-of-thorns Cunjevoi Curcas bean Cycads D Darling peas Dasheen Dicky plant Dieffenbachia Dumbcane Duranta ____________________ E Elephant ears Ellangowan poison bush ____________________ F Fishtail palm Flamingo flower Flamingo lily Foxglove Frogsmouth Fruit salad plant ____________________ G Geisha girl Giant stinging tree Gidee-gidee Gimpie gimpie Glossy nightshade Golden cup Golden dewdrop Golden shower Goldfinger Gout plant Gout stick Green cestrum Green poisonberry Grevillea Robyn Gordon Guatemala rhubarb ____________________ H Hydrangea ____________________ I Iodine bush Iris ____________________ J Japanese wax tree Japanese wisteria Jequirity bean Jerusalem cherry Joseph's Coat ____________________ K Karabil ____________________ L Lady of the night Lady's slipper Lantana Lucky nut ____________________ M Madonna lily Malabar tree Madeira winter cherry Mapoon Milky mangrove Molle Moreton Bay chestnut Mortii Mulga ____________________ N Naked lady Nardoo Night blooming jessamine Nodding blue lily Norwood beauty ____________________ O Oleander Oleander rose laurel ____________________ P Palma christi Pencil tree Peace lily Pepper tree Pepperina Pimelea ferruginea Persian lilac Philodendron Physic nut Pimelea Pineapple zamia Pink oleander Plumbago Poison sumach Precatory bean Prickly or spiny plants Primula Prince of Wales Princess Mary Purge nut ____________________ R Rattle Pods (All Species) Rhus River poison tree Rock Fern Rosary tree Rosary pea ____________________ S Sago palm Scarlet Rhus Sheena's gold Silky oak Sky flower Slipper flower Spotted Emu Bush Snowflake Snows of Kilimanjaro Solitary fishtail palm Sticky Tail Flower Stinging trees Stinging nettles Sumach Swiss-cheese plant Syngonium ____________________ T Tail flower Taro Tartan Tomato Leaves and Stalks Tree datura Tree zamia Trumpet flower Tulip cedar ____________________ W Wax tree Waxflower Weir Vine White arum lily White butterfly White cedar White oleander Wild parsnips Wild passionfruit Wild pineapple Winter cherry Wintersweet Willow-leaved jessamine Woolly waterlil ____________________ Y Yellow Allamanda (sometimes pink) Yellow oleander Yellow tail flower Yesterday, today and tomorrow ____________________ Z Zamia Zigzag plant   Further Information There is no definite analysis to see if a plant is poisonous however if researched thoroughly you can ensure that you identify plants correctly. Some excellent reading material includes: For further information on poisonous plants in Australia please below: Australian Plants Online - Native Poisonous plants Poisons Information Centre - QLD Daisies Tomato Leaves Oleander Rhubarb ____________________ ____________________