Kale rose to popularity as a superfood over a decade ago and has since become a staple on supermarket shelves. And while delicious green vegetables are great for human health, overconsumption can be fatal for some pets.
For the past two weeks, Dr Emma Hall has been dealing with a surge in sick guinea pigs at Sydney's Wild Veterinary Hospital, all suffering from crystals and stones in their urinary tracts. “The most frequent stones are calcium oxalate crystals that form stones, and stones form from high-calcium foods such as kale. Kale is one of the main culprits,” she said.
Typically costing less than $50 to purchase, these energetic rodents are popular pets for young children, but surgery to treat stones can cost upwards of $1,500. “People think it's great. Guinea pigs love the taste so much that they'll eat it as one of the main ingredients in their diet,” Hall said.
By speaking to Yahoo News about the issue, Hall hopes to spread awareness and prevent hospitalizations. It is now common knowledge that carrots contain a lot of sugar and should be fed sparingly to rabbits, but little is known about the link between kale and guinea pig illnesses. .
What symptoms will occur if you consume too much kale?
The first signs that something is wrong with your guinea pig are often small changes in behavior that you notice. In some cases, they may make noises or bleed while urinating. Halls may also discover problems during routine inspections.
She can go months without seeing any patients with these symptoms, and then suddenly see a surge in admissions. In the past few weeks, her team has treated her five guinea pigs.
What does guinea pig surgery involve?
During surgery, a urinary catheter is inserted and the bladder is flushed out. Although most procedures are successful, complications may occur after the animal returns home.
“Recovery time is about a week, but the first two days are usually critical,” Hall said. “They're frustrated because you can do everything perfectly and they just decide, 'No, I'm done, I'm giving up.'
To avoid getting sick from kale, veterinarians recommend feeding your guinea pig a varied diet, including a variety of salad greens, herbs, and foods high in vitamin C.
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