Wild rabbits and guinea pigs eat a varied diet and forage large areas for the freshest, yummiest food.
Pet guinea pigs and rabbits need the same variety, but aren’t as active as their wild relatives and can put weight on easily. It’s also incredibly easy to overfeed these small animals with large helpings of nuggets and treats.
We all want to treat our pets, but it’s important that they have a healthy and balanced diet…
Here Are The Best Foods For Small Animals
The most important part of a guinea pig or rabbit’s diet is hay. This should make up 80% of their daily food intake. As well as supplying them with essential fibre, it also helps to keep their teeth healthy.
Without the grinding action they perform eating hay, their teeth would keep growing, which could lead to dental issues. Small pets also need constant drinking water from a bowl or water bottle.
Guinea Pigs
Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs are unable to to make their own vitamin C, so they need to get this through the nuggets and greens that they’re fed every day. This can include kale, broccoli and cabbage.
They also need more vitamin A than rabbits, although too much calcium can cause UTIs. The urine of a healthy guinea pig is cloudy, but if it goes thick or gritty then it’s time to head to the vets.
Extra vitamins are available that come in a solution to add to your guinea pig’s drinking water if you think they aren’t getting enough vitamin C in particular.
Rabbits
Wild rabbits will graze at dawn and dusk because their gut needs to be working constantly to keep them healthy.
Even though they need to graze, it’s easy to overfeed rabbits – this can put them at risk of obesity, infections, heart disease etc.
Basics
Both guinea pigs and rabbits need to eat lots of hay every day. Providing essential fibre, and keeping teeth healthy are the main benefits of them eating hay, as well as giving them the nutrients that they need.
As well as the hay, they can also have small portions of pellets/nuggets too. Avoid musli type food as the pet is likely to pick out all the things they like the taste of and perhaps miss out on the essential bits.
Extras
Rabbits and guinea pigs can enjoy daily fresh greens – a handful of a few different types will be enough each daily. Occasional sweet treats a couple of times a week are great too.
Apple, carrot or strawberries are brill!
Here Are Some Of The Best Foods For Small Animals, As Well As Foods That Should Be Avoided…
Good Greens:
- Watercress
- Dandelion
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Carrot tops
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Rocket
- Coriander
Tasty Treats:
- Strawberry
- Carrot
- Apple
- Pear
- Kiwi
- Melon
Bad Greens:
- Wild garlic
- Citrus fruits
- Grass clippings
- Potato
- Tomato leaves
- Rhubarb
- Poppies
- Dock leaves
As the kids head back to school and the summer comes to an end, Tailster has all of your pet care needs sorted! Whether you’re looking for regular, daily walks or someone to pop in occasionally to check on your pets, we’ve got you covered. Click here for more information on Tailster’s pet walking and sitting services.