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02
DEC
2018
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Rabbit owners are delightful people. You know that they are rarely loud and obnoxious (their rabbits would never stand for it); they have plenty of patience (because getting to know a rabbit takes time); and you can be certain that they are full of love and laughter (because that is exactly what rabbits inspire).
So, if you have gotten yourself a pet rabbit, welcome to the club. Your new baby bunny is sure to hop his way into your heart (or thump, depending on how stubborn you are about it). Rabbits are truly easy to love, as long as you give them just a few basics. Bunnies of all ages can be skittish, so avoid loud noises when you can. They also love to keep their feet on the ground, so be prepared to build ramps up to the couch. And, above all, rabbits have a specific diet, which undoubtedly should not be altered as it will affect the health and happiness of your pet.
Rabbits (and other small furries, including chinchillas and guinea pigs) are fibrevores. They are not.. [More]
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Tags :
What Is Best Hay For Rabbits In South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Best Grass Hay Rabbits South Africa , Timothy Hay South Africa
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27
MAY
2018
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According to the annual PDSA Animal Welfare (PAW) Report, inappropriate diet has been consistently cited by veterinary professionals as the top issue that needs to be addressed for rabbits. During Rabbit Awareness Week in UK, they’re on a mission to turn things around for Britain’s bunnies. Muesli has the reputation of being a healthy, nutritious food for humans and the same approach has been used when marketing muesli-type foods for small pets. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. While pet owners may think they’re buying a nutritious mix of tasty nibbles, feeding a muesli mix to small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs can result in all sorts of health problems.
Research undertaken by The University of Edinburgh reveals that muesli-based diets encourage selective feeding, where rabbits eat some (high starch/sugar) components of the muesli diet, while rejecting the more fibrous pellets. Selective feeding in this way increases the risk of:
Dental .. [More]
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Tags :
Why It’s Time To Move Away From Muesli , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Guinea Pig Food South Africa , Chinchilla Food South Africa
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07
APR
2018
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Not all grass is the same. At Burgess, they believe in producing grass with the highest possible nutritional value, grown in a way that supports British farmers and gives the environment a helping hand. When you look at their Excel products for rabbits and guinea pigs, you’ll find that grass is listed as the first ingredient. This is because, in the wild, grass is what these small animals would eat. As pets, it remains the most important element of their diet. However, not all grass is the same. The grass used in Burgess Excel Nuggets is sourced from the UK to meet their stringent specifications and is exclusive to Burgess. No other pet food manufacturer has access to their grass and they are justifiably proud of its provenance.
At Burgess, they have a long tradition of supporting British farmers. As part of their ongoing commitment, they actively source their ingredients as close to their mill as possible. Their grass comes from the heart of the Lincolnshire countr.. [More]
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Tags :
Why Quality Grass Is Important For Burgess Excel , Why Grass Is Important For Burgess Excel , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Guinea Pig Food South Africa , Chinchilla Food South Africa
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03
MAR
2018
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Selective feeding occurs when rabbits choose some components of the muesli diet in preference to others. Rabbits will naturally select the higher energy (high sugar or starch elements) and reject the pellets. This results in an unbalanced diet, as the pellets are often supplemented with minerals and vitamins as well as often being high in fibre.
Selective feeding increases the risk of the problems below:
- dental disease
- gut stasis and other digestive problems
- fly strike
- reduced fibre intake
- reduced water intake
Rabbits fed muesli style diets eat less hay leading to a reduced fibre intake. These issues have been highlighted in research supported by Burgess Pet Care. The results have been published in peer reviewed journals. As a result of this research Burgess stopped producing muesli style diets in 2013 and we have continued to educate vets, retailers and rabbit owners on the importance of correct nutrition for rabbits and guinea pigs.. [More]
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Tags :
Muesli Style Diets are Unhealthy For Pet Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
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15
JAN
2017
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Did you know that rabbits need different types of hay to sleep on and to eat? We all know that rabbits are herbivores – but at Burgess they like to term rabbits ‘fibrevores’ because this highlights the fact that fibre is what ensures nose to tail health. Forget five a day, think fibre a day!
While grass and herb based foods, such as Burgess Excel Nuggets and Burgess Nature’s Blend, will provide a good portion of your rabbit’s fibre needs, grass is what they would naturally nibble all day long in the wild. Providing enough fresh grass every day to meet your rabbit’s needs is difficult, hay has just the same health and digestive benefits as fresh grass – but is much easier to store.
In fact, studies have shown that "Feeding Hay" should make up to 85-90 per cent of your rabbit’s daily diet, that’s around 1kg of hay per week, to maintain a healthy gut and weight and keep teeth healthy. However research has sho.. [More]
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Tags :
Difference Between Bedding & Feeding Hay For Rabbits Guinea Pigs Chinchillas South Africa
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29
MAY
2016
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The latest feeding recommendation for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas is a diet of 80% grass hay and/or fresh grass. But why are there so many pet owners reluctant to do this? Maybe there is a fear that their beloved pet will starve to death. Or how do we know if our hay in South Africa is good enough? It has been proven that only a diet of hay provides them with good digestive health as well as physical and mental stimulation.
Concentrated food such as pellets, nuggets or dry food mixtures (also called muesli) must constitute only 10% of the diet because they don’t contain the right type of fibre. Failing to provide adequate portions of the right kind of fibre can rapidly lead to illness or death.
Because grass/hay does not appeal to humans, we have decided to feed more concentrated foods. Many people today are becoming more and more conscious of what they putting into their bodies. This is why we always look at the nutritional information on the back of foo.. [More]
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Tags :
What Is Best Hay In South Africa? Which Is Best Hay In South Africa? , Review of Different Hay in South Africa
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29
JAN
2016
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Hay can be as nutritious to small animals as turkey and all the trimmings are to us, but it also provides them with many other added benefits. Here’s three reasons why hay is not just for Christmas…
For fodder… Hay for eating, such as Timothy or meadow hay, is different from hay for bedding, as it is much better quality with little dust (great for pets with respiratory problems), and lower calories. Packed full of fibre, it’s also excellent for your small animal’s digestive system as it reduces blockages and keeps the gut moving, which is very important for rabbits and guinea pigs.
Ensure you buy good quality fresh hay that smells sweet, is slightly green and has long strands – if it doesn’t look appealing to you, chances are your pet won’t like it either, and always provide a good supply of water to wash it all down.
If your pet doesn’t seem interested in the hay, try out a different type. Rabbits have m.. [More]
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Tags :
Encouraging your pet to eat more hay , Rabbit Hay South Africa
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01
JUN
2015
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The dietary needs of any animal (including humans) are directly linked to the unique digestive processes of that animal. Fibrevores, as the name implies, need lots of fibre. Fibrevores have a unique digestive system with an appendix designed to deal with fibre exclusively. A complete fibrevore diet will provide for their dental, digestive and emotional health. The Excel 5-a-day Feeding Plan is an easy to follow guide to ensure your pet gets the right balance of fibre, nutrients, vitamins and minerals for their all-round health.
The benefits of Timothy hay on teeth
Rabbits have teeth that continually grow throughout their lifetime. If they’re not ground down through eating, they can form sharp points and spurs. By eating a high fibre diet, the healthy length and shape of the teeth are maintained.
Bedding
More than that, fibrevores love snuggling in piles of Timothy hay. They love playing with it and pushing it around their homes. It’s a great com.. [More]
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Tags :
importance of Timothy hay for fibrevores
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15
MAR
2015
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Rabbit owners are delightful people. You know that they are rarely loud and obnoxious (their rabbits would never stand for it); they have plenty of patience (because getting to know a rabbit takes time); and you can be certain that they are full of love and laughter (because that is exactly what rabbits inspire).
So, if you have gotten yourself a pet rabbit, welcome to the club. Your new baby bunny is sure to hop his way into your heart (or thump, depending on how stubborn you are about it). Rabbits are truly easy to love, as long as you give them just a few basics. Bunnies of all ages can be skittish, so avoid loud noises when you can. They also love to keep their feet on the ground, so be prepared to build ramps up to the couch. And, above all, rabbits have a specific diet, which undoubtedly should not be altered as it will affect the health and happiness of your pet.
Feeding Your Rabbit Timothy Hay
Rabbits (and other small furries, including chinchillas and guine.. [More]
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Tags :
Why Is Timothy Hay Important For Rabbits In South Africa , Timothy Hay in South Africa , Rabbit Food South Africa
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11
DEC
2014
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Guinea pigs (which are also called cavies) are remarkable pets to have. They are quite funny and charming most of the time, even when they are hiding (perhaps, especially when they are hiding). With adorable faces and long, round bodies, it is little wonder that guinea pigs have captured our attention and found a way into our hearts.
But, although they are small, guinea pigs are still pets, and that means that they need some loving attention from their owners. The biggest hurdle is, of course, ensuring that your guinea pigs have a comfortable home that is both snuggly, but not in the sun – and airy, but not in any draughts. And, once you have this right, you are well on your way to providing your pets with the best home possible. After that it is mostly a matter of feeding your guinea pigs the best possible diet and then… enjoying them as they play.
Guinea Pigs Are Fibrevores
As you learned in school, some animals are herbivores; some are (us.. [More]
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Tags :
Feeding Your Guinea Pigs
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