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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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12
SEP
2014
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Many homes are simply not complete without a few pets around. And, not every pet is a cat or a dog. There are many, many different pets that people can keep in their homes. Each one of them has special needs and dietary requirements. And, feeding your pets the right food – and the right amount of food is paramount to their continued health. Indeed, it is one of the things you’ll need to consider long before you bring home your pets. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of them falling ill – or worse.
Keep in mind, that with all the different needs that every pet has, they don’t all need dry food. While this may be the best bet for your dogs and cats, other animals require different foods. Sometimes, those foods may seem rather boring to you, such as Timothy Hay, but they are essential to some animals.
Who Eats Timothy Hay?
Some animals are carnivores (or rather, omnivores) and some that are strictly vegetarian. Within that latter group a.. [More]
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Tags :
Guide To Feeding Hay To Fibrevores , Pet Guinea Pig Food South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Chinchilla Food South Africa , Timothy Hay South Africa
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30
AUG
2014
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It’s funny how some of the most iconic stories and images we have in our minds of rabbits involve them eating vegetables (think Peter Rabbit or Bugs Bunny). They certainly do love treats like carrot tops, but these are treats only. Rabbits, like other fibrevores, need a great deal more than vegetables to survive. And mostly what they need are grasses and hay.
Who and What Are Fibrevores?
Fibrevores is a bit of a funny term isn’t it? And, it’s hardly one of the terms we learn in school; instead we’re treated to carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. So, let’s work with what we know. Fibrevores are herbivores – they don’t eat any meat. But, they’re a tad more specialised than that. They have developed a strong, overwhelming need for fibre.
Fibre, of course, is found in grains and grasses. Of course, we have it added to some of our foods to keep us moving, but for the most part, fibrevores get their daily intake of fibre .. [More]
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Tags :
A Quick Guide to Feeding Hay , Feeding Hay in South Africa , Timothy Hay South Africa , Rabbit Food South Africa , Guinea pig food south africa , chinchilla food south africa
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15
AUG
2014
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Gut stasis is the number one motility disorder of rabbits and is a potentially deadly condition in which the digestive system slows down or stops completely. Bad bacteria then builds up in the intestines and releases gas into the system, causing very painful bloating and further decreasing a rabbit’s motivation to eat or drink. This compounds the problem because the rabbit will become more dehydrated and starved of essential nutrients and roughage.
The contents of the digestive tract will become more compact, and the rabbit will have an even more difficult time passing it through. The bacteria can also release toxins into the system which overtax the liver and can cause the organ to ultimately fail.
Motility Disorders - Some essential facts
A rabbit not eating will develop hypomotility
Reduced gut movements will cause anorexia
Gastric stasis causes dehydra.. [More]
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Tags :
Gut Stasis In Rabbits - The Big Challenge , Pet Rabbits South Africa , Rabbit Care South Africa , Rabbit Food South Africa , Online Pet Store South Africa , Online Pet Shop South Africa
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23
JUL
2014
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Are you providing everything your rabbits need to be happy and healthy and live a long life? You may think you are, but do you know for sure? Your rabbits may have a lovely big hutch to live in, and spend their days in a large run with lots of space to exercise and explore, but what about rabbit food? Are your rabbits getting all the right nutrients in their meals? If you simply feed your rabbits a supermarket dry rabbit food mix, you could be neglecting to give your them everything they need. Supermarket mixes may well be deficient in fibre which is vital for rabbits and other small mammals.
Rabbits need a lot of fibre in their diet to keep them healthy. You may be surprised at exactly how much fibre they do need. Hay is a good source of fibre, but did you know that you should be feeding a pile of hay to your rabbit, roughly the same size as his body – each day? If your rabbit consumes this much hay, he isn’t over eating, so you shouldn’t cut down on .. [More]
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Tags :
Meeting The Needs of Rabbits In South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Rabbit Hay , Timothy Hay South Africa
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21
JUN
2014
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Rabbits make fantastic pets, they love quiet spaces and require only a bit of affection from their generous owners. Ideally rabbits have at least one bunny friend to spend their days with, so they are ready for your affection when you come home in the evening. Give them this, plenty of timothy hay, and there is only one thing left to do – provide your bunnies with the perfect home. Unfortunately, that is not simply a hutch… That is only the beginning.
The Rabbit Hutch
Whether you call it a hutch or a cage and whether it is indoors or out, this is the beginning of your rabbit’s home. Consider the hutch to be a bedroom. It is a comfortable and secure space to sleep. Ideally you would have one hutch per rabbit to hide and rest in, and another larger one that all your bunnies can sleep in together (if they are in the mood for that). These should all be connected in some way, though rabbits should not have to go through each other’s be.. [More]
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Tags :
Become A Responsible Rabbit Owner , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Rabbit Pellets South Africa , Rabbit Hutch , Rabbit Cages
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12
JUN
2014
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Like all domestic pets, rabbits need their fair share of attention and care. As one of the most popular pets in South Africa, these animals are coming ever closer to our hearts. And, we are learning increasingly more about the proper way to love these pets so they can live long, healthy and happy lives.
A great deal of media attention has been paid to proper housing of domesticated rabbits, and every year around Easter, the public is urged not to adopt bunnies arbitrarily as gifts as this leads to a surge in rescue efforts annually.
One area that receives exceedingly little attention, unless tied to overall digestion is oral health and hygiene. Fortunately, rabbits do not need to brush their teeth, but they do have terribly specific concerns. Rabbit owners should know the main concerns, how to spot them – and more importantly, how to prevent them.
What Big Teeth You Have!
Unlike humans, rabbit teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime. On a.. [More]
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Tags :
Caring For Rabbit's Oral Health , Maintaining Good Rabbit Teeth , Rabbit Food South Africa , Pet Rabbit Dental Care
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08
JUN
2014
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House rabbits make wonderful pets and can live happily indoors throughout the year, provided you meet all their welfare needs. There are a number of considerations you need to make before committing to owning house rabbits so you can be sure that this is the right pet for you, and vice versa.
Companionship
Rabbits are social creatures and thrive in the company of others. We would always advise owning more than one rabbit; neutered males and females usually make a great pairing, especially if they have been brought up together. If you own a rabbit and are adding a second rabbit take time to introduce them slowly. You may find that they are initially hostile towards each other so seek advice from your vet or local rescue so that you understand how to bond your rabbits successfully.
Exercise
You need to provide your house rabbits with the opportunity to dig, graze and exercise, just like they would do in the wild so why not grow trays of grass, and provide c.. [More]
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Tags :
Keeping House Rabbits Happy , Pet Rabbit South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Pet Rabbit Hutch , Pet Rabbit Cage , House Rabbits , Bunny Home , Bunny Food
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06
JUN
2014
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Fibre facts:
Fibre is the most important ingredient in rabbit food. It is essential for normal wear of teeth. So much so that FEDIAF state “For the health and well-being of a rabbit good quality hay should be fed at all times”.
Daily fibre intake is essential to the rabbit to maintain normal:
gut function
dental wear
fermentation in the caecum.
Fibre comes mainly from plant cell walls.
Plant cell walls containing lignin, cellulose and silicate phytoliths are also important for salivation and dental health.
Plant cell walls consist of polysaccharides associated with;
glycoproteins
phenolic compounds
acetic acid
lignin
Fibre definitions:
Digestible fibre – a young growing plant cell has primary cell walls, which contains fermentable or digestible fibre. This fibre supports caecal fermentation.
Indigestible fibre – older plants develop secondary cell walls, which cons.. [More]
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Tags :
Fibre Facts On Pet Food Labels , Fibre Facts & Definitions , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Chinchilla food South Africa , Pet Guinea Pig food South Africa , Timothy Hay South Africa , Teff Hay , Rabbit Hay ,
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05
JUN
2014
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Rabbits eat mainly carrots, right? Wrong! There are lots of misconceptions about what rabbits should eat. Find out what rabbits really should eat to stay healthy!
Myth #1 - Rabbits eat carrots
Carrots shouldn’t be main source of food. Rabbits don't naturally eat root vegetables/fruit. Carrots/fruit are high in sugar and should only be fed in small amounts as occasional treats. Rabbits need mainly hay and/or grass, some leafy greens and a small, measured amount of pellets.
Myth #2 - Hay is just bedding
Hay isn’t just bedding. Fresh, dust–free hay should be their main source of food available at all times. We recommend Timothy hay because it is high in protein and other nutrients and has lots of beneficial fibre.
Myth #3 - Rabbits eat lettuce
Diets shouldn’t be lettuce based. Rabbits shouldn’t eat some lettuces (e.g. iceberg) as they contain laudanum which can be harmful in large quantities. Some lettuce is "worse".. [More]
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Tags :
Common Rabbit Diet Myths , Pet Rabbits South Africa , Pet Rabbit Care South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa , Food for bunny , petfood for bunnies , buy Timothy Hay South Africa
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