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24
JUN
2014
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Veterinarians claim that as many as 75% of the rabbits that they treat have signs of dental disease. Although rabbit teeth seem to have a mind of their own, you can take action that will avoid your pet becoming one of the statistics. Here a quick guide to rabbit health care – starting with their teeth.
Understanding Rabbit Health Concerns
Just like humans, rabbits are very susceptible to health issues caused by diet. Generally, these concerns are due to a lack of fibre in their diet. Primary concerns often show up first in rabbit teeth; these include:
Teeth that are not worn down – rabbits wear down their teeth when eating Timothy Hay and other grasses. The normal grinding motion of the cheek teeth when eating hay, such as Timothy, is crucial to oral health, as overgrown teeth may be painful – or even fatal if a rabbit can no longer eat properly.
Obesity is another issue; rabbits need a lot of digestible and indigesti.. [More]
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Tags :
Basic Healthcare For Rabbits , Timothy Hay South Africa , Rabbit Hay , Rabbit Cages South Africa , Feeding Rabbits
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12
JUN
2014
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Hay should form the foundation of a rabbit’s, guinea pig’s and chinchilla’s diet and you need to make sure you are feeding a plentiful supply each and every day. There are a number of different types of hay available and certain things you should look out for before feeding, so in this post we aim to walk you through them…
timothy grass
Pay Close Attention…
Before offering the hay to your pets make sure it is clean, free of dust and smelling fresh. To keep it at its peak you need to store the hay in a sealed bag in an area free from damp because it can quickly spoil. Keep it tightly packed because air helps it to become dry and brittle, which needs to be avoided. Hay retains a wonderful aroma, so have a smell – you should be able to smell the aroma of a grassy meadow.
Be consistent…
Fibrevores have a sensitive digestive system which does not cope well with frequent or rapid change. You should try and stick to a .. [More]
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Tags :
Hay For Health And Happiness , Timothy Hay South Africa , Hay supplier , feeding timothy hay , rabbit food , guinea pig food , chinchilla food
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06
JUN
2014
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Guinea pigs are more than just soft, adorable pets. They are smart animals that are good with kids and make a great addition to the family. They are normally very friendly and sometimes even squeak happily when their owners walk into the room.
If you’ve decided to adopt a guinea pig, you probably already know how important it is to provide a good home for him. Guinea pigs need proper care and the best home so they will be healthy and content. When guinea pigs are well looked after, their lifespan is usually between five and seven years.
So how do you make sure your guinea pig has the best home possible? Here are some guidelines to help you welcome your newest family member into the home.
What You Will Need
There are some supplies you will need from the day you pick up your guinea pig. These supplies need to be ready for your guinea pig in order for him to be safe and happy while he gets used to his new home.
When you purchase a guinea pig, make su.. [More]
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Tags :
Guinea Pigs Make Adorable Pets , How To Care For Guinea Pigs , Pet Guinea Pig South Africa , Guinea Pig Cage South Africa , Pet Guinea Pig food South Africa , Timothy Hay , Hay
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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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29
MAY
2014
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Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas must have diets high in fiber to keep their digestive systems healthy and working properly. Hay provides good digestive health as well as physical and mental stimulation. The two main types of hay are grass hay and legume hay. Grass hay is the better of the two because of its high nutrient content.
Grass hays include teff, eragrostis, timothy and meadow hay. Some legume hays are alfalfa, clover, beans and peas. While legume hays are very tasty to your rabbit, they are high in calories and can cause obesity.
The fiber in hay is essential to a rabbit’s digestive system. If bunnies don’t get a regular supply, their system will slow down, which can lead to fatal gastrointestinal stasis. The trouble is, not all hay is attractive enough for rabbits to want to eat.
Teff and eragrostis are perhaps two of the more widely used hay varieties in South Africa. The major disadvantage of these hays is that the nutritional value can r.. [More]
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Tags :
Timothy Hay Supplier , Rabbits Need High Quality Hay , Timothy Hay is now available in South Africa , Timothy Hay Finally in S.A. , Buy Timothy Hay
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25
MAY
2014
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Vets report that four out of five guinea pigs that come into their practice have a health problem that is directly related to poor diet. Common ailments are constipation, overgrown teeth, obesity and other problems related to these primary issues.
The good news is that many of these are easily prevented if owners understood a bit more about what their guinea pigs should be eating and why.
A day in the life of a wild guinea pig
Consider a day in the life of a wild guinea pig. He would spend 70% of his time above ground searching out or 'foraging' for food while keeping a beady eye out for predators, to make sure he wasn't going to end up as someone else's dinner! As a ground feeder, his diet would be mainly made up of grasses, hay, herbs and bark - all high fibre foods! He couldn't climb trees to get fruit. His territory would be the equivalent of around 20 tennis courts meaning he'd get a lot of exercise every day searching out food acr.. [More]
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Tags :
Why Timothy Hay Is Best Food For Guinea Pigs In South Africa
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21
MAY
2014
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Rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs should be offered free access to large quantities of fresh Timothy Hay daily. As with most foods, different types of hay are not identical in structure and nutrient content. This is especially true for timothy hay, teff/eragrostis hay and alfalfa hay. Although all these types of hay are now available in South Africa, each has its place in your pet's dietary needs and should not be substituted for one or another.
Teff and eragrostis are perhaps two of the more widely used hay varieties in South Africa. They are often very palatable and provide a good amount of fibre without providing too high an energy value. The major disadvantage of these hays is that the nutritional value can range hugely from good to extremely poor quality. These hays are almost brown looking (a little green but not much), and it is soft to the touch. The quality will ultimately depend upon stage of growth when cut, fertilization, and environmental factors. Alwa.. [More]
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Tags :
Is Timothy Hay Worth Extra Costs in South Africa , Eragrostis Hay , Teff Hay , Lucern , Alfafa Hay
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18
MAY
2014
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People are naturally drawn to animals, and there are many benefits to keeping pets in your home. Indeed, there are many studies that demonstrate people with animal relationships derive an unusual amount of healthy benefits from them.
Just like humans, domesticated animals require a special diet aimed at providing them with all the proper nutrition they need for a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, some pet owners do not take the time to ensure their small furries are getting the diet they require. Although different animals do have different nutritional requirements, this quick guide will ensure your rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla is receiving exactly what he needs for optimum health.
It All Starts with Timothy Hay
The foundation of your pet’s diet begins with timothy hay. Rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs cannot get enough of it. Small furries need to eat a pile of hay as large as their body every single day. Timothy hay has almost everything yo.. [More]
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Tags :
Feeding Your Small Pet Furries in South Africa , Feeding Pet Rabbit Food , Feeding Guinea Pig Food , Cavi , Feeding Chinchillas Food , Timothy Hay , Teff Hay , Alfafa Hay , Lucerne , Burgess Excel
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28
APR
2014
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This is a question we are often asked… Can I feed my Chinchilla Rabbit Pellets?
The answer we always give is a resounding “no”. Chinchillas have a similar digestive system to rabbits and fibre is a core part of their diet. However, their nutritional needs are quite different which is why Burgess formulated Excel Nuggets specifically for Chinchillas. Consistently feeding rabbit nuggets or rodent pellets to a chinchilla can cause illness, so please opt for a food that has been specifically formulated to meet their needs.
This is also why we would suggest that rabbits and chinchillas are not kept together as pets. As with rabbits, a chinchilla’s teeth will continue to grow throughout his life. They can become overgrown and this can be fatal. A good, coarse fibre filled diet, including Burgess Excel feeding timothy hay, will help to keep teeth in good shape in addition to wooden chew objects for gnawing.
If you spot that your chinchilla i.. [More]
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Tags :
Feeding Chinchillas The Right Diet in South Africa , Chinchilla food South Africa , Chinchilla pellets , Muesli Chinchilla food , Lucerne pellet , Muesli Chinchilla food , Chinchilla breeder , Timothy Hay
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