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21
NOV
2020
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Muesli diets lead to health problems in rabbits and should be avoided. For many years muesli mixes have been popular as rabbit food but the health risks associated with feeding them have been recognised.
In 1996 a paper was published that highlighted the problems of selective feeding from these mixtures. More recent research in 2013 confirmed that selective feeding is a problem and that obesity and inactivity can be induced by feeding muesli mixes as well as dental disease.
What are muesli mixes?
Muesli mixes are a mixture of cereals, legumes, pellets, extrusions and, in some cases, other ingredients such as locust beans or alfalfa. The mixtures are cheap to produce, easy to store and heavily marketed by the food manufacturers.
Cereals are the staple ingredients of these mixes and they are high in starch and low in fibre, so they are fattening, which is acceptable for short-lived rabbits that are reared for meat, but unacceptable for pet rabbits that can li.. [More]
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Tags :
Why Rabbit Muesli Diets Are Harmful To Rabbits? South Africa , Why Rabbit Muesli Diets Should Be Avoided South Africa , Pet Rabbit Food South Africa
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18
OCT
2020
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There is a lack of scientific study on avian nutrition, especially as it relates to different bird species, but most experts agree that a good diet for parrots begin with a formulated pellet diet with a variety of other foods added as supplements. A diet based primarily on seeds is deficient in many nutrients, including vitamin A and calcium, and is too high in fat.
This is not to say that seed do not have a place in avian diets, but many birds come to prefer them to the exclusion of other healthy choices and can be fussy when it comes to trying a varied diet. Some birds will even pick out a couple of favorites from a seed mix, which further reduces the nutritional balance in the diet. When it comes to parrot nutrition, consider seeds to be somewhat like junk food: birds love them, but they are not the healthiest choice.
For most species of parrot, seeds should only make up about 10 percent of the diet. Some species, like budgies and cockatiels are naturally .. [More]
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Tags :
Best Diet For Parrots In South Africa , Bird Food South Africa , Parrot Food South Africa , Best Bird Pellet Seed Food Diet South Africa
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03
OCT
2020
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NT Labs Pro-f offers a selection of probiotic and prebiotic high-specification foods for aquarium fish. All of the foods in the range have been made using the highest quality ingredients along with the latest nutritional technology.
From perfectly manicured aquascaped aquaria with ornamental shrimp and nano fish species, through to competition grade discus, all the fish you love to keep are catered for.
Pro-f Probiotic Tropical fish food is a premium feed for freshwater tropical fish. Containing probiotic bacteria, this granular fish feed ensures your fish absorb more of the nutrients, resulting in less waste and improved water quality. Stimmune supports a fish’s immune system, keeping them healthy and primed to fight off disease. Packed with natural colour-enhancing and highly nutritious spirulina to emphasise the colours of your fish, and with easily digestible krill and squid meal. Probiotic Tropical is highly palatable and beneficial to a wide variety of speci.. [More]
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Aquatic Aquarium Freshwater & Marine Fish Food South Africa
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20
JUN
2020
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Cats and food is always an interesting one. Unlike dogs, to whom food is often the ultimate reward, felines are noted for turning their perfectly formed little noses up at their dinner for no apparent reason. And, while the occasionally outburst of food fussiness is nothing to worry about, if your cat has obviously stopped eating, this can be a real cause for concern.
Not eating can have an impact on your cat’s health even after as little as 24 hours. For a kitten, especially if they’re younger than six weeks old, avoiding food for just 12 hours can be damaging.
Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes says: “Not eating is really dangerous for cats. When animals don’t eat enough, they must rely on their fat reserves for energy. Before stored fat can be used for fuel, it must be processed by the liver, which requires adequate supplies of protein. With rapid weight loss, protein supplies are soon exhausted and the liver becomes overwhelmed by fat. Th.. [More]
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Tags :
Why My Cat Has Stopped Eating South Africa , Cat Food South Africa
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21
DEC
2019
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The current recommendation by avian veterinarians is that pellets should make up 50-70 percent of a parrot’s diet. The best pellets to feed your parrots are those that do not contain sugar or dyes, since these ingredients may have a cumulative effect in the body and can cause diseases over the long term, possibly even shortening birds’ life span. The best bird pellet brands considered worldwide are Harrison’s, Roudybush and TOPs (Totally Organic Pellets).
All of the Roudybush diets are formulated by avian nutritionist Tom Roudybush, M.S. In his 16 years of nutritional research at the university of California in USA, Tom Roudybush has become a leader in the avian nutrition field. Roudybush Daily Maintenance bird pellets is made with a unique steam pelleting process which retains nutrients and is scientifically formulated for the care of healthy adult birds. All natural, high-quality ingredients work together to build a diet specifically formulated with the.. [More]
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Tags :
How To Prepare A Healthy Diet For Parrots South Africa , Parrot Food South Africa , Bird Pellet Food South Africa
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15
DEC
2019
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While they may roam your lounge rather than the great outdoors, indoor bunnies still need all the things that wild rabbits enjoy – from company of their own kind and opportunities to exhibit their natural bunny behaviours to providing them with the right nutrition.
Indoor bunnies are popular pets – the recent PDSA Animal Welfare (PAW) report reveals that 44% of UK pet rabbits live predominately inside – but are they given everything they need to live their best (indoor) bunny life?
If you’re a devoted bunny owner, you’ll want to ensure you’re providing the five welfare needs for your pets, as outlined by the UK Animal Welfare Act 2006:
Health – protection from pain, injury, suffering and disease and treated if they become ill or injured.
Behaviour – the ability to behave naturally for their species – for example: play, run, dig, jump etc.
Companionship – to be housed with, or apart from, other .. [More]
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Tags :
How To Care For Indoor Rabbits in South Africa , How To Be A 5-Star Indoor Bunny Owner South Africa
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26
NOV
2019
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Gorgeous guinea pigs are susceptible to a number of skin complaints, which is why owners of these chatty cavies need to be vigilant and keep a close eye on their pets. Constant scratching is a warning sign and it’s vital to check for dry or flaky skin around ears, nose or mouth, spots or lesions, or fur coming out in clumps. These symptoms signal that an immediate trip to the vet is required.
Skin issues – possible causes
Guinea pigs can suffer from fleas and lice and are particularly susceptible to developing mite infestations. These irritating parasites can successfully be treated by your vet. It’s important to treat not only the affected guinea pig, but any others that they have come into contact with too. Their accommodation, tunnels, and toys will also need to be cleaned thoroughly and bedding replaced to prevent a further infestation.
Some parasites live under the skin of guinea pigs, including ringworm, which is a fungal infection. Scabs .. [More]
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Tags :
Caring For Guinea Pigs' Sensitive Skin South Africa
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27
OCT
2019
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Last year New Life Spectrum announced it was making some changes to its fish food. In this video released recently, the company discusses the changes.
First off? Squid. They added squid along with whole antarctic krill for both the high protein content, rich omega-3 and no bones to content with. Another positive change was to cut down on starch by using bentonite clay as a binder.
Besides cutting down on starches, bentonite clay has been used in aquariums and koi ponds for its other benefits. The levels are probably too low for this type of dosing, but good to know they made this switch.
Additionally, they added ginger along with garlic to boost immunity and overall health of fish. Probably the biggest change is the switch to naturox, a natural plant-based preservative. This replaces ethoxyquin that has a controversial reputation in the pet food industry because of its use in making rubber and some pesticides.
Although the company notes ethoxyquin is considered sa.. [More]
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Tags :
New Life Spectrum Naturox Fish Food South Africa
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29
SEP
2019
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Degus are sociable, speedy rodents have very different needs from other small furries and providing the correct diet is an essential part of keeping them healthy and happy.
In the wild, degus – who are native to northern and central Chile and live high up in the Andes mountain range – survive on grass and other green vegetation, bark and seeds. In fact, compared to other rodents, degus need to consume large amounts of fibre – at Burgess, they refer to them as ‘fibrevores’.
That’s why hay should make up a large part of their diet. Each day, you need to provide a minimum of their body size in high quality feeding hay to enable their digestive systems to function properly. Chomping on plenty of fresh, tasty hay will also help your degus’ dental health by keeping their continuously growing teeth at the correct length and shape.
DID YOU KNOW?
Wild degus live in groups of up to 100, where they dig complex burrows to .. [More]
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Tags :
Take A Closer Look At Your Degus Diet South Africa , Degus Food South Africa
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13
JUL
2018
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It is really astonishing that there are many rabbit and guinea pig owners in South Africa that are not aware about the importance of hay. Maybe this is because many of our local pet stores and grocery shops dedicate their shelves to commercial muesli diets, but offer little space for quality feeding hay products. Unfortunately, muesli diets have long been regarded as rabbit and guinea pig food at certain pet stores and supermarkets. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
In 2013, a scientific study revealed by Professor Anne Meredith from University of Edinburgh highlighted the dangers of muesli diets. When this news came out, hundreds of pet stores across the world removed rabbit and guinea pig muesli from their shelves.
Muesli is severely detrimental to a rabbit, guinea pig and chinchilla’s health. Not only is it difficult to digest, it is also unsuitable for oral hygiene. And those are two areas of well being that our pets are ill advised to compromi.. [More]
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Tags :
Muesli Diets Is Biggest Killer of Rabbits & Guinea Pigs , Why Rabbits & Guinea Pigs Should Eat 90% Hay Each Day? , Are We Feeding Our Rabbits & Guinea Pigs Correct Proportions In South Africa , Guinea Pi
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