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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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Why Timothy Hay Is Best Food For Guinea Pigs In South Africa
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24
MAY
2014
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FANTASTIC NEWS! New research conducted by The University of Edinburgh & Burgess Pet Care has shown that rabbits fed on a muesli diet are more likely to suffer from dental and digestive problems. Pets at Home have taken a HUGE step by announcing the following: “We’re phasing out rabbit muesli in our stores & advising all our rabbit customers to transition onto rabbit nuggets and hay.”
Why are Pets at Home discontinuing rabbit muesli?
Pets at Home the largest pet retailer in the UK with more than 360 stores support the latest thinking in pet welfare standards and this decision has been taken in light of the weight of feeling amongst the veterinary community towards the feeding of muesli based diets, and their potential negative effects on the health of rabbits.
What is selective feeding?
A muesli diet consists of lots of different ingredients that make up the mix. A rabbit fed on muesli may pick out their favourite bi.. [More]
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Latest Muesli Research Findings by The University of Edinburgh & Burgess Pet Care , UK Pet Stores Stop Selling Rabbit Muesli
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23
MAY
2014
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We all need to take care of our teeth, but that is especially true in the case of pet rabbits. Vets report that three-quarters of all pet rabbits they treat are diagnosed with dental health problems, which can cause pain and distress, and can even prove fatal.
The most common complaint reported by vets is overgrown molars and enamel spurs that grow from teeth. These can irritate and tear the delicate soft tissue in the mouth, causing agonising injuries.
These spurs generally develop because rabbits aren't eating enough forage and hay, as they would in the wild. These naturally-abrasive, fibre-rich foods are important because they wear down the teeth. And because rabbits' teeth grow continuously by an astonishing 2mm every week, or 10-12cm every year, a lack of fibre in the diet means that problems can quickly develop.
Left untreated, uneven or insufficiently worn molars can lead to secondary complaints such as dental abscesses, which can cause your pet t.. [More]
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Rabbit Dental Heath Care in South Africa , malocclusion ,
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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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Is Timothy Hay Worth Extra Costs in South Africa , Eragrostis Hay , Teff Hay , Lucern , Alfafa Hay
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20
MAY
2014
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Rabbit Awareness Week, hopped into action on May 4 in UK, and called for muesli-style rabbit and guinea pig food to be removed from supermarket and pet store shelves, following the results of a new academic study that has proved it is dangerous to the health and welfare of Britain’s 1.7 million bunnies.
The announcement of the findings from the two year academic study conducted by The University of Edinburgh, coincides with Rabbit Awareness Week, an annual event which highlights the health and welfare needs of Britain’s third most popular pet. The research confirms the link between muesli-style rabbit foods, fed with or without hay, and potentially deadly dental and digestive problems that lead to costly veterinary treatment and in some cases can be fatal.
Rabbit Awareness Week is backed by major UK animal welfare charities and pet experts including Burgess Excel, RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross, MSD Animal Health, Bayer Animal Health, Practice Plan for Vets, .. [More]
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Feeding Muesli A Ticking Timebomb
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18
MAY
2014
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Rats and mice in the wild can be one of the worst pests for mankind, notwithstanding their indispensable part within the ecosystem. Domestic rats and mice, on the other hand, contribute a great deal to the advancement of research for the benefit of man. Domestic rats and mice are not the same as their wild counterparts, having been domesticated for over 100 years.
As Pets
Rats and mice suffer from bad “press” with much prejudice and misunderstanding directed toward them. As urban sprawl continues to limit the necessary space needed to keep dogs and cats, rats and mice as pets are gradually emerging as an ideal substitute. Easy to keep, with minimal space and care requirements, they provide all the pleasure and satisfaction of a warm, cuddly, intelligent, and friendly pet companion. They are also very inexpensive to obtain along with the required accessories needed to make them happy.
Domesticated rats make excellent pets for children and adults alike. .. [More]
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Adorable Fancy Rats and Mice in South Africa , Caring For Pet Rats & Mice in South Africa
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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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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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15
MAY
2014
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Is your bird eating the best foods? Unfortunately, if it were left up to our feathered friends, every food crock would brim with a smorgasbord of seeds. But seed-only diets pose serious health risks for your bird. In addition to being high in fat, most seeds lack the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your bird needs for optimal health. Thankfully, it is easy to offer a more nutritional diet.
Seed Deficiencies
For most birds, seeds are like irresistible candy. They taste delicious but are not nutritious. In fact, seeds are often low in Vitamins A, D3, B12 and minerals like calcium, iodine, sodium, and more. Different types of seeds also have different protein, carbohydrate, and fat levels, which makes it tough to ensure your bird's diet is nutritionally balanced. Many seed-only diets often try to compensate for the nutritional deficiencies of individual seeds by combining a wide range of seed varieties. But since your bird is free to pick and choose the type of seed she.. [More]
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Nutritional Advantage of Bird Pellets , Roudybush Bird Pellets South Africa , Bird Food South Africa , Parrot Food , Budgie Food
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14
MAY
2014
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Would you like your fish to be always healthy, beautiful and full of life? Is it important to you that their colours look natural and vivid? Have you ever wished they easily reproduce in aquarium and their fry grow like a weed? Is the perfect clarity of aquarium water your priority? If so, please be invited to give a try the unique qualities of the newest generation of AQUAEL foods.
The AQUAEL ACTI foods line dedicated for fish and other aquarium animals was introduced to the market in mid-2005, gaining ever-growing group of fans. Their advantages - such as all-natural, carefully selected ingredients, well-thought-out and developed by professionals composition, strict manufacturing procedures to ensure water purity and safety of usage and unique flavour – they all took the fancy of millions of fish both in Poland and around the world. Today AQUAEL presents a new generation of its foods - even better now thanks to modernizing the production process and introducing un.. [More]
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AQUAEL Launches ACTI Fish Food , Fish Food South Africa for Tropical and Marine Aquariums , Goldfish , Cichlids , Betta , Discus
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11
MAY
2014
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Many people think that muesli-type foods are enough to give their guinea pigs but in truth, they are not. Muesli is also referred to as dry mix or mixture foods and pellets are also called nuggets. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion regarding muesli diets, and there is now a campaign to ban this type of pet food from pet stores in UK.
Most of the cheaper brands are flashy. These are the foods we want to buy because they look good and taste good to guinea pigs, but unfortunately they are the ones to stay away from. These muesli type foods are usually a mixture of pellets, colourful pieces (flakes or pellets), nuts, seeds, and/or fruit bits.
Muesli mixes have also been known to contain pieces of twig, stone and other harmful items. The seeds and nuts in muesli are high in fat. Often times the mixtures include sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds in the shell are dangerous, not just because of high fat content, but because the shells splinter into sharp pieces that c.. [More]
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Tags :
Guinea Pig Muesli Ban in UK , Guinea pig food South Africa , Muesli Bad Guinea Pigs , Muesli versus pellets , muesli verus nuggets , Guinea Pig Pellet food South Africa
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