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12 Feb 2017
Stop Feeding Muesli To Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
Posted By : Guest Filed Under : Nutrition | Rabbits | Guinea Pigs | Chinchillas | Guinea Pig Food | Rabbit Food | Bunny Nature | Newhay
We would like to urge all rabbit and guinea pig owners to stop feeding their pets muesli-based foods in an effort to improve their diets. Please dump the junk. There is no such thing as a healthy muesli food. Muesli-style foods, which can contain flaked maize, peas, pellets, grains and seeds, are extremely low in fibre and have been shown to increase the risk of serious illness in rabbits and guinea pigs, with the PDSA PAW Report 2013 stating they are the cause of deadly dental and digestive problems.
 

We think pet owners should ditch plain grains in favour of nutritionally rich pellets that aid digestion and dental health. Any changes to your pet’s diet should be done over time though so not to upset their digestion.

Why stop, why now?
  • Even if your pet has been fed a muesli-based diet all their lives, they will still benefit from a swap to hay, leafy greens and nuggets. Just introduce it gradually and in small quantities to reduce the likelihood of stomach upset.
  • If your rabbit or guinea pig appears reluctant to eat the nuggets, get him or her checked out at the vet to ensure there isn’t an underlying health problem. Poor diet can lead to all sorts of gut issues and curvature of the teeth, which can make it hard for them to chew.
  • Muesli might look more interesting than nuggets but, in fact, your rabbits and guinea pigs don’t care what their food looks like. In the wild, they would be too busy looking for predators to worry about the colour or shape of their food!
  • Feeding muesli can lead to ‘selective feeding’ i.e. picking out the best bits, and not getting a healthy, balanced diet. By contrast, each piece of a nugget or pellet will contain the same nutrients.
  • If you’re worried your rabbit or guinea pig is bored, pep up their diet with a good helping of feeding hay – which is great to eat and great to play in – and add one adult-sized handful of washed leafy greens every day. Five or six different types of green a day is recommended.
  • Although muesli-style foods are often cheaper than pellets or nuggets – due to the fact rabbits and guinea pigs tend to selectively feed from muesli they waste a lot in the process. In the long run, dental and digestive problems caused by the food can also result in expensive veterinary bills.
 
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