Whilst rabbit and guinea pig diets do differ, one factor that they both have in common when it comes to their diets is HAY! Folk who know me will tell you that one motto I repeat a lot when it comes to pigs and especially rabbits is “hay is life”…why? Well simply put, hay is a vital part of a diet for a rabbit or guinea pig and is the key most important component of their daily diet. Get this wrong and they are likely to be sickly, have dental problems and a shorter life span. So hay really is life when it comes to our small fury pets.
So why is hay so important for them? Hay is dry grass and unlike other foods, hay is something that should be given to your small pet in unlimited quantities! A lot of people say that a healthy rabbit will eat the same size amount of hay as their body size daily, however I’ve found some bunnies eat more or slightly less so offering unlimited is better. The same can be said for guinea pigs too. Good quality hay should make up a huge 85% of your pets diet! This might sound like a lot but it really isn’t and as long as you limit other foods like pellets and fresh food then this will encourage your pet to eat plenty of hay. Hay is extremely high in long fibre and so vital for digestion, gut motility and dental health in small pets. Hay contains long fibre, Silica and other nutrients such as calcium, trace minerals and moderate protein. It cannot be replaced by anything else and MUST be given to your small pet daily.
What are the benefits of good quality hay to my rabbit or g pig?
-eating plenty of hay will mean your small pet has a healthy gut and helps to keep their digestion moving along nicely. There is plenty of evidence to show that rabbits and g pigs that eat plenty of hay are far less likely to have episodes of GI (gut stasis) then those that don’t eat much hay.
-rabbit and guinea pig teeth grow fast! They continue to grow throughout their life time and the side to side chewing motion of eating coarse, long fibre hay will naturally wear down the teeth and prevent spurs and uneven teeth growth.
-Hay also plays a vital role in the mental health of your small pet. In the wild bunnies and pigs forage for food all day long so providing plenty of hay encourages their natural foraging instincts and keeps their mind occupied. They also chew for the sake of it sometimes so it gives them something healthy and nutritious to snack on, acting as the perfect comfort food.
So what are the risks if you have a small pet that eats very little hay? Well firstly as stated above, gut health will be poor and this will effect gut motility and hugely increase the risk of GI (gut stasis) occurring which can be life threatening and extremely painful for your small pet. (see article on GI if you would like to read about it). Prevention is better than cure for GI so getting them to eat plenty of fiber rich hay is key to prevent it. Secondly dental health, without much hay in their diet, it’s very likely that they will quickly develop dental issues- such as painful spurs that cut into the gums and tongue, restricting your pet’s normal eating and requiring medical attention. And lastly, without hay, they are more likely to get bored and start chewing things they shouldn’t be chewing!
So…..What are the different types of hay and what types should I be feeding them?
Hay comes in many different varieties, however the two hay types that should make up their daily hay feed should be: timothy hay and meadow hay. They both have very similar nutritional values; the only difference really is that timothy hay is more rough and coarse so slightly better for wearing down teeth, where as meadow hay is slightly softer and so easier to chew and eat for older pets or pets with dental issues. Some folk prefer to just feed timothy hay, while others will offer a mix of timothy and meadow hay. I also know of bunnies that have had long healthy life’s just eating meadow hay but in a nutshell, timothy and meadow hay is what you really need and need to know about. It’s nice to mix anyway just to encourage your pets to forage and give them a nicely rounded nutritional profile.
Other types of hay that you may come across and can mix a little into your pet’s normal timothy or meadow hay to make it exciting: Orchard hay (good for young pets or older ones as it’s packed with vitamins), oat hay (nice and crunchy so is great for dental health) and herbal hay which is a mix of timothy hay with herbs and this sweeter hay is often very well received by fussy eaters.
One type of hay that healthy adult rabbits and guinea pigs should not be given is alfalfa hay: this is because it is made from legumes rather than grass. This means the high calcium and protein content can lead to problems like obesity and kidney and bladder stones. It can however be good in tiny amounts for very young or very old pets that need extra support but use with guidance.
How much to give and where to get the hay from? There is no limit on how much to give your small pets daily however the standard measuring tool is to offer a pile of hay daily which matches the size of their body. It’s impossible for them to over eat hay. When you know roughly how much they eat per day, you can then increase or decrease the daily amount offered so that you don’t have too much wastage especially as hay is expensive! You can buy good quality hay from pretty much any pet store, garden center and even sometimes direct from the farmer, depending on where you live. I always advise asking your vet or trusted pet care expert what brands they recommend as you can then be sure that you’re getting something safe, free from pesticide sprays and highly nutritious. Not all brands are equal in terms of quality so always read up reviews and seek out recommendations before just buying your run of the mill hay pack. A very popular service for lots of folk is the online hay box subscriptions such as hay box club, the hay box and happy hay company. There easy to find.
What if my pet isn’t eating much hay, how can I get them to eat more? Well firstly, it’s their natural instincts to eat hay; if they aren’t then you need to ask yourself why? Illness is the first concern with this and should be looked into as quickly as possible. The first port of call is a visit to your vets to try to rule out any medical issues that might be causing their lack of interest in tucking into the good stuff such as dental issues. Dental issues account for a huge cause of rabbits and guinea pigs not eating much hay and it should be addressed as quickly as possible so that they can resume normal eating habits before it can lead to other gut related problems. GI (gut stasis) would also cause a pet to loose interest in eating hay but also eating in general and is a medical emergency. Underlying illness can also lead them to loose interest so it’s vital to get to the bottom of the cause. Also if you feed your pet too much fresh food or pellets then they will pick this over hay and so end up eating less hay. Deal with this by decreasing the amount of pellets and treats you give them so that they are encouraged to eat more hay again. Rabbits and g pigs can be fussy eaters so ways in which you can get them more interested in hay would be: mix your hay with different types (listed above) to make it more interesting, which provide different tastes and smells. Offer hay in more interesting layouts rather than just a pile of hay, such as using hay racks or hay balls where the pet has to do a little work to pick their hay strands. Putting hay inside toys can create a game and make it more fun to then pull it out and eat it.
Dust extracted hay or not? This can bring up some argument among seasoned small pet owners and vets. The short answer is if you can afford it (because dust extracted hay is more expensive) then yes, you should buy dust extracted. Why? Because dust extracted means it won’t irritate the sensitive noses of bunnies or pigs and also lowers the risk of respiratory related breathing problems. If you have a small pet that has allergies, illness, or tends to react badly to hay dust with weepy eyes, nose or sneezing when you put fresh hay into their pen then 100% dust extracted hay is the way forward for you. HOWEVER, from personal experience, totally healthy pigs and buns are usually totally fine with normal hay and I’ve had many small pets that live long happy lives with normal hay and not dust extracted. I just bang out the excess dust in a bin bag before putting hay in pen. It’s really just personal preference and the health status of your pet. If you can then do, if you can’t then normal hay will suffice and you are not being a bad owner because of it.
Can hay go moldy? Yes hay can go moldy so it’s important to remove and throw out any hay that has gone off. You can normally tell as if you look closely, you’ll see little mold hairs on the individual hay strands and it often has a damp odour to it. It’s best to keep hay stored in air tight bags or closed boxes, somewhere dry and not in direct sunlight. This helps to extend the life range of the hay. Fresh hay should be given to your small pets EVEYR DAY, however if you’re using some hay for bedding area’s then this may not need to be changed every day, you’ll need to be the judge. Always remove any hay that has become soiled, wet or mouldy daily to avoid health issues arising from a dirty pen or if outside, then to avoid flies from being attracted to the area which can lead to a fly strike risk. A pen area that is too small, cramped or difficult to keep clean can cause fresh hay to become soiled and go to waste easily. Pens with metal grids under foot are a no-no as hay can fall through the gaps. A more spacious pen area is recommended, making a much nicer environment for your pets and making it easier to keep hay clean for longer. A hay bag or a hay rack is highly recommended and helps to keep the hay fresh for longer as it’s off ground level.
Is golden straw the same as hay? NO, golden straw is not hay and is not a substitute for hay. I have come across too many inexperienced owners providing their small pet golden straw only, thinking that it is the same as hay. Golden straw should be used for bedding only and in moderation otherwise your small pet may chew that more, instead of the hay you provide. Whilst golden straw does not go mouldy anywhere near as quickly as eating hay, it is NOT HAY. Hay is dried grass, whereas golden straw is dried stalks of cereal crops like wheat and barley. It is great for insulation, to keep your pets warm but has hardly any nutritional value at all compared to hay.
And that folks is your lowdown on hay and why….Hay is Life, when it comes to our small pets.
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