It might surprise you, but most health problems in rabbits and guinea pigs start on their plate. Get the foundation right and you head off serious dental and digestive trouble down the road.
Hay is the foundation
For rabbits and guinea pigs, hay — good quality and unlimited — should be around 80% of the diet. It wears the teeth down properly (they grow non-stop, all life long) and keeps the gut ticking like clockwork.
Teeth & gut come as a package
If a rabbit stops eating or pooping, it's an EMERGENCY — their gut can't handle a long fast. Call us right away.
Vegetables & pellets
On top of that, fresh leafy vegetables every day. Pellets go in a small, controlled amount — and always uniform ones, NOT the colourful muesli-type mixes. With those, the little one picks out only the sweet bits and leaves the rest.
Watch the guinea pig
Here's something not everyone knows: guinea pigs do NOT make their own vitamin C. They need it from the diet every single day, otherwise they risk scurvy.
What to avoid
Lots of carrots and fruit (loaded with sugar), bread, biscuits, dairy and sudden food changes. And, of course, always clean water available.