Natural Rabbit & Guinea Pig Care

NATURAL HEALTH TIPS FOR RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS

An increasing number of physical and mental health problems in both animals and man can be linked to an un-natural way of living. The good news is that relatively small changes towards a more natural lifestyle can lead to big improvements in health!

RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS NEED GRASS

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs are herbivores. In the wild they will mainly eat grass, with a small amount of leafy plants and fruits. Grass is high fibre, low protein and very low fat. Grain based diets do not contain enough fibre for a healthy gut and too much protein and fat leading to obesity. It is normal, and vital, that rabbits eat the soft caecotrophs (the first droppings) they produce to allow a second digestion of fibrous grass. Silica in grass also helps to grind the continually growing teeth down, something which grains do not. A healthy rabbit and guinea pig diet should be mainly good quality hay, with a small amount of muesli mix or complete pellet. Alfalfa hay is useful for underweight or growing animals but can be too high in protein for adults.

RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS NEED TO FORAGE

In the wild herbivores would spend a large amount of their day looking for the most nutritious grass and shoots to eat. If we give a bowl of food and a rack of hay this natural foraging is lost and boredom and obesity can result. In good weather rabbits and guinea pigs should spend time outdoors in a generously sized run, if the grass is short or poor then scatter some of their concentrate food around. Indoors feeding balls can be used and food can be placed in small boxes for your pet to nibble open to get the prize. Allowing your pets free run of the garden can increase the amount of herbs they have access too, but be careful they can’t nibble any toxic plants.

RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS NEED COMPANY

Most herbivores live in groups for safety so always try to keep at least a pair of rabbits or guinea pigs. It is not ideal to mix rabbits and guinea pigs as bullying and disease spread is possible. Extra human contact is needed for solo pets. Pairs should be of the same sex, or neutered to avoid unwanted litters.

RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS NEED SHELTER

Rabbits and guinea pigs are prey animals, always on the lookout for predators that may want to eat them. When outdoors their secure run should contain tubes, tunnels and platforms which your pets can hide in, chase each other through and stand on to use as lookout posts. Indoor pets can enjoy ‘burrowing’ under blankets.

GUINEA PIGS NEED VITAMIN C

Like people, guinea pigs can’t make vitamin C so it must be provided in the diet. Hay can be low in vitamin C if it has been stored for any length of time so supplements may be required. The concentrate mix will contain some, as will fresh fruit, veg, grass and hay. If you are at all concerned your guinea pig is not getting enough use a supplement on the food.

RABBITS AND GUNIEA PIGS NEED VETS

Rabbits and guinea pigs should receive twice yearly check-ups, mainly to check that their back teeth are wearing normally- this is impossible to check at home, though dribbling, dirty bottoms and balls of chewed food in the cage are indications of bad teeth. Rabbits should receive vaccination against mxyomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease, both fatal diseases. Sadly the number of veterinary medicines made for rabbits and guinea pigs is low, but many cat and dog drugs can be used. Rabbits and guinea pigs also respond really well to herbal medicine, much of which can be picked from your own garden!

© Vicky Payne 2013