Grass hay, a source of
long-strand fiber, is absolutely vital to the digestive health of your small herbivore.
It prevents obesity, dental disease, boredom and diarrhea. When selecting hay, there are several
important tips for pet owners to remember:
Volume-
About 75% of your pet’s diet should be “free choice” hay. “Free choice”
means that guinea pigs, rabbits and other small herbivores can choose when to
eat the hay you provide—at any hour of the day or night. Keep a variety of hays stocked in a feeder or
box at all times. We
recommend offering a daily handful of hay that is the size of your pet. To assure
freshness, wait until your pet nearly finishes one batch of hay before
restocking. Unless the hay is soiled, do
not replace it. Replacing often encourages picky eating!
Variety-
Offering a variety of hay supports one of your many responsibilities—encouraging
hay intake. Hay varieties help meet the nutritional needs and taste preferences
of different species, personalities, life stages and sizes of animals. Other
than keeping your small animal from getting bored, it also promotes healthy
eating behaviors. Most grass hays have similar nutrients and can be used
interchangeably, but they offer different flavors, colors and textures.
Variability-
Alternating hay varieties ensures that your pet won’t refuse hay if the color
or texture of their current favorite changes, which happens naturally from time
to time. A change in color doesn’t necessarily indicate a change in quality.
