Providing your pet herbivore with unlimited grass hay to eat
is important for 5 main reasons: ensuring proper intestinal mobility, maintaining
bacterial balance in the cecum, providing environmental enrichment, preventing
obesity, and - most critically - preventing dental disease.
Popular pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and
prairie dogs are biologically classified as herbivores, meaning they eat only
plant material. A unique characteristic
of these animals and other small rodents is that their teeth constantly grow in
order to replace what is worn away. This
unique dental physiology is an evolutionary adaptation to a plant-rich
diet.
In nature, these animals graze on weeds, grasses and shrubs. Inside each tiny cell of these plants are even
smaller, abrasive particles called phytoliths (“plant stones”). As herbivores graze, they grind and break
apart the plant cells, releasing the phytoliths, and exposing their teeth to
the abrasive particles. This chewing
action wears down the animal’s teeth much the same way that sandpaper wears
down wood.
Pet herbivores are usually fed pelleted diets designed to
provide the complete and optimum fiber, protein, fat, and nutrient levels
necessary for proper health. From a
nutritional standpoint, this is excellent, but from a physiological standpoint,
pellets are not enough. Pellets, while
nutritionally compete and necessary, do not contain enough phytoliths to
properly wear down your pet’s teeth.
Herbivores need hay, because hay is a natural source of phytoliths.
Your pet’s teeth will keep growing, just as they were
designed to do, regardless of diet.
Without hay in your pet’s diet, there is nothing to wear the teeth down,
leading to dental problems that can impact overall health. There are many varieties of grass hays
available to supply your pet with different flavors or to suit its individual
preferences. Oxbow carries several sizes
of Western Timothy, Brome, Oat, Orchard and Hay Cakes.
Providing your pet with unlimited grass hay is the best and
simplest method of preventing dental disease.
Animals with healthy teeth are less likely to develop tooth and gum
abscesses, go off their feed or require emergency veterinary visits.
Laura Duclos, PhD
Director of Nutrition and Product Development
Oxbow Pet Products
