Why Is the Purchase of Oxbow Timothy Hay Such a Fantastic Idea?

 

Guinea pigs are one of the most wonderful small pets available in our country. Lovable, friendly, social and perfect as a first-time pet for beginners, guinea pigs have become, in recent years, a common occurrence in Aussie households, and their affectionate nature made them especially popular for families with small children. Guinea pigs are easy to take care of; they require less intensive maintenance than dogs and cats, they are more than happy spending their day lounging around in their cage, and they have a predictable and easy-to-follow diet that will not require an extra financial effort from owners.

That said, even though they are straightforward, the nutritional needs of your small fluffball will still require a bit of knowledge from your part. Covering your small rodent’s nutritional requirements can be easy, as long as you do your research beforehand, and you are aware of the limitations and deficiencies of their digestive system. Guinea pigs cannot synthesise Vitamin C on their own, and their teeth grow continuously, which can be a problem, as the only way to keep them under control is providing them with abrasive food, like Timothy Hay, that will wear down their denture naturally, while also providing them with the caloric intake required for the continuation of daily activities.

For guinea pigs, an improper diet can result in a disrupted gut flora, bloating, and even a dangerous digestive shutdown that will require urgent vet visits to fix. Therefore, the best solution for maintaining your fluffball’s caloric intake between safe margins would be to invest in Oxbow Timothy Hay, or in other products commercialised by brands with a growing presence in the Australian pet food market.

What Exactly Should You Feed Your Guinea Pig?

That’s quite straightforward to answer. Guinea pigs are strict herbivores, and between 70% to 80% of their total diet should consist of Timothy Hay. Products such as Oxbow Timothy Hay are a fantastic choice, but at the same time, you can look at food commercialised by Peckish, Wombaroo, Vetafarm and Burgess. In the wild, the diet of guinea pigs is comprised of grasses, leaves, roots and the occasional wild vegetables and weeds. In other words, they require a high concentration of fibre in their diet, and they spend most of the day grazing for food.

Oxbow guinea pig food should be available to your fluffball in unlimited amounts, as an endless supply of Oxbow Timothy Hay represents a way to keep the teeth of your pet worn down. The ingestion of hay supports guinea pigs’ nutritional requirements, hay is a fantastic mental stimulant for them, as it promotes natural foraging behaviour, and it’s also a way to prevent digestive imbalances that will overwise only be fixable with the help of expensive probiotics.

Oxbow guinea pig food is composed of 100% Timothy Hay, with a minimum crude protein percentage of 7% and a fibre max percentage of 32%. But, besides Oxbow Timothy hay, your small guinea pig should be occasionally fed with fresh vegetables such as Romaine lettuce, and the occasional pellets. You can also provide them with the sliced fruit, such as an apple, but you must be wary of the potential effects of sugar on your pet’s digestive function.

Why Is Its Always Timothy Hay?

Have you ever noticed how most Guinea pig pellets are based on Timothy Hay? How in every guide and dietary recommendation, Timothy Hay is pushed as the most important element of a guinea pig’s nutrition? Why is that? Well, apparently, Timothy Hay has the best fibre-to-calorie ratio of all hays available, worldwide. Guinea Pigs need hay in order to keep their digestive tract active, maintain a healthy level of gut bacteria, and of course, to wear down their teeth.

Timothy Hay, like the one used in Oxbow guinea pig food, is high in fibre, low in calcium content, it has a coarse texture that makes it more chewable than other types of hays, and it’s lower in protein than Afalfa hay. So, it’s perfect if you want to minimize the risks of obesity or kidney issues in your small fluffball. There are other options available, such as Orchard hay, but overall, the popularity of Timothy Hay is dictated by its consistency and predictable nutritional values. Plus, since it’s the most popular option on the market, it is oftentimes also the cheapest.

Oxbow guinea pig food is high in fibre, low in calcium, has moderate protein levels, is suitable for lifelong feeding, and can positively contribute to your rodent’s dental health. You can, of course, add other hays in the mix, for the occasional variety in taste. But overall, Oxbow Timothy Hay is considered the gold standard for adult guinea pigs.

What Other Products Should You Purchase?

I had a guinea pig once. It was the first pet my parents bought for me, and it was the most suitable learning tool for making me ready to take care of a more demanding pet, like my dog Bubu. Guinea pigs are ideal introductory pets for small children, as they are not too fuzzy about their food, they are sturdy little animals who live surprisingly long for rodents, and they have a gentle nature that makes them suitable for families. That said, besides investing in Oxbow guinea pig food, in order to keep your pet happy, you will also need to purchase other accessories that will make your pet ownership process a bit easier.

First things first, you will need to get an appropriately-sized cage. Guinea pigs are not too worried about their personal space, but you will need to look for a cage with good ventilation and a solid bottom. Secondly, you will have to buy bedding, toys, food bowls, a water bottle, and of course, small hideouts in which your guinea pig can retreat when feeling threatened. The sums of these purchases will add up, that’s true. But all in all, the costs associated with guinea pig ownership are much lower than those for other pets, like cats and dogs.