June 20, 2019
Have you ever wondered why Oxbow offers different food formulas for young and adult animals? Young and growing animals have significantly different nutrient requirements than mature adults. To put these requirements in context, think about how different an infant or child’s diet looks compared to yours. Because their little bodies are changing rapidly, their diets are composed of different concentrations of nutrients.
Young animals mature & develop each day, gaining muscle and growing bones while their brains and nervous system also develop. These processes require a high concentration of nutrients, specifically protein and calcium, in order to support this major transformation.
Until young animals are weaned, all of their nutritional requirements are met by their mother’s milk or a milk replacement formula. When transitioning to solid foods, it is important to find a diet and feeding regimen that continues to support proper growth and development. We recommend offering a young animal formula for rabbits under 1 year and guinea pigs under 6 months of age to support these needs.
Most animals show extremely rapid growth in the first several months of life. For example, rabbits can more than quadruple their weight between 1 and 3 months of age (Masoud et al., 1986). In order to build muscle efficiently, their bodies require many nutrients but especially dietary protein. More specifically, amino acids, the building blocks of protein, are required by an animal.
A well-balanced diet will include a diversity of ingredients that provide protein and a specific amino acid profile. When consumed and digested, protein in the diet is broken down into individual amino acids in the gastrointestinal tract. Certain amino acids are required by animals to form proteins. For example, lysine is important for muscle growth and methionine is needed for development of a healthy coat, making these two amino acids essential in the diet (Carabaño et al., 2009; National Research Council, 1995).
A proper and balanced amino acid profile is extremely important for young and growing animals as imbalances or deficiencies can lead to reduced and improper growth. If the ingredients in the diet alone are not contributing adequate amounts of these amino acids, you may see them added individually in the ingredient list.
Along with muscle comes bone growth and connective tissue formation in every young animal. Between the ages of 2 and 16 weeks, the length of a bunny’s femur bone will grow by 2.5 times (Masoud et al., 1986), requiring calcium in higher amounts (as compared to a fully-grown adult) to accommodate this rapid rate of growth. Additionally, proper formation of tendons and ligaments at this time is critical to ensure proper movement and stability of bone structures. These processes also require calcium and amino acids.
Calcium is also required for a myriad of other essential processes in the body such as muscle, nerve, and immune system function. Given the body will naturally prioritize calcium for these highly essential functions, inadequate levels of calcium in the diet of young animals can lead to reduced growth, weak bones (which increase the risk of injury) or can adversely affect other calcium requiring processes. This need for higher calcium concentrations, as well as the elevated need for protein, is often accomplished by utilizing an alfalfa-based diet, as alfalfa contains naturally higher levels of both calcium and protein.
The growth process also requires a higher level of energy in the diet. Higher dietary protein will help contribute to this need, but slightly increased amounts of fat concentrations (as compared to adult formulas) are also useful to accomplish a higher energy density. Feeding directions can also accomplish greater energy intake by offering a greater volume or feeding an unlimited quantity.
In addition to an alfalfa-based pelleted diet, loose alfalfa hay provides added vital nutrients in the daily diet of young animals. In addition to alfalfa, it’s important for young animals to have access to a variety of grass hays. Eating a variety of hays adds enrichment into the daily diet of young animals and will make more a much smoother transition to a grass hay-exclusive diet when animals reach adulthood and growth demands begin to slow.
If protein and calcium are so important to the growth and development of young animals, does that mean the more, the better? Not necessarily. It is possible to provide too much protein and calcium to young animals, which may result in an animal growing too rapidly. This can not only put strain on bones and joints (which can grow too quickly to fully and properly develop), but also on organs such as the kidneys, which help metabolize protein. It’s important to note that Oxbow’s young animal diets are formulated to provide an appropriate amount of protein and calcium, even when fed free choice.
A young animal has certain unique nutrient requirements to allow for proper growth which occurs rapidly in the first part of life. Generally, a growing animal requires higher concentrations of protein (amino acids), calcium, and energy in the diet to support basic physiological processes in addition to bone, connective tissue, muscle, and coat formation. Oxbow’s young animal diets are specifically formulated to meet these critical nutritional needs.
Carabaño R., Villamide, M.J., García, J., Nicodemus, N., Llórente, A., Chamorro, S.,
Menoyo, D., García-Rebollar, P., García-Ruiz, AJ., De Blas, J.C. 2009. New concepts and objectives for protein-amino acid nutrition in rabbits: a review. Journal of the World Rabbit Science Association 17.1: 1-14.
Masoud, I., Shapiro, F., Kent, R., Moses, A. 1986. A longitudinal study of the growth of the New Zealand white rabbit: cumulative and biweekly incremental growth rates for body length, body weight, femoral length, and tibial length. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 4.2: 221-231.
National Research Council. 1995. Nutrient requirements of laboratory animals. National Academies Press.
...Read MoreJune 19, 2019
Maintaining a clean living space is vital to your guinea pig’s health. A sanitary habitat helps prevent respiratory illnesses that could result in expensive veterinary bills and possibly even a shorter lifespan for your pet. Read on to learn about some of the best guinea pig cage cleaning practices Oxbow recommends.
A guinea pig’s habitat should be completely cleaned at least once a week. This includes:
This weekly cleaning routine should also include scrubbing the interior and exterior of all water sources (bottles and crocks) and food bowls to remove any food or bacterial build up.
In addition to cleaning your guinea pig’s habitat & accessories completely once a week, spot cleaning should be done daily. Spot cleaning can be done by removing soiled litter and bedding with a small food or litter scoop. Common areas that need to be spot cleaned in your guinea pig’s home are the corners of the habitat, and in or under any hiding spaces. Make sure to spot clean any other areas where your guinea pig tends to spend their time relaxing. After removing the soiled material, add new litter and bedding as needed.
The ideal cage cleaner will be marked as safe for small animals and will be free of any harsh scents. If you have trouble finding a cage cleaner, distilled white vinegar and water can be mixed into a clean spray bottle (1:1 ratio) and used in your guinea pig’s habitat. Use a spare washcloth to wipe down the habitat, then rinse the habitat with plain water to remove any remaining residue or smell. The habitat should be completely dry before adding new litter and bedding.
If your guinea pig has recently been sick, ask your exotics veterinarian what they’d recommend using to clean the habitat. This way you can ensure your pet does not get sick again or spread the same illness to other animals.
Spot cleaning and weekly cage cleaning should be part of your regular routine! You can include these tasks in a weekly planner or set reminders on your phone if you find you have trouble remembering. In addition to strengthening the bond between you and your pet, interacting with your guinea pig for at least an hour a day will also help you remember daily and weekly cleanings.
If you find multiple damp spots in your pet’s habitat on cleaning day but already spot cleaned, that might be a sign that your pet’s habitat needs to be fully cleaned more than once a week. Check that your pet’s water bottle is not leaking, and monitor your pet’s drinking and urination habits; excessive water-drinking or urination could be a sign of illness that requires a vet visit.
Oxbow’s Eco-Straw litter is compostable! Simply dispose of soiled Eco-Straw in your own compost pile or in your commercial compost bin.
It’s great to have absorbent bedding, but bedding should primarily act as soft, relaxing nesting material for your pet. Ideally, a small animal litter that wicks moisture away from your pet’s bedding should make up the bottom layer of the habitat (approximately 1 inch thick), with approximately 2 inches of a safe bedding material placed over the litter.
June 17, 2019
Pet parents often ask us which Oxbow food line is the best. The truth is that no one Oxbow diet is “better” than another. All Oxbow foods are nutritionally-correct and uniform to meet the daily nutritional needs of pets. All Oxbow foods are veterinarian-recommended, fixed formulas made with premium ingredients. What makes each line special is that each features an ingredient profile that speaks to the specific preferences and tastes of pets. Check out our foods infographic to learn more about the features that make our Essentials, Garden Select, and Organic Bounty foods special and unique.
June 05, 2019
Chewing is an instinctual behavior of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and other small pets. The many benefits of chewing include healthy dental wear, mental stimulation, preventing obesity and boredom-based behaviors, and the opportunity to build the bond with your pet. Learn more as Dr. Micah Kohles of Oxbow Animal Health provides helpful tips on how to support the healthy chewing behaviors of your pet!
More Great Resources:
All About Chewing Handout
All About Playing Handout
June 05, 2019
Whether nibbling on their favorite hay, munching on leafy greens, or chewing on their favorite toy, small pets are wired to chew all day, every day. As it turns out, chewing is an instinctual behavior with important benefits to your pet’s health and happiness. Read on to learn more about how to provide an environment that helps meet this basic need.
The continuously-growing or “open rooted” teeth of rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas are designed to keep up with the continual wear caused by the natural, high fiber diet of small herbivores. In the wild, your animal would munch on grasses, branches, bark, and any number of other hard, fibrous materials throughout the day. In captivity, it’s essential to provide ample materials to satisfy this instinctual behavior and prevent dental overgrowth.
High Fiber Hay
Satisfying your pet’s chewing instincts starts with hay. Every small herbivore should have unlimited access to fresh, high fiber hay each day. Hay is the primary source of fiber in your pet’s diet; in addition to providing essential dental wear, the fiber in hay is responsible for keeping your pet’s digestive system healthy and moving. Without this constant motion, your pet’s digestive system can quickly fall into a dangerous state called gastrointestinal stasis.
Safe, Natural Chews
Hay is great, but it’s essential to provide additional fun chewing options to keep your pet mentally stimulated and engaged. To accomplish this, provide a variety of safe, natural chews each day. Place these items in various locations throughout the habitat, rotating chews regularly to keep your pet mentally stimulated. Ideal materials for chews include untreated wood, hay, natural fibers such as sisal, jute, and vegetable-based dyes.
Woven-Hay Hideouts
In addition to their chewing instinct, all prey animals are wired to hide away to escape stressors throughout the day. Every habitat should include at least one hide space to support this instinct. Choose a woven-hay hideout such as Oxbow’s Timothy CLUB Bungalow to make this experience even more enriching. In addition to a safe space to hide, Timothy Club Bungalows provide an ample supply of all-natural chewing materials.
Wires and cords
Electrical wires and cords pose a serious threat to the health of chew-happy animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Take special care to keep these items out of your pet’s reach. Exercise pen fencing makes a great barrier to areas where
cords and wires might be present. Plastic splitlength tubing is available at most hardware stores and makes a great protective cover for cords in areas where it might not be possible to eliminate your pet’s access.
Houseplants
By nature, your small pet will instinctively want to forage on any green, leafy material available, including houseplants. Some houseplants can be poisonous to small pets, so make sure to keep all plants elevated and out of reach. If you are concerned about whether any of your plants might be poisonous, be sure to check with your veterinarian.
Furniture, Carpet, Etc.
For rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small pets allowed to roam the house, it can be very difficult and frustrating to prevent damage to furniture, carpet, and other “tempting to chew” elements of home décor. The best way to prevent this type of damage is to offer better, more interesting options. Provide a variety of all-natural chews, toys, and play centers throughout your pet’s living space to help prevent destructive chewing behaviors.
