Timothy Hay for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas

Why is Hay so Important for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas?

Timothy hay: what is it that makes it so crucial to be included in the diet of our small pets? Well, this comes down to two main reasons. The first is the fiber that it contains, and the second is down to the chewing action that’s necessary for our pets to eat it.
Fiber: Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas need fiber in order to survive. High quantities of the fiber provided in timothy hay ensures a healthy digestive system. Without adequate fiber, the gut movement of our small pets will slow down to a dangerous level – in fact, worst case scenario can be. Providing this essential fiber in the form of top quality timothy hay is the best way to ensure good digestive health for our pets.
Chewing: Although rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are different species, they all have one thing in common. And that’s that their teeth continually grow throughout their life. Long or sharp teeth can cause our pets all sorts of problems, and chewing on good quality timothy hay helps keep their teeth well worn down – just as nature intended.
As you can see, it’s therefore vital to provide hay that your rabbit, guinea pig or chinchillas will actually want to eat. Fresh smelling, soft and green is the name of the game. And you have our word that every batch of timothy hay from Small Pet Select will be exactly that, and nothing less.

Hay for a rabbit diet

Hay for a guinea pig diet

Hay for a chinchilla diet

As you can see from the above food pyramids, the foundation of our small pets’ diets is based on grass hay. Imagine your pet in the wild; he or she would spend a great deal of their time foraging and eating high fiber grass and stalky items. And the very best way for us to mimic that for our pets is to provide them with the best quality timothy hay – on an ad lib basis.
The food pyramids also clearly show that there are other components that are necessary in their diets, such as pellets and vegetables (not vegetables for chinchillas). But as you can see, timothy hay makes up the largest proportion of their nutrition.
And it’s vital that rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas ingest good quality hay on a daily basis. Without this essential fiber there really is a risk to their health. Some warning signs to look out for that might indicate your pet is not getting enough fiber in his diet include an unwillingness to move, a change in temperament or you might notice that they seem unwilling to eat or drink. However, small pets are very good at masking signs of illness, and when these become obvious it is usually a veterinary emergency.
So the best way you can provide your pet with the crucial fiber he needs is in the form of top quality timothy hay – each and every day.

Learn more about hay for rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas