Small Animals
Nutrients
If you want to find out exactly what goes in to our products and exactly what your small animals will get out of them, have a flick through our Nutrients pages.
Protein: This gives your pet essential amino acids for growth, development and general well being
Oil: Small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters can be prone to �over nutrition’ disorders such as obesity. Therefore it is important not to over feed your small animal and treats should be fed sparingly. Remember hamsters and gerbils store their food to eat at a later date.
Fibre: The rabbit, guinea pig and other small animals digest fibre in the large intestine and are so called �hind gut fermenters’. This means they require a high fibre diet, although this varies depending on the species. In particular, indigestible fibre is required for gut health and to enable sufficient chewing to prevent overgrowth of teeth.
Ash: This occurs naturally in the diet providing essential calcium, phosphorous and other vitamins & minerals. It is also required for strong teeth and bones and general good health.
Vitamin A (Retinyl Acetate): An antioxidant vitamin important for healthy vision and bone growth. For optimum health, guinea pigs and hamsters have a higher requirement for vitamin A than rabbits and other rodents.
Vitamin C: An antioxidant vitamin, important in many metabolic processes and required for healthy tissue growth, repair and healthy gums. Vitamin C is really important for the Guinea Pig who cannot synthesise their own. A deficiency in vitamin C can cause serious illness such as scurvy.
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol): Helps in the absorption of calcium for healthy teeth & bones.
Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol Acetate): A strong antioxidant vitamin to help prevent free radical damage.
B Vitamins (Thiamine B1, Riboflavin B2, Niacin B3, Calcium Pantothenate B5, Pyridoxine B6, Biotin B7, Folic Acid B9): These vitamins have many complex roles, including the release of energy from food, maintaining a healthy nervous system and healthy skin & hair.
Copper (Cupric Sulphate): Contributes to the pigmentation of hair, skin and eyes and helps in the absorption of iron.
Calcium & Phosphorous : These two play a major role in the development and maintenance of strong teeth and bones. It’s important to get an optimum ratio of these two minerals as an imbalance can cause health problems. Small animals in particular need a correct balance to help keep teeth in good order.
Pre-Biotics: Use of the pre-biotic yeast mannan-oligosaccharide (MOS) supports digestion by mopping up pathogenic bacteria, making it more difficult to for them get established in the host animal. This then encourages a healthy population of good bacteria required for an effective digestive system.