How Can Oxbow Guinea
Pig Food Prolong the Lifespan of Your Fluffy Friend?

We Australians simply love our pets. Our country is home to no less than 29 million animal companions distributed across almost 7 million households, and in a recent survey conducted by PIAA, 69% of all Aussie families stated they have at least one pet in their care. Cats and dogs are by far the most popular choice for animal companionship, as they are pretty much all around the world. But rodents, and here we are mostly talking about guinea pigs, are a popular choice as well, with our country being home to no less than 290,000 guinea pigs spread across more than 100,000 households. And it’s easy to understand why.

Guinea pigs are low-maintenance animals with a natural gentle side that represents a beginner-friendly pet for families with small children or for individuals who lack the necessary indoor or outdoor space for a more active animal companion. Guinea pigs are affectionate, they live for quite a long time, are very rarely aggressive towards their human handlers, and they require much less ongoing maintenance than dogs and cats. The average Australian spends a median yearly sum of $3,000 per dog and $1,700 for a cat. After all, pet food is expensive and vet bills can add up.

Guinea pigs, on the other hand, are small mammals with little to no ongoing costs associated with their ownership. On average, the annual sum spent for their well-being, vet bills and food, comes at just a bit under $650 per year. And this information comes directly from Kavee. Guinea pigs are social animals with fun personalities who can adapt easily to the characteristics of your household’s environment. But, although they are low maintenance, you will occasionally need to invest in their wellbeing and purchase products such as Oxbow guinea pig food.

What Do Guinea Pigs Even Eat?

Well, in their natural habitat, around 80% of their total diet comes from hay. Their digestive system is designed fore grass, leaves, and bark. In fact, wild guinea pigs spend around six to eight hours per day just actively chewing their food, which makes tough grasses like the Timothy hay present in Oxbow guinea pig food an absolute necessity, as without it, your fluffball’s teeth will just keep on growing and cause a myriad of bothersome and expensive-to-fix health issues.

Yes, hay is important, but this doesn’t mean you can supplement your small pet’s diet with vegetables or the occasional cup of purpose-made guinea pig pellets. Bell peppers, for example, should be offered (in small doses) daily to your rodent, as they are a great source of Vitamin C, something that guinea pigs cannot produce on their own. Moreover, you can occasionally spoil them with cucumbers and carrots.

You should look for guinea pig food that’s supplemented with Vitamin C, that uses Timothy Hay as the main ingredient, and that features a high percentage of fibres. What choices do you have?  Well, the versatile Oxbow guinea pig food will always be a good choice. But on top of this brand, you can also browse for guinea pig food manufactured by Vella, Wombaroo, Alflalfa, Peckish, or Vetafarm.

What About Oxbow Rabbit Food?

Rabbits and guinea pigs are surprisingly similar when it comes to their dietary requirements. They are both rodents that primarily eat grass in their natural habitat, but there are some key differences in the way rabbits can synthesise the nutrients in their pellets, especially so when we are talking about Vitamin C. Unlike guinea pigs, who cannot synthesise it, rabbits can produce Vitamin C thanks to the glucose levels in their liver. Sure, certain situations like injuries and stress can deplete their reserves and make them vulnerable to scurvy, but this is quite rare and therefore most rabbit food available on the Australian market does not have supplementary Vitamin C added in the pellets composition.

Moreover, guinea pig food is typically lower in calcium, as your cute little rodent will be more likely to develop kidney or bladder stones than a rabbit. Rabbits need more fibre in their diet than guinea pigs and they are also a bit more prone to obesity, as they can simply eat a bit more. Which is why going for the easily divisible Oxbow rabbit food is such a good choice. Both rabbits and guinea pigs can tolerate veggies like bell peppers, thrive on Timothy Hay and appreciate carrot treats. That said, both should also avoid iceberg lettuce and broccoli.

What Are the Top Benefits of Oxbow Guinea Pig Food?

For one thing, just like is the case with Oxbow rabbit food, guinea pig pellets rich in natural fibres can promote a healthy gut biome, aid in digestion and help with your guinea pig’s dental health. The teeth of your small but adorable guinea pig never stop growing, and in the wild, they solve this problem by constantly chewing on tough grasses that dull them and allow them to continue their way of living. Living in a cage, however, is different from going about your days in your natural environment.

Therefore, high-fibre Oxbow guinea pig food is an absolute necessity for the optimum development of your small but adorable rodent. Plus, the products commercialised by Oxbow come with added Vitamin C, there are no artificial additives involved, and the texture is specially crafted to be suitable for both the dentition of adult rodents as well as juveniles. And the same also applies to Oxbow rabbit food.

Like the equivalent for guinea pigs, Oxbow rabbit food is free of artificial colouring or preservatives, it’s good for both adult and young rabbits, delivers a calorie-dense, highly-nutritious punch with every pellet, and it’s primarily based on Timothy hay, which is probably the best grass on the market for the digestive health of small to medium-sized rodents. The formulas necessary for the proper development of rabbits and guinea pigs are pretty similar. Therefore, it is common, at least in Australian pet shops, to find that rabbit and guinea pig food are sold as being interchangeable with each other.