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Can Your Fibrevores Eat Too Much Timothy Hay?

If you are the proud owner of a fibrevore (or more likely, a team of them), then it will seem like you go through an incredible amount of Timothy Hay every month. So, it’s only normal to wonder whether you are over feeding your treasured pets. So, can your fibrevores eat too much Timothy Hay?

Nope. Never.

It is that simple. Fibervores are unlikely to eat too much Timothy Hay – and if they do, it is never going to be a problem. That all has to do with the way fibrevores digest Timothy Hay and the benefits they can reap for it. It’s also not one of those foods that actually causes adverse effects... in fibrevores, at any rate.

Just Who and What Are Fibrevores?

Fibrevores are a very tiny group of domesticated animals. They include rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas – and that is about it. These animals fall into a larger group of vegetarians, of course, as they only eat plant material. But, they are wildly different than vegetarians as a whole. Fibrevores need a whole lot more fibre in their diet than most animals. And, they need very little of everything else – except water. Most animals need plenty of fresh water every day, and fibrevores are hardly unique in that respect. Rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs can live on almost nothing but Timothy Hay, which is filled with all the fibre that they need – and in the quantities that allow for optimum health.

Why Do Fibrevores Need So Much Fibre in Their Diet?

Being called fibrevores, it is hardly surprising that these animals require such an enormous amount of fibre in their diet, is it? Mostly that has to do with the foods that were traditionally available to rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs in the wild. But, these pets also have a specialised digestive system. It revolves almost completely around fibre. And, it’s not at all like the digestive processes that humans have.

To begin with, all the fibre that rabbits, chinchillas and guinea pigs consume (usually in the form of Timothy Hay) goes to their stomachs. No surprise there. But, at that point, digestion splits based on the type of fibre. Fibre is a broad term. It includes both digestible and indigestible fibre. Fibrevores need both as they both form part of essential nutrition and digestion.

In fibrevores, indigestible fibre moves from the stomach through the intestines and is excreted as waste without ever being broken down in the process. Instead, indigestible fibre stimulates digestion and keeps the intestines working and as healthy as possible. As it leaves the body, fibrevores feel the sensation of hunger and continue to munch on the pile of Timothy Hay in front of them. And that is a good thing.

Digestible fibre follows another route through the body. Although it is partially broken down in the stomach, even digestible fibre is tough to break down. So, from there it heads over to an appendix-like organ known as the caecum. The primary purpose of this organ is to ferment the fibre that flows into it. This process makes it easier for fibrevores to ingest all the nutrients they need from Timothy Hay. However, because it has already passed through the stomach, the body expels this fibre in little balls known as caecotrophs. To the untrained eye, this may look like excrement, but these pellets are actually full of goodness and are meant to be eaten by your pets. This time around though, fibrevores are able to extract all the nutrients that they need.

There Are Other Benefits to Eating Timothy Hay Too

The benefits of Timothy Hay are not limited to smooth digestive processes. For a start, Timothy Hay is great for oral hygiene. It’s not that it cleans the teeth as we would imagine oral hygiene in our own lives. Instead, it helps animals like rabbits to grind down their teeth. Instead of chewing Timothy Hay up and down as they might do with other food, rabbits mash this food back and forth between their teeth. This keeps them from becoming too sharp and harming your rabbit (or you).

Besides nutrition and oral hygiene, fibrevores just love playing and sleeping in Timothy Hay. They can spend hours eating it and then more time pushing it about from one side of their hutch to the other side. You may need to see it to believe it, but Timothy Hay is great at relieving boredom.

So, Just How Much Timothy Hay Does Your Fibrevore Need?

The easy answer to this question is that your fibrevore needs as much Timothy Hay as he can eat. After all, it will never make him overweight or present any adverse side effects through eating it. On the contrary, the more Timothy Hay your fibrevore eats, the healthier he will become.

But, as a minimum, each one of your fibrevores needs a pile of hay at least as large as themselves every day. Keep in mind, that is the Timothy Hay for eating – not the hay meant for sleeping in or playing with. You can always give your pets more Timothy Hay, which is recommended when you first introduce them to your home – and as you get to know them better. But, never give them less. And, never offer less hay if you spot a few leftovers at the next feeding. Consider that food contaminated and replace it.

In addition, you can offer your fibrevore a few vegetables according to the type of pet that you have. And there are also speciality treats available for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. This, along with water is all your pets will need to remain healthy.

There is, however, one food you should never feed your fibrevores – and that is muesli. This food offers none of the nutrients that fibrevores need. Additionally, it does not provide these pets an opportunity to wear down their teeth, and that can lead to secondary health problems in addition to the incomplete dietary plan.

If you do have any questions about what your fibrevore should be eating – and how much – never hesitate to contact your vet. Or, feel free to give Burgess Pets a call; we’re always happy to assist fellow pet lovers.