Clinical Technique: Feeding Hay to Rabbits and Rodents

The recommended diets of pet rabbits and herbivorous rodents are often based on hays (dried forages) as the staple diet item. The rationale for this recommendation is a combination of logistical factors (i.e., hays are more readily available than a constant supply of fresh forage) and health concerns (i.e., using hays rather than fruits, nonleafy vegetables, and grain products apparently circumvents several health problems). Offering a variety of hays is a feeding concept that has so far received little attention. The choice of hays should be based primarily on a hygienic evaluation. Although hays have to be of impeccable hygienic quality, they need not necessarily be of high nutritive quality. A high proportion of stems and high-fiber material may be adequate for the maintenance of herbivores, and hays of higher nutritional quality can be used as dietary supplements in animals with increased energy requirements. Educating pet owners about the use of multiple hay combinations and the appreciation of the nutritive variety of hays may represent an opportunity for channeling interest and engagement in their animal while concurrently providing a preventive health measure.