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What your small pet eats every day is important
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
The importance of the right nutrition for your small pet
What your small pet eats every day is important. A balanced diet gives vital nutrients
for speedy metabolisms, as well as for food foraging, playing, and interaction everything small pets do to create a healthy life.
A balanced diet is a necessity to allow any small pet to live a full and healthy life. Just
think of how your energy level plummets if you don't eat the correct food. This is
exactly why you have to carefully choose what you feed your small pet each day, just
like you have to be careful to eat a balanced diet yourself.
Species-specific targeted nutrition
A balanced diet for every small pet means species-specific nutrients as well as
textures. Pelleted diets like our Signature Series Foods, provide much of your pet's
nutritional needs. Our Signature Series Premium Small Pet Foods are veterinary
recommended, and they contain Timothy hay-based pellets for adult rabbits, guinea
pigs, hamsters, and chinchillas. Our rat/mouse formula meets the special nutritional
needs of these small pets.
All of our foods feature:
Ground flax seed and other sources of beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids.
DHA to support heart, brain, and visual functions.
Guaranteed levels of fortified vitamins. Guinea pig formula also includes
Vitamin C, essential for guinea pig health.
Nutritionally-balanced premium pellet ratio designed to discourage selective
feeding.
Most formulas include dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
What your small pet eats every day is important - Page 1 of 2
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.
Herbivore, omnivore, or carnivore?
Each small pet, whether herbivore, omnivore, or carnivore needs specific textures and
nutrients.
Herbivores are animals that eat vegetation in order to get the proper nutrients
necessary to remain healthy and survive. Small pets that are herbivores include
rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.
An omnivore is an animal that is able to consume both plants (like an herbivore), and
animal proteins (like a carnivore). Omnivores eat plants, but not all kinds of plants,
and not all parts. Small pets that are omnivores include mice, rats, hamsters, and
gerbils. Insectivores, such as hedgehogs or sugar gliders, are considered omnivores as
well.
Carnivores are animals that eat and derive energy from meat in the diet. Carnivores
are classified:
As facultative carnivores, which will eat plant materials and survive, but prefer
meat. They are similar to omnivores.
Obligate carnivores, which cannot thrive on anything but animal tissue (meat,
poultry, fish).
A small pet that is an obligate carnivore is a ferret.
Your pet's best health is essential
For your pet's best health, it's a great idea to augment even a quality pelleted diet with
fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, or hay for herbivores and omnivores. Meats, poultry, or
insects should be offered for carnivores or insectivores.
Don't forget the water
Water is the most important nutrient you can offer your pet. Fresh, clean water is a
vital necessity. It contains many dissolved compounds essential for life. Water plays a
major role in helping your small pet break down and absorb nutrients from food, helps
maintain body temperature, and also helps the kidney transport wastes out of the body.
A word about treats…
Treats are something that you can give your small pet as a reward or to bond with her.
But the reason they aren't listed above as part of the daily diet is because they should
never be given in large amounts-no more than 10% of their daily diet should be in treat
form.
As you can see, nutrition matters for the life of your pet - expecially your small
companion animals.
What your small pet eats every day is important - Page 2 of 2
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.