Hay now...

It’s a good day to talk about hay

One of the most important aspects of being a pet parent to a small herbivore is providing a proper diet that is predominantly hay. But have you ever wondered how and why hay keeps your pet happy and healthy? There are many different functions that hay provides for your pet and it may not be as obvious as it seems. It all starts with a basic understanding of herbivore physiology, starting at the mouth.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas have hypsodont teeth, which means they are open rooted and continuously grow throughout their lifetime. The front incisor teeth are scythe-like and used to cut through vegetation while the back premolars and molars are flat and used to grind hard fibrous foods. Rabbits use those molars to chew up to 120 times a minute! The rapid side-to-side jaw movements, encouraged by a suitable high fibre diet, helps with proper dental health to allow the incisors to be constantly sharpened and the back teeth to wear down and prevent overgrowth. With low fibre diets or overfeeding of pellets, the jaw movements are slower and more up-and-down, which can result in tooth root elongation and malocclusion (misalignment). Inappetance caused by dental malocclusion is one of the most common reasons a small herbivore is brought to the veterinary hospital. 

As the hay moves into the gut, it passes through the stomach and the small intestines, which play only a small part in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Most of the work is performed by the large intestinal tract, known at the hind-gut. The hind-gut is comprised of 2 segments called the cecum and the colon. The cecum is a large pouch within the intestinal tract that is home to over 70 different types of bacteria and microorganisms. The bacteria break down and ferment, or digest, plant materials into different fatty acids and vitamins, which are then absorbed into the animal’s body to be used as energy for daily life. The fibre from the hay that is eaten helps to stimulate the contractions of the hind-gut to mix the intestinal contents around to enable the bacteria to ferment the fibre properly. This fermentation process is also crucial for the production of cecotrophs, soft nutrient-dense fecal pellets that are ingested directly from the rectum (midnight snack!). Diets low in fibre lead to decreased production of fatty acids and destabilization of the bacterial environment. Inappropriate diets, such as ones high in seeds, grains, bread and other carbohydrates, as well as diets with lots of treats, such as fruits and yogurt drops, can cause an overgrowth of bacterial pathogens and toxin production. This can lead to a serious condition known as gastrointestinal stasis – symptoms to watch out for include decreased appetite, bloated abdomen and/or diarrhea. 

Aside from being an important part of the diet, hay is also good for the mental health of small herbivores. Hay encourages natural foraging and grazing behaviours, which help to diminish boredom-based behaviours, increase physical activity and promote mental stimulation. You can also offer a variety of different hays to make mealtimes interesting and provide different tastes and textures – good grass hays to feed include timothy, orchard grass and oat. It’s encouraged to place hay in as many locations as possible throughout the living space or to stuff hay into safe-to-chew containers, such as toilet paper rolls, to maximize enrichment.  For an added incentive, you can bury a few of your pet’s favourite treats into the hay and watch them excitedly hunt for them!

In summary, improper nutrition is often the key contributing factor in reasons why small herbivores are presented to the veterinary hospital. Feeding a proper diet that is mostly hay is good preventative health care and ensures a long and happy life for your pet!