Complete Versus Complementary Foods
There is no such thing as a 'complete' food for 'fibrevores' - that is, no single food that can be fed to the exclusion of every other, whether it's hay, nuggets or Muesli. No one food on its own can provide enough of the essential nutrients and fibre that rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas need. Any 'fibrevore' food packaging that claims to be 'complete' on its own is misleading, so please check it carefully before you buy.
There are complementary foods - like those developed by Burgess Excel within the five step Excel Feeding Plan - which, when fed in a combination with fresh greens and water, go to make up a complete dietary range.
Burgess Excel is the first food to offer a complete feeding plan which provides all the vital fibre, nutrients, vitamins and minerals that 'fibrevores' need to stay healthy and emotionally enriched.
The issue with 'Muesli' style rabbit food
Muesli encourages selective feeding in rabbits. Rabbits can become fussy eaters, and will eat sweet foods as an easy way to get a glucose fix. With 17,000 taste buds (compared to only 9,000 in humans) its easy for them to pick out the highly starchy and sugary elements of Muesli-style foods and leave the rest, usually the bits that are actually good for them! This selective feeding will lead to an imbalanced diet, lacking in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. This behavior can lead to a lack of fibre with potentially fatal consequences. When taken with the fact that Muesli-style foods are commonly low in fibre to begin with, the problem is compounded.
The unhealthier ingredients in Muesli-style foods are high in sugar and starch. These are difficult for rabbits to digest and can lead to health problems and obesity. Rabbits eat caecotrophs directly from their bottoms - obese rabbits often cannot reach the caecotrophs which can lead to malnutrition and death.
The problem can be avoided by following the Burgess Excel Feeding Plan, and by ensuring that the right proportions of herbage, forage, beneficial fibre nuggets, fibre-rich snacks, fresh greens and fresh water are fed to your pet rabbit daily.
Read more about The Excel Feeding Plan here.
The Excel Feeding Plan
- The Excel Feeding Plan and Excel food were developed by Burgess with one of the world's leading small-animal vets to provide a perfect daily balance of fibre and nutrition.
- It is the only full product range that can provide complete nutrition.
- That's why Burgess Excel is the UK's No. 1 vet-recommended food for 'fibrevores'.
The Excel Feeding Plan - step by step
STEP 1 - Excel Herbage and Forage
- Premium quality hay and grass foods which should form most of the pets' diet.
- Especially good for Dental Health as they contain high levels of Beneficial Fibre that help to wear down teeth.
STEP 2 - Excel Tasty Nuggets
- Containing 100% natural, wholesome ingredients.
- With added vitamins, minerals and prebiotics.
- Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre for Digestive Health.
- Because they're not a Muesli-style mix, they prevent selective feeding.
The Excel Feeding Plan = Complete Nutrition
STEP 3 - Excel Nature Snacks
- Healthy, nutritious natural snacks - ideal for pets.
- Promote Emotional Health - preventing boredom and encouraging bonding and interaction between pets and owners.
- Can be fed daily because they're all made with pure, natural ingredients.
- Some are specially designed to be fed by hand which helps pets to get comfortable with human attention.
STEP 4 - Fresh Greens
- Fresh greens to give additional fresh nutrients and to provide some variety.
- But care is needed about what is fed and how much.
- - For more information, read the packaging, a Burgess Excel Care Guide or visit www.burgesspetcare.co.uk.
- If in doubt contact the Burgess Excel team on free phone 0800 413 969.
STEP 5 - Fresh Water
- A plentiful supply of fresh, clean water must always be available.
- There is no better or more balanced diet for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas than The Excel Feeding Plan.
- Following these five simple steps will help pets stay happy and strong.
- The Excel Feeding Plan will help maintain Digestive, Dental And Emotional health - all three of which are vital.