What puts your small pets in a good mood?

It seems that dishing out food and tasty treats is a surefire way to put small pets in a good mood. Our recent Small Animal Survey revealed that this was the case with 61% of guinea pigs and 44% of rabbits.

Of course, other aspects of caring for small pets are important too, such as social interaction with a same species companion, spending quality time with their human, having the opportunity to exercise, and the chance to check out interesting new toys in a spacious, enriching environment.

OUR SURVEY SAID?

We asked small animal owners what puts their pets in a good. Our survey revealed:

Guinea pig owners – FOOD AND TREATS 61%, SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH COMPANION 19%, HUMAN INTERACTION 9%, EXERCISE 4%, OTHER 5%, NEW TOYS 2%

Rabbit owners – FOOD AND TREATS 44%, SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH COMPANION 25%, HUMAN INTERACTION 15%, EXERCISE 8%, OTHER 5%, NEW TOYS 3%

Overall – FOOD AND TREATS 50%, SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH COMPANION 22%, HUMAN INTERACTION 14%, EXERCISE 7%, OTHER 4%, NEW TOYS 3%

Burgess Pet Care in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS says: “Our Small Animal Census – which surveyed 6,514 owners and 20,915 small animals – has given us a fantastic insight into the lives of small pets across the UK. This is important because small furries such as rabbits and guinea pigs deserve to live happy, fulfilled, enriched lives with companionship, a suitable environment, the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviours, along with the correct nutrition. As part of a balanced diet, healthy treats can play a vital part in adding variety and interest to your small pets’ day, so it’s great to see that lots of owners regularly offer forage mixes, fresh veg and herbs and hay-based treats.”

OUR SURVEY SAID?

We asked small animal owners what treats they feed their pets. Our survey revealed:

Guinea pig owners – FORAGE MIX 22%, FRESH FRUIT AND VEG 21%, FRESH HERBS 20%, HAY BASED TREATS 20%, SEED/NUT STICKS 8%, BAKED TREATS 6%, HOMEMADE TREATS 3%

Rabbit owners – FORAGE MIX 21%, FRESH FRUIT AND VEG 19%, FRESH HERBS 21%, HAY BASED TREATS 20%, SEED/NUT STICKS 6%, BAKED TREATS 8%, HOMEMADE TREATS 5%

Overall – FORAGE MIX 21%, FRESH FRUIT AND VEG 19%, FRESH HERBS 19%, HAY BASED TREATS 18%, SEED/NUT STICKS 8%, BAKED TREATS 7%, HOMEMADE TREATS 4%, OTHER 4%

Healthy treats keep small pets busy and happy

Dr Moyes adds: “Feeding treats provides emotional and social enrichment, keeping our small animal busy and happy. Incorporating healthy and nutritious treats into their diet is good for our small pets’ emotional health, preventing boredom, encouraging natural foraging behaviour and are ideal for hand feeding, to help you build your special bond with your small furries. No wonder owners told us feeding treats put their small pets in a good mood!”

Some treats are best avoided

However, there are some small pet treats that owners should steer well clear of: “Some treats that are marketed as rabbit food – such as milk-based yoghurt drops or sticks of sweetened cereals – can contribute to obesity and tooth decay, so these are best avoided,” advises Dr Moyes. “Likewise, guinea pigs and rabbits don’t naturally eat nuts and seeds and can’t digest them properly. Nuts and seeds are also high in fat and can cause obesity, so small pet owners should give treats featuring these ingredients a miss.”

The natural choice for healthy, happy bunnies and piggies

When it comes to choosing treats, go for those that are designed with your small pets’ health and wellbeing in mind. Look for treats that are made with 100% natural ingredients and no artificial colours or flavours, and which replicate what small pets enjoy munching on in the wild. Burgess Excel’s innovative range of Nature Snacks includes:

• BAKED TREATS Baked with love, our Excel Baked Treats have no added sugar, artificial colours or flavours and support dental, digestive and behavioural health. Our Fruity Feasts baked treats contain banana and blueberry, our Herby Hearts contain mixed herbs and apple, and our Meadow Munchies are made from a tasty blend of dried meadow grasses and flowers that we know your small furries will love. Why not try limited edition Sunshine Snacks, made with a seasonal forage blend of blueberry and spinach that’s irresistible!
• FORAGE FEAST BARS Our hay bars are high in fibre and perfect for hand feeding. These tasty hay treats are made with natural ingredients and topped with delicious flowers. Choose from Cornflower, Marigold or Rose.
• HERB MIXES Lovingly made, our delicious forage mixes are a healthy treat and are ideal for sprinkling on hay to encourage natural foraging behaviour. Luscious Leaves  is made with a chompable mix of dandelion leaves, nettle leaves, red clover and ribwort and our Wildflower Forage is crafted with a tempting mix of rose, hibiscus, marigold and cornflower.

OUR SURVEY SAID?

We asked small animal owners how often they feed their pets treats. Our survey revealed:

Guinea pig owners – TWICE A DAY 4%, DAILY 25%, EVERY OTHER DAY 28%, ONCE A WEEK 35%, NEVER 8%

Rabbit owners – TWICE A DAY 9%, DAILY 36%, EVERY OTHER DAY 25%, ONCE A WEEK 25%, NEVER 5%

Overall – TWICE A DAY 7%, DAILY 33%, EVERY OTHER DAY 26%, ONCE A WEEK 28%, NEVER 6%

A delicious daily diet plan for your small pets

Because they’re packed with beneficial fibre and made with natural ingredients, Burgess Excel natural treats and snacks can be fed daily, which will be music to the ears of your small pets!

However, to ensure your small pets get all the nutrition and fibre they need, the best idea is to follow the 5-point Excel Feeding Plan, developed in conjunction with one of the world’s leading small animal vets.

• High quality feeding hay or fresh grass should make up 85-90% of your rabbits’, guinea pigs’, chinchillas’ or degus’ diet. Supplement this with a small portion of grass-based nuggets. As a guide, feed each pet around one egg cup of nuggets, twice a day.
• Each day, also provide a small handful of small pet-safe fresh greens and plenty of fresh water. This will provide your small pets with the ideal daily balance of fibre and nutrition.

Ensure your small pets get the balanced nutrition they need in 5 easy steps:

FEEDING HAY  + EXCEL NUGGETS + NATURE SNACKS + FRESH GREENS + FRESH WATER  = HEALTHY DIET, HAPPY SMALL PETS!

LOVE YOUR SMALL PETS? TRUST BURGESS!

At Burgess Pet Care, we continually work with leaders in small animal welfare, behaviour and health to ensure we are at the forefront of small animal health and nutrition. All of our small pet range is designed especially for natural herbivores and are made with 100% natural ingredients, are high in fibre, and contain no artificial colours or flavours and made at our factory in the heart of Yorkshire using only ingredients that meet our stringent specifications. We have also launched many innovations. These include the world’s first food specifically formulated for indoor rabbits and the world’s first indoor guinea pig nuggets which are made with a calm formula.

Check out the Burgess Excel small pets range >>

NO WONDER THAT 92% OF VETS RECOMMEND OUR BURGESS EXCEL SMALL PETS RANGE!

But don’t just take our word for it. One reviewer commented: “My rabbits couldn’t get enough of these treats and binky whenever they hear the packet rustling.” Another added: “First time I’ve ever tried this type of treat with my three bunnies… even the shyest ate it out of my hand…”

TOP TIP!

Small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters are traditionally thought of as good pets for children, yet small animals are often more complex to feed and care for than a cat or dog and require more looking after than a child can offer. And, while it’s lovely for children to enjoy having small pets in their life, the responsibility for any animal’s wellbeing lies with adults, who must always be responsible for overseeing their care. 5 ways to get the whole family involved in pet care >>

Are your small pets Burgess small pets? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards.

• You can also sign up to the Excel Bunny Base – a safe Facebook community for rabbit guardians that are looking for advice and friendly discussions from likeminded owners – and there are lots of cute bunny photos and videos!
• Or why not join the Excel Squeak Squad on Facebook? Find advice and enjoy friendly discussions with likeminded guinea pig owners. You can also join Berry & Bramble, our special G-force guinea pigs, on weekly missions and fun competitions.

CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for all your pets from Burgess, the pet experts. Training, nutrition, grooming and general care. It’s all here >>

If you found this interesting, you may also like:

WHAT’S IN SEASON? HOW TO CHOOSE SAFE FRESH FOOD FOR YOUR SMALL PETS What better way to add variety to your small pets’ daily dinners than by selecting safe fruits, vegetables and leafy greens to nibble on. To save a few pennies, you could even forage for some tasty titbits yourself or why not grow your own?

NUTRITIOUS NUGGETS – WHY THEY’RE THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR SMALL PETS Muesli-style foods may seem like a healthy option for small pets, but this is actually not the case. Find out why nuggets are the best option when it comes to feeding your small furries...

21 AMAZING RABBIT FACTS FOR BUNNY FANATICS Even if you’re a lifelong bunny lover, there are a few things you may not know about your hay-chomping chums. Start off 2021 with browsing our fascinating selection of pet rabbit facts...

GUINEA PIG Q&A Are guinea pigs good pets for children? How long do guinea pigs live? What do guinea pigs like to do? What should you feed guinea pigs? How can you tell if your guinea pigs are happy? We’ve all the answers to these questions and more, which will help explain why these chatty little rodents deserve their status as one of the most popular pets.

FEEDING YOUR GUINEA PIGS – WHY THEY DON’T NEED LIFE STAGE FOOD Unlike puppies, kittens and baby rabbits, baby guinea pigs are born fully formed and eat solid food almost straight away. So, what do they need from their diet?

BONDING WITH YOUR BUNNY CHUMS It’s no surprise that rabbits who bond with their owners live longer and happier lives. Whether your buns are already part of the family, or you’ve just welcomed some new rabbits into your family, find out how to deepen your connection with your nose-twitching pals.

THE SECRET TO HEALTHY, HAPPY GUINEA PIGS Guinea pigs have long enjoyed the status of being one of the most popular pets – which is something they undeniably deserve. However, in order to help them live their best guinea pig lives, it helps to see things from their perspective.

HOW DO YOU GROOM RABBITS? Keeping clean and neat is very important to rabbits and, just like cats, buns spend a huge amount of time grooming themselves. They also need a little help from us.

LOST IN TRANSLATION? GUINEA PIG SPEAK EXPLAINED Guinea pigs are sociable, chatty creatures who generally have plenty to say, using around 11 different noises to communicate how they’re feeling. Getting to know what the various piggy sounds means will help you understand your pets better – and can also help you identify when they’re happy and excited or fearful and unwell.

RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS – IS INDOORS OR OUTDOORS BEST? Is the outdoor life better for bunnies and guinea pigs, or will these small pets have a more enriching time if they’re kept indoors?

LITTER TRAINING YOUR RABBITS  Whether your buns live indoors or out, litter training has lots of benefits – both for them and you!

HOW DO YOU CREATE AN IDEAL HOME FOR YOUR INDOOR GUINEA PIGS? Traditionally thought of as outdoor pets, more and more people prefer to keep their guinea pig friends indoors – and there are lots of good reasons why. Yet, however cosy and stylish your indoor piggies’ home is, it also needs to meet all their health and wellbeing requirements.

HOW MUCH SPACE DO YOUR RABBITS NEED? If you have a couple, a throuple or even a band of well-bonded bunnies, you’ll know just how much they love hanging out together. However, even the best bunny pals need their own space and it’s essential that you provide them with a roomy, enriching environment.

THE ULTIMATE HAPPY HAMSTER GUIDE What do your hamster chums need to be happy? Hamsters are little rodents (gnawing mammals) with compact bodies, short legs, small ears and stubby tails. They make super pets, providing you understand what’s involved in caring for these curious, active animals.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HAPPY, CHILLED CHINCHILLAS What do your chinchilla chums need to be happy and healthy? Find out with our chinchilla top tips! Famed for their soft, dense fur and gentle nature, chinchillas make fascinating pets, providing you understand what's involved in caring for these timid, highly active animals.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HAPPY, HEALTHY DEGUS A close relative of the chinchilla, the degu is a gentle South American rodent that’s native to northern and central Chile. Looking rather like an oversized gerbil, degus have silky, grey-brown coats, rounded ears, a long, thin tail with a tufted, black tip and bristly hair on their hindfeet.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HAPPY GERBILS These gentle, social rodents hail from the desert environments of Africa, India and Asia. With their soft dense coat, long fur-covered tails and friendly nature, they make wonderful pets, providing you understand what’s involved in caring for these energetic, intelligent animals.

THE ULTIMATE HAPPY PET RAT GUIDE Rats make excellent pets, especially for older children and adults. They’re clean, friendly, inquisitive and highly intelligent. They bond well with people and relish the opportunity to do all the things that come naturally to rats – climbing, running, foraging, exploring and playing.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HAPPY, HEALTHY FERRETS Thanks to their endearing, cheeky character, fun-loving ferrets can make wonderful companions, providing you understand what’s involved in caring for these captivatingly curious animals.

ESSENTIAL HEALTH CHECKS FOR SMALL PETS Our small pets such as guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats, gerbils, hamsters and degus need us to keep a constant close eye on their health and wellbeing. But do you know what to look for?

FINDING A VET FOR YOUR SMALL PETS Did you know that just like hospital specialists, vets have different areas of expertise? That’s why, if you have small pets, it can be a good idea to seek out a vet that specialises in small animal medicine.

COST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO LOOK AFTER YOUR SMALL PETS How to create DIY boredom breakers and ways to upcycle old furniture and unwanted items from around the house into interesting features for your pets’ environment.