|
|
Post by terrijanson on Feb 4, 2016 20:42:37 GMT
What are your opinions on this brand? I am feeding Oxbow Natural Science but with 7 pigs is is quite costly but I will continue if I have too. Just was curious on everyone's thoughts
|
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Feb 5, 2016 15:47:37 GMT
I Googled both, and while I couldn't find the nutrition information on Oxbow Cavy Cuisine, I did find it on Oxbow Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food. I also found it on Mazuri Timothy-based Guinea Pig Diet.
Both have the same basic structure of ground timothy hay or timothy hay meal, soybean hulls, etc. So they are comparable on that basis. They vary a lot in the nutritional make up of the pellets. You want the lowest amount of calcium, vitamin A and fat, and the highest amount of crude fiber. Mazuri has more calcium and Vitamin A and fat than Oxbow, and less fiber.
Will the differences in the amounts make any obvious difference to your guinea pigs? I have no idea. I do know that since Calcium is in everything from the pellets and hay to the veggies and even the water, you want to knowingly give them as little as possible. Stones are one of the most common, painful and often fatal problems guinea pigs suffer, and stones are caused by a pigs inability to process the amount of calcium it ingests. The first sign of too much calcium is piles of tiny white crystals. That tells you to reduce the sodium, as their bodies are expelling what they can't digest.
I would suggest you buy both Oxbow and Mazuri, and mix them. That way you don't give the pigs too much of the higher amounts, but you save a lot of money. If adding the Mazuri doesn't result in fat pigs or piles of white crystals, try increasing the ratio of Mazuri to Oxbow, and just keep watching for any problems. Hopefully, you won't have any, and you may find you can eliminate the Oxbow completely.
|
|
|
|
Post by terrijanson on Feb 5, 2016 17:14:47 GMT
Thank you for your quick reply. I found that Drs. Foster and Smith have a 25 pound bag of Oxbow Essentils for $34.95 that is a little less costly as well. I want to take the best care possible but need to cut down some of the costs if I can.  |
|
|
|
Post by 3piggles on Feb 6, 2016 22:25:48 GMT
There is some give and take with the pellets, Mazuri a bit better in one area, Oxbow in others. That's why I think you'll do fine if you mix the two, especially if it reduces your food bill. Glad you found the Oxbow cheaper on Drs. F&S |
|
