UK Food Options Info

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:23 pm


This thread will concentrate on foods available in the UK while a list of suppliers can be found on the UK Sources and Supplies Info thread.
While some of the UK foods may be available in other parts of Europe, searching for nutritional information for European brands should be easier with a separate thread.

As the nutrition page on the main GL site states, we all have our own thoughts on what to feed our pets; ideas shaped by preconceptions, tradition and our own views on human nutrition. Cost, availability and convenience also come into play.
A few people will strive to provide an all natural diet, but the majority of us will include a commercial guinea pig food, along with grass hay and fresh vegetables. See A Proper Diet is the Cornerstone of Good Health.

Commercial guinea pig feeds generally fall into 2 categories, mixes and pellets.

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:24 pm


GUINEA PIG MIXES
There are wide selections of mixes and mueslis coming on the market all the time with some supermarkets also taking out their own brands and variations. These are usually made up of various cereals, seeds, vegetables and fruit pieces in various forms. Generally not recommended, they can lead to selective feeding where the guinea pig picks out its favourites ending up with an unbalanced diet. Mixes often contain less fibre, making unlimited hay even more important in the daily diet. The more commercially available mixes are also more likely to have preservatives and colourants in them, possibly contain choking hazards such as certain seeds or have a high cereal content which can lead to obesity or gas problems in the gut. The cheaper ranges also tend to have more cereals than anything else, reconstituted by-products and less vitamin/mineral content.

Some of the 'better' mixes include Pets at Home Guinea Pig Muesli, Burgess Supa Guinea and Spillers Guinea Pig Muesli. Guinea Pig Fruit & Fibre from The Natural Pet Food Company is non-GM and organically grown but is more difficult to obtain. Two of the most widely available mixes are Wagg Guinea Pig Crunch and Gerty Guinea Pig which are also available in most supermarkets although I'd personally avoid the Gerty Guinea Pig.

My own vet and also Edinburgh Veterinary College have said that additives in Gerty Guinea Pig Food seems to be a factor in an increasing number of guinea pigs having symptoms of diabetes. The Cambridge Cavy Trust have also commented on this saying some additives can cause irritation to the GI and urinary tracts and give high glucose readings in the urine.

Also look out for locust beans in the list of ingredients. Although many guinea pigs love the taste of them, they have been removed from several commercial rabbit and guinea pig mixes due to the choking hazard of the small, hard, shiny seeds inside.

It is also worth noting that in an emergency, making a mash for syringe-feeding a sick guinea pig is almost impossible with a mix, whereas a pellet food will mash down quite well with a little water and still contain all the nutrients and fibre of the original pellet.

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:28 pm


GUINEA PIG PELLETS
There is a growing choice of pellet food for guinea pigs in the UK as owners become more health conscious (even towards their pets) and petfood companies see opportunities to expand. They are not all of the same quality or nutritional requirements so check the labels as many contain poor quality ingredients either as fillers or to keep the cost down.

Combined with other quality foods, pelleted feed can be a convenient way to ensure your guinea pig is getting the necessary nutrients and help prevent selective feeding.

In the UK, the two favoured ones are Burgess Supa Guinea Excel (on the left) and Oxbow Cavy Cuisine (on the right).
Image
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Burgess Supa Guinea Excel is the widest available one at the moment.
It's recommended by vets in the UK as it prevents selective feeding, has a protected vitamin C content and contains prebiotics. It is available in many vet surgeries, pet stores and online.

Ingredients:
Wheat, Lucerne Meal, Cooked Non GMO Soya Beans, Peas, Oat Hulls, Unmolassed Beet Pulp, Brewers Yeast, Soya Oil, Dicalcium Sulphate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructo-oligosaccharides.

Contains no added colours or preservatives - vitamins guaranteed until best before date.
Contains no coccidiostat (added to some rabbit foods).

Nutritional Analysis:
Protein ......... 17%
Oil ......... 4%
Fibre ......... 15%
Ash ......... 6.5%
Calcium ......... 0.8%
Phosphorous ......... 0.5%
Vitamin A ......... 22,000 iu/kg
Vitamin D3 ......... 1,250 iu/kg
Vitamin E ......... 100 iu/kg
Vitamin C ......... 800 mg/kg
Copper as cupric sulphate ......... 15 mg/kg

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:29 pm


While not ideal, Burgess do at least seem to be listening to customers' requirements. They have removed the fish oils that were once included and also made the pellet size smaller - it was originally almost double that size - because of customers requests/complaints. We did query the Unmolassed Beet Pulp as a source of fibre with Burgess and their Technical Director has given the following information.

Generally speaking the Burgess research is done through Leeds University and they use UNmolassed beet pulp as one source of fibre as it is one of the better ones that are available here in the UK. They have not found any problems with the use of it in herbivores; either rabbits, guinea pigs, horses or dairy cattle. He's not sure about it causing problems in cats or dogs as they don't produce feed for these type of animals.

He was aware of the Oxbow products and does spend time in the US researching alternatives and improvements. He mentioned the longer list of ingredients on Oxbow products being due to the US regulations for declaration. The UK and Europe don't have to declare all of these even if they are in the feed.

Most commercial feed makers get the trace elements and vitamins delivered in a basic supplement, Burgess use Roche as their supplier of this, who also supply most of the European manufacturers of guinea pig food, so they will pretty much all contain the same basic supplements. He stated that the Oxbow product has much the same supplement content as that from Roche.

He went on to explain that all ingredients are listed in order of quantity as required by the Foods Standards Agency so the majority of the Burgess pellets are made up from Wheat, Lucerne Meal, and Cooked Non GMO Soya Beans, while the Peas, Oat Hulls and Unmolassed Beet Pulp are in smaller quantities. The Beet Pulp is included as when they look for crude fibre to be added to the feed, they look for different lengths of fibre, not just one bulk type.

He noted that they make a point of using wheat and not wheat middlings which are basically a by-product, same with the soya beans. Burgess use the whole bean which helps give the slightly higher protein content and not just the hulls which are really there for fibre content in Oxbow.

Burgess also stated that:
UK legislation does not require us to declare every single nutrient in our formulations. We have to declare the Nutritional Analysis and major ingredients only.

Major ingredients are: Wheat, Lucerne Meal, Cooked GMS Free Soya and Soya hulls, Peas, Oat Hulls, Unmollassed Beet Pulp, Yeast, Soya Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate as a source of Calcium + Phosphorous.

In addition we add a prebiotic * Profeed * to encourage healthy Bacteria in the Digestive System.

We add extra VITE ourselves and buy a supplement, which is added to every tonne.

The supplement is made for us and contains Protected Vitamin C and a host of Vitamins/trace elements * 28 in all.

The formulation of the major raw materials is important since we want a mix of digestible and indigestible fibre in the 15% of Crude Fibre in the diet."

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:32 pm


Oxbow arguably make the best guinea pig pellet food although it can be harder to find. There are several sites to buy from online, but more and more pet shops and vet clinics seem to be offering them now. Some may only be on a special-order basis but it's worth asking.

Cavy Cuisine (Timothy based by Oxbow) for adult guinea pigs.

Ingredients:
Timothy Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Meal, Salt, Limestone, Molasses Products, Yeast Culture, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Monophosphate L-ascorbic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Riboflavin, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine, Pyrodoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Lysine Hydrochloride, Sodium Selenite, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex and Cobalt Glucoheptonate.

Nutritional Analysis:
Crude Protein ......... min 14%
Crude Fat min ......... 1.5%
Crude Fiber ......... min 25%
Crude Fiber ......... max 28%
Calcium ......... min 0.35%
Calcium ......... max 0.85%
Phosphorus ......... min 0.25%
Salt ......... min 0.5%
Salt ......... max 1%
Vitamin A ......... IU/lb min 13,000
Vitamin C ......... mg/lb min 200


Cavy Performance (Alfalfa based by Oxbow) for guinea pigs under a year old.

Ingredients:
Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Meal, Salt, Monophosphate L-Ascorbic Acid, Molasses Products, Yeast Culture, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Riboflavin, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Thiamine, Pyrodoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex and Cobalt Glucoheptonate.

Nutritional Analysis:
Crude Protein ......... min 18%
Crude Fat ......... min 2.5%
Crude Fiber ......... min 18%
Crude Fiber ......... max 23%
Calcium ......... min 0.6%
Calcium ......... max 1.1%
Phosphorus ......... min 0.25%
Salt ......... min 0.50%
Salt ......... max 1%
Vitamin A ......... IU/lb min 10,000
Vitamin C ......... mg/lb min 400
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxbow also produce a wide range of other products such as hays, vitamin c tablets and emergency handfeeding supplements for sick guinea pigs.

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:33 pm


Both Burgess and Oxbow Cavy Cuisine seem to be an acquired taste for many pigs, it depends how long you want to persevere. Some pigs I know of won't touch either at all.

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:34 pm


Guinea Pig Nuggets is in the Pets At Home range which have a similar breakdown of ingredients and nutritional analysis to that of Supa Guinea Excel. They are a more cylindrical compressed pellet in a greenish colour.
Only available through Pets At Home.

Ingredients:
Wheat, Grass Meal, Soya, Peas, Oat bran, Unmolassed Sugar Beet Pulp, Brewers Yeast, Vegetable Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Fructo-Oligosaccharides (Profeed min 0.25%).

Nutritional Analysis:
Protein ......... 17%
Oils & fats ......... 4%
Fibre ......... 15%
Ash ......... 6.5%
Calcium ......... 0.8%
Phosphorous ......... 0.5%
Vitamin A ......... 22,000 iu/kg
Vitamin D3 ......... 12,250 iu/kg
Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol Acetate) ......... 100mg/kg
Vitamin C ......... 800mg/kg
Copper as Cupric Sulphate ......... 15 mg/kg

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:35 pm


Pascoe Guinea Pig Goodness
Guinea Pig Goodness contains meadow grasses and cereals in a light, crispy kibble, all in a recipe made with only pure, natural ingredients.

Ingredients:
Grass meal, barley, oatbran, soya, linseed flake, sugar beet pulp, wheatbran, yeasts, sunflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, mineral and vitamin supplement, Profeed®, vitamin C. Contains no artificial colours, preservatives or antioxidants.

Nutritional Analysis:
Protein ......... 17%
Oil ......... 4%
Fibre ......... 14%
Ash ......... 7.5%
Vitamin A ......... 23,000 iu/kg
Vitamin D3 ......... 1,500 iu/kg
Vitamin E (? tocopherol as acetate) ......... 100 mg/kg
Vitamin C ......... 800 mg/kg
Copper (as cupric sulphate) ......... 13 mg/kg

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:36 pm


Science Selective Guinea Pig
Science Selective Guinea Pig is designed to combat selective feeding in guinea pigs, made with a blend of tasty herbs with added Vitamin C and comes in a fibrous biscuit shape.

Ingredients:
Alfalfa, derivatives of vegetable origin, cereals, vegetable protein extracts, vegetables, vitamins and minerals, seeds oils and fats, fennel, dandelion, nettle, lysine, DL-methionine, oligosaccharide - MOS.

Nutritional Analysis:
Protein ......... 16%
Oil ......... 4.0%
Fibre ......... 15.0%
Ash ......... 6.5%
Calcium ......... 0.8%
Phosphorus ......... 0.5%
Vit A ......... 23000iu/kg
Vit D3 ......... 1000iu/kg
Vit E ......... 50mg/kg (alpha tocopherol acetate)
Vit C ......... 800mg/kg (stabilized)
Copper ......... 10mg/kg

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:37 pm


As a reminder of what to look out for, and best avoided if possible, the following details are noted from the above ingredients:
lysine - An essential amino acid found in proteins; occurs especially in gelatin and casein which are animal products.

gelatin also gel·a·tine - A colorless or slightly yellow, transparent, brittle protein formed by boiling the specially prepared skin, bones, and connective tissue of animals and used in foods, drugs, and photographic film.

casein - A white, tasteless, odorless protein precipitated from milk by rennin. It is the basis of cheese and is used to make plastics, adhesives, paints, and foods.

DL-methionine - A crystalline sulfur-containing essential amino acid that occurs in the L-form as a constituent of many proteins (as casein and egg albumin), that is important especially as a source of sulfur for the biosynthesis of cysteine and as a source of methyl groups for transmethylation reactions (as in the biosynthesis of choline, creatine, and adrenaline), and that is used as a dietary supplement for human beings and their domestic mammals and poultry and in the treatment of fatty infiltration of the liver.

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:38 pm


Wagg Optimum Premium Guinea Pig Food
Optimum consists of a single all-in-one nugget, containing a wide variety of the highest quality ingredients and balanced nutrition to avoid selective feeding.

Fortified with natural antioxidants and vitamins, Optimum can help strengthen your guinea pig's immune system. Added fibre and yeasts help improve digestion. Extra Vitamin C has also been added, which is so essential as part of a healthy guinea pig's diet.

Ingredients:
Wheatfeed, Sunflower, Grass, Oatfeed, Maize, Locust Bean Meal, Syrup, Vegetable Oil, Yeast, Vitamins and Minerals.

Nutritional Analysis:
Protein ......... 17.0%
Oil ......... 4.0%
Fibre ......... 15.0%
Ash ......... 7.0%
Vitamin A ......... 15,000iu/kg
Vitamin D3 ......... 1500iu/kg
Vitamin E ......... 240iu/kg
Vitamin C ......... 90iu/kg
Copper ......... 16mg/kg.

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Post   » Tue Apr 17, 2007 3:43 pm


A few of the products commonly found in guinea pig feed and used as sources of fibre are listed here.

Wheat Middlings
A co-product of the flour and semolina (pasta) industry. They contain bran, germ and small amounts of starch.

Wheat Bran
The outer covering of the wheat kernel. The bran is a brown paper-like coating that is high in fibre. It is removed when wheat is processed into refined white flour.

Wheatfeed
Also called millers' offal and wheat offals; by-product from milling of wheat, other than the germ; bran of various particle sizes and varying amounts of attached endosperm.

Oat Bran
The outside layer of the oat grain. The grain is used in breakfast cereals and baked goods.

Oatfeed
By-product from cereals such as straw. The fibrous husks from around the grain.

Oat Hulls
Oat hull fibre is an insoluble source of dietary fibre, derived from the outermost layer of the oat grain.

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