🥗🐰🐹 Vet Guide 2025: Introducing Senior Rabbit & Guinea Pig Foods — By Dr Duncan Houston

As rabbits and guinea pigs age, their nutritional needs change—digestive efficiency slows, teeth wear differentially, and softer feeding may be required. In this 2025 vet guide, I’ll show you how to introduce senior-specific diets, safe soft-food options, nutritious hay varieties, and feeding strategies to support healthy aging. Let’s nourish their comfort and vitality! 😊

1️⃣ Why Switch to Senior Foods?

• ⚖ Slower metabolism and changing energy needs
• 🦷 Age-related dental wear—senior pellets may be softer or easier to soak
• 💧 Senior veggies have higher moisture for hydration
• 🔍 Enhanced fiber, vitamins, and mineral balance in age-targeted diets

2️⃣ Choosing the Right Senior Pellet

• 🐰 Rabbit options: Oxbow Essentials Senior, Carefresh Senior—lower protein/calcium, higher digestibility
• 🐹 Guinea pig options: Oxbow Adult Guinea Pig Senior—fortified for ageing support
• 📋 Read labels to confirm prebiotic fiber and dental health focus
• 🔄 Transition slowly: mix 25% new pellets every 3 days over 2 weeks

3️⃣ Soft Vegetable & Treat Options

• 🥬 Offer daily soft greens like romaine, cilantro, parsley—easier to chew and hydrating
• 🍎 Introduce cooked, unseasoned root veggies—carrot, sweet potato—in small portions
• 🥕 Include high-moisture treats like pieces of cucumber or zucchini

4️⃣ Hay Choices for Senior Teeth & Digestion

• 🌾 Continue unlimited Timothy hay—essential even in senior years
• 🍃 Introduce Orchard or softer Meadow hay blends—for easier chewing and variety
• 📆 Monitor tex­ture—replace hay if too coarse or dusty

5️⃣ Soaking & Softening Strategies

• 💧 Soak pellets briefly before serving—softens without nutrient loss
• 🌡 Use lukewarm water or herbal infusions like chamomile
• ☕ Offer softened hay portions at each feeding session

6️⃣ Monitoring Transition & Health

• ⚖ Weigh weekly—ideal to catch early weight loss or overeating
• 🩺 Check droppings—normal pellet count and consistency
• 🦷 Look for signs of dental pain—drooling or reluctance to eat hard hay
• 📲 Use Ask A Vet for photos or follow-up if you see worrying signs

7️⃣ Enrichment Through Feeding

• 🧩 Use Woopf puzzle feeders with soaked pellets or veggies—to keep teeth engaged gently
• 📦 Place soft treats in hideouts or paper-tube foraging toys to stimulate interest
• 🔄 Rotate food textures—alternate softer and slightly denser hay to maintain engagement

8️⃣ Veterinary Considerations

• 🦷 Annual dental checks are vital—watch for uneven wear or ulcers
• 🧬 Bloodwork for seniors—kidney, liver, and sugar levels
• 💊 Supplements: vitamin C for guinea pigs, joint supplements for rabbits may be helpful—only via vet advice

📌 Senior Feeding Checklist

1. Select age-appropriate pellet—transition gradually over 2 weeks
2. Provide unlimited high-fiber hay with occasional softer blends
3. Offer daily soft veggies and soak pellets for easier chewing
4. Track weight, appetite, droppings and dental signs weekly
5. Use puzzle feeders and foraging toys to encourage gentle engagement
6. Consult Ask A Vet for concerns or changes during the switch
7. Book annual senior veterinary exam with dental evaluation
8. Consider vet-approved supplements if needed

🌈 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Transitioning to senior nutrition doesn’t just meet your rabbit or guinea pig’s changing physical needs—it supports their happiness and comfort. With softened pellets, nutrient-rich hay, gentle enrichment, and careful monitoring—and backing from Ask A Vet—you’ll help them thrive in their golden years. Don’t forget to enrich their routine with Woopf puzzle toys and cozy Purrz bedding for added comfort and joy. 🐇🐹💚