Food for thought

[jerseygirl]

I came across this study last week and just mentioned it in another thread. Thought I may as well share it here too.

I found it while looking into grasses and veggies that where higher in silicates. A few vet articles have promoted silicates from grasses in the rabbit diet. I figure with one bad hay eater, upping this in her diet would not hurt.  Anyway, this study questions the value of silicate on dental wear. 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

If you’re not inclined to read the abstract, it basically says that a study in sheep showed that a diet containing grasses with silica phytoliths (the hard matter found in plants) does not contribute to tooth wear as much as previously thought.

As I mentioned, they study was on sheep. I do not about the dynamics of open rooted teeth (like rabbits) might factor in. Whether pressure from chewing effect tooth growth etc…

To be clear, I DO think these types of food have an important place in a rabbits diet!!  Wild rabbits think so too & I won’t be questioning them.  Just the fact that plant matter promotes a side to side chewing action & enamel grinds against opposing tooth enamel WILL contribute to dental wear. Of course it has great fibre also which is vital.

[Deleted User]

I have come to the conclusion from my readings, that it is the time spent munching that really matters for rabbit dental health. A rabbit should be munching 80% of his time… the only food that allows this would be hay/grass.

[jerseygirl]

Of course there is the non food items like bags, shoes, furniture…

In seriousness though, that is very true Petzy. And for rabbits to meet their needs they’d eat lots of it for longer lengths of time. This is where pellets have been detrimental to their dental health. By providing high nutrition quickly with minimal chewing.

[Author]

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