【Small Pet High-Fiber Pellet Guide】Why Rabbits & Guinea Pigs Need RodiCare® Basic — and How to Feed It Correctly

When caring for rabbits or guinea pigs, pet parents often ask: "What should I do if my pet isn't eating enough hay?", "How do I choose pellets that won't strain their digestive system?", or "How can I maintain smooth gut motility during shedding seasons or recovery periods?"

Herbivorous small pets require high amounts of dietary crude fiber to maintain healthy cecal flora and ensure natural dental wear. A lack of crude fiber in particular leads to insufficient tooth wear and gut flora imbalance, which can result in diarrhoea, constipation and bloating. RodiCare® Basic is a herbal pellet feed formulated specifically for guinea pigs and rabbits, built on linseed extraction meal, oat bran, grass meal and dried apple pomace, with 5% barley and 4% beet molasses.

This guide provides a detailed look at the nutritional benefits, suitable species, and feeding recommendations for RodiCare® Basic.

Key Takeaways

High-Fiber Plant Formula: Made from linseed extraction meal (20.6%), oat bran (20%), grass meal (15%) and dried apple pomace (14%), providing 17% crude fiber suited for small herbivores.

Grains & Sugar: The formula contains 5% barley and 4% beet molasses, with the remainder built on plant fibre ingredients.

Vitamins & Minerals: Contains vitamins A, D3 and E plus vitamin C at 1,000 mg/kg, along with zinc, manganese, iron, copper, iodine, cobalt, selenium and molybdenum.

Firm Pellet Texture: The pellets are dense enough to require thorough chewing, though dental wear itself still depends mainly on unlimited quality hay.

Herbal Infusion: Contains fenugreek seed, calamus root and turmeric to stimulate appetite and digestive activity, plus camomile, peppermint, fennel, caraway and liquorice.

Suitable Species: Specially designed for rabbits and guinea pigs.

Why Do Small Herbivores Need RodiCare® Basic?
Rabbits and guinea pigs are "hindgut fermenters." Their digestive tracts depend heavily on dietary fiber to maintain constant intestinal motility. The most common cause of digestive problems in guinea pigs and rabbits is incorrect feeding — a lack of crude fiber in particular, which leads to insufficient tooth wear and gut flora imbalance, and can result in diarrhoea, constipation and bloating.

5 Core Benefits of RodiCare® Basic

1. High Crude Fiber (17%) for Intestinal Motility
   RodiCare® Basic is compressed from linseed extraction meal (20.6%), oat bran (20%), grass meal (15%), dried apple pomace (14%) and lignocellulose (2.5%). A very high crude fiber content is the foundation for maintaining the intestinal flora and promotes intestinal peristalsis, ensuring food residue moves smoothly through the digestive tract.
   
   
2. Lower Grain & Sugar Content
   The formula contains 5% barley and 4% beet molasses, with the remainder built on plant fibre ingredients, and no artificial colorants — keeping digestive strain to a minimum while supplementing nutrition.
   
   
3. Natural Botanical Blend for Digestion & Appetite
   Fenugreek seed, calamus root and turmeric stimulate appetite and digestive activity, while camomile, peppermint, fennel, caraway and liquorice supplement the diet with valuable secondary plant substances.
   
   
4. Firm Pellet Structure Requiring Thorough Chewing
   Herbivore teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, and a lack of crude fiber leads to insufficient tooth wear. RodiCare® Basic pellets are dense enough to require proper chewing before swallowing — though dental wear itself comes mainly from incisor-on-incisor contact and the sideways grinding motion used on long forage, which is why unlimited quality hay remains the foundation of dental health.
   
   
5. Rapidly Available Energy, Vitamins & Trace Minerals
   Rapidly available energy helps maintain the sensitive energy metabolism of the liver. RodiCare® Basic is also fortified with vitamin A (7,000 IU/kg), D3 (500 IU/kg), E (110 mg/kg) and vitamin C (1,000 mg/kg), plus zinc 74 mg, manganese 50 mg, iron 40 mg, copper 15 mg, iodine 1.1 mg, cobalt 0.4 mg, selenium 0.3 mg and molybdenum 0.2 mg, helping prevent nutrition- and illness-related deficiencies.
   
   Analytical constituents: crude protein 15.9%, crude fat 3.3%, crude fibre 17%, crude ash 7%, calcium 0.7%, phosphorus 0.35%, sodium 0.3%. Pack sizes 1,000 g (also 4 kg and 25 kg). Shelf life 24 months; store below 25 °C in a dry place.

Suitable Species & Feeding Instructions

1. Suitable Species
   Rabbits: Ideal as a daily herbal high-fibre complementary feed and a healthy substitute for grain-heavy commercial feeds, alongside unlimited quality hay.
   Guinea Pigs: Provides a high-fibre foundation and already contains 1,000 mg/kg vitamin C — around 30 mg at the recommended 30 g daily portion, which covers a guinea pig temporarily without fresh food. Infection, digestive upset, stress or growth raise the requirement, in which case RodiCare® Vita C (approx. 40 mg per tablet, half to one tablet per guinea pig daily) can be added.
   
   
   

2. Feeding Recommendations

   Manufacturer's guideline: adult guinea pigs approx. 30 g/day (1½ measuring scoops); adult dwarf rabbits approx. 50 g/day (2½ scoops). Required amounts vary with species, weight, age and condition — confirm by observation or with your vet.
   Recommended feeding period: at least 20–30 days; it can also be used long-term alongside quality hay and fresh food.
   Always Pair with Unlimited Hay: Pellets should never replace fresh hay! Always provide unlimited clean Timothy hay and fresh drinking water.
   Recovery & Appetite Loss: An excellent transition food when pets are regaining their appetite after an illness or surgical procedure — Alfavet itself recommends serving RodiCare® Basic pellets during and after the transition back to solid food.
   Feeding notes: avoid any sudden change of feed; additional fresh food should be fibre-rich and introduced in very small amounts, increased gradually.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can RodiCare® Basic replace unlimited fresh hay?
No. Unlimited fresh hay (such as Timothy hay) remains the primary dietary foundation for herbivorous small pets. RodiCare® Basic serves as a premium high-fiber pellet supplement to ensure balanced nutrition and digestive health, but it cannot replace the physical need for continuous hay chewing.

Q2: What is the difference between RodiCare® Basic and RodiCare® Instant?
RodiCare® Basic: A solid pellet complementary feed (17% crude fibre) for pets that are eating independently, fed in measured daily portions alongside unlimited quality hay.
RodiCare® Instant: A complete feed (22% crude fibre, vitamin C 9,510 mg/kg) in fine powder form, mixed with warm water at roughly 1:2 to form a mash and fed at 60–80 ml per kg body weight daily across 5–6 meals — specifically for syringe feeding during acute appetite loss, illness, or post-op recovery.

Q3: Can hamsters eat RodiCare® Basic?
Not recommended as a primary diet. Hamsters are omnivores requiring higher protein levels and animal-based nutrients. Their digestive systems differ significantly from herbivores. Hamsters should eat species-appropriate omnivore diets, and use products like RodiCare® Akut for digestive upset.

Conclusion: Pure, High-Fiber Nutrition for Your Small Pet
Choosing a fiber-rich pellet is a crucial step in safeguarding the digestive wellness of your rabbit or guinea pig. RodiCare® Basic offers trusted daily nutrition powered by natural and essential herbs!

👉 Shop Now: RodiCare® Basic High-Fiber Pellets

🔗 Related Reading:
- 【Small Pet Supplement Guide】Do Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas & Hamsters Need Supplements? Prebiotics, Hairball Care, Senior Care vs. Emergency Recovery Powder Explained
- [Small Herbivore Care] Is Your Rabbit, Guinea Pig, or Chinchilla Suddenly Refusing Food? The Ultimate Guide to "Emergency Recovery Food"—A Life-Saver in Critical Moments!