FAQ: Treats for small pets

Replace chews when they are gnawed down to a piece small enough to swallow, or when they get wet, soiled with urine or mouldy. Natural twigs and hay cubes are best replaced more often than wooden toys.

Not every animal takes to chews straight away. Try a different material, rub the chew with a little favourite food or tuck it into the hay; the key thing is that the animal has enough hay or hard food to chew.

Bar chewing often signals boredom, a cage that is too small or stress, not just a lack of chews. Offer more space, hides, hay and chews, as gnawing metal can damage the teeth.

Warning signs include reduced appetite, dropping food, drooling, a wet chin, weight loss or overgrown front teeth. See a vet in that case, as chews will not shorten teeth that are already overgrown.

Grains and seeds suit hamsters, mice and rats, but large amounts of grain can upset the digestion of rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus. For herbivores, choose treats made from hay, herbs and vegetables.

The label marks treats without wheat, maize or other cereals, usually intended for herbivorous rodents and rabbits. They are typically made from hay, herbs, vegetables or flowers and contain less starch.

Better not. Honey, molasses and sugar promote obesity, tooth decay and gut flora problems in herbivores. If they appear among the first ingredients of a treat, choose another one.

Dried herbs and flowers, hay cubes, fruit-tree twigs and small pieces of fresh vegetables or leafy greens suit a rabbit best. Give fruit, carrots and dried fruit only now and then, as they are high in sugar.

Yes, but only occasionally and in a small piece, because carrots are high in sugar. Carrot tops suit a rabbit better than the root itself and can be given more often.

In small amounts, a rabbit can have apple (without seeds), pear, strawberries, blueberries, banana or melon. Fruit is a sweet treat, so a few pieces a week are enough.

Sticks made of grain, seeds and honey are not suitable for rabbits: they are high in starch, fat and sugar, which can upset digestion. For a rabbit, choose treats made from hay, herbs or dried vegetables.

The general rule is to keep treats to a small part of the diet, for example a handful of herbs or a few pieces of fruit a day for a larger rabbit. Reduce the amount for small breeds.

No. Bread, biscuits, cereal and other human flour-based foods are high in starch and sugar, which can cause dangerous digestive upsets in a rabbit's gut. Offer leafy greens instead.

Yogurt drops are not suitable for rabbits: they contain dairy and sugar, and adult rabbits do not digest dairy. Dried herbs or flowers are a safer choice.

Fresh leafy greens, bell pepper, cucumber, dried herbs, hay cubes and an occasional small piece of fruit suit a guinea pig. Treats with vitamin C are a bonus, but they do not replace fresh vegetables.

Like humans, guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so they must get it from food. Bell peppers, parsley and other greens are good sources, and signs of deficiency should be assessed by a vet.

Usually not. Vitamin C breaks down over time and with exposure to light and air, so treats may contain less than stated. Give fresh vegetables daily along with a good-quality food made for guinea pigs.

Yes, a small piece of bell pepper is one of the best everyday sources of vitamin C for a guinea pig. Wash the pepper, remove the stalk and seeds, and balance the amount with other vegetables.

Now and then a guinea pig can have apple without seeds, pear, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi or an orange segment. Fruit is acidic and sweet, so a small piece a few times a week is enough.

No. Guinea pigs are herbivores and do not digest dairy, so yogurt drops or cheese treats can cause diarrhoea. Choose treats made from herbs, hay and vegetables.