Why does Sherwood say to cut out greens when everyone else says they need it?
If you’ve heard mixed advice about feeding greens, you’re not alone. This post explains why Sherwood takes a different stance—and why that choice supports healthier digestion and longer-lasting wellness.
It is true we do things a bit differently at Sherwood. In most cases, if your rabbit/guinea pig tolerates greens well, leaving in a small treat each morning can actually be a great thing. It can help you bond, it’s fun for you both and it can serve as a great red flag indicator of any potential issues such as stasis.
Because everything they need is within the pellets and hay they eat from a nutritional standpoint and because it’s balanced in a way to prevent common health issues like stones and sludge and digestive problems, keeping them down to a treat vs. part of their meal is a great way to treat them.
- There are a few reasons for cutting down -
- Filling up on greens can reduce hay intake, especially in the evening when pets usually eat the most hay.
- Eating fewer greens also means they may drink less water—but greens don’t provide nearly as much hydration as drinking does.
- Cutting back on greens helps with nutritional balance, so their bodies don’t have to produce as much carbonate (which can bind to calcium and cause stones or sludge).
- A lower greens diet supports a healthier gut balance:
- Greens contain starch, which feeds bad bacteria
- Good bacteria (needed for digesting hay) work more slowly and can get overwhelmed. - Reducing greens also means less protein waste, which helps prevent:
- Smelly urine
- Excess cecotropes
Overall, your rabbit or guinea pig should look and feel healthier and happier.
1 comment
I would like to translate this and post it to my sanctuary blog, if possible! I would of course give the link to the original post and credit sherwood!
I cutted greens for my rescues, and since then, I didn’t had any stasis. I had some buns that tolerated it well, but many that did not and had small episode of loose stools. Now, I offer fresh branch in winter and natural vegetation in summer as supplement (so fresh hay, same as they eat but fresh instead of dehydrated, native plants, flower, tree, etc.). In fact, a natural diet they would have in the wild, and I never had any episode of loose stool nor stasis giving them natural plants. So I really want to explore that. Saddly, sherwood pellets are not really available in my area of quebec! But I can still share some info you give, like this one!