Country Store Fruity Nuggets Or Excel?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Florrieberry

Florrieberry

Teenage Guinea Pig
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
517
Reaction score
268
Points
475
Location
Wirral
20141213_083116-1.webp 20141213_083151-1.webp Hi all, well the little darlings are now 5 months old and weaned off muesli onto Country Store nuggets. (Fussy beggars, took ages to convince them to eat nuggets, turned their noses up completely to 2 other samples we tried )
So I thought I would try them on Burgess excel with blackcurrant & oregano for a change, again they're taking their time. Now I'm thinking how do I know which nuggets are best? What should they have /not have in them? Reading these forums I hear there are also Harringtons and Wagg nuggets?
Thank you
 
piggyfan said:
Your piggies are truly beautiful!

The best piggy nuggets are grainless, low I calcium and do not contain molasses. I am afraid burgess is total junk and very high in calcium. These are the best pellets for guinea pigs,
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/food/guinea_pig/bunny/197610

My piggies did not like them so I feed these which are the second best piggy pellets,
http://www.zooplus.com/shop/rodents/food/guinea_pig/other_guinea_pig_foods/262302
Click to expand...
Is this your personal opinion or is it fact. I've always fed my piggies on burgess. I'm now worrying it isn't the best for them. It only forms a small part of their diet however. I lost my little piggy to a bad bladder problem recently, I hope it wasn't the high calcium in burgess that did it. x
 
In my personal opinion, Burgess Excel and Supreme Science are the best. However, recently I've been changing over to Pet UK nuggets which are Vet UK's own food and it's going down really well. I don't rate Country Food fruity nuggets or Harringtons (formerly Wagg) too highly as I don't like the additives and their levels of protein.
 
Thank you, Did wonder about country store as they were so cheap. Haven't come across supreme science or pet UK yet, do you have to buy them online?
 
Florrieberry said:
Hi piggy fan, I would also like to know the reason for your comments as a lot of people recommend excel? You don't work for zooplus do you? Lol
Click to expand...
Lol, no I do not work for zoo plus! A very knowledgeable woman who runs a piggy clinic did lots of research into pellets and these were her findings. Burgess have a good reputation due to sponsoring so many vets. I think you pay for what you get and although the recommended pellets cost more, you only need to feed five pellets a day.
 
Shirley said:
Is this your personal opinion or is it fact. I've always fed my piggies on burgess. I'm now worrying it isn't the best for them. It only forms a small part of their diet however. I lost my little piggy to a bad bladder problem recently, I hope it wasn't the high calcium in burgess that did it. x
Click to expand...
Hi Shirley. This is not my opinion but the research done by a woman who runs a piggy clinic. Burgess is high in calcium. I used to feed it myself before I knew and found so many calcium deposits on the bedding. Now I rarely find any. Please do not torture yourself over your lost piggy. Sadly these things happen.
 
Basically the generic brands are full of grains and sugars which can aggravate existing problems such as fungal and bladder issues. I feed grainless pellets on the recommendation of the lady that Gigi has mentioned. I used to have awful fungal issues in my herd but fingers crossed we have had none since changing the diet. My pigs with Interstitial cystitis have also had no further symptoms. I feed the Bunny pellets and my pigs are doing really well on them. I am putting a sticky together though which covers all available brands so owners can decide for themselves.
 
Hey that would be really good Helen! I have trawled the Internet and there is sooo much conflicting advice :-(
Worrying about calcium :phosphorus,
Then the pellet issue, crikey!
They are happy and bounding but only 5 months old, but don't want to store up trouble for the future. Thank you all.
 
I'd be interested in seeing a direct link to the research that claims "Burgess are high in calcium"

Bear in mind too that Guinea pigs do need some calcium in their diet to keep their bones and teeth in good condition. Killing calcium altogether can be worse for them!
 
piggyfan said:
Hi Shirley. This is not my opinion but the research done by a woman who runs a piggy clinic. Burgess is high in calcium. I used to feed it myself before I knew and found so many calcium deposits on the bedding. Now I rarely find any. Please do not torture yourself over your lost piggy. Sadly these things happen.
Click to expand...
All the piggies at TEAS are fed either Burgess nuggets or Harringtons. I have never had a piggy with a bladder stone or infection. When I first had guinea pigs I fed Gerty Guinea Pig and again, no bladder issues. I am constantly trying to see what I do differently to most people and the only thing I can come up with is my piggies get to spend some time outdoors, weather permitting, all year round. I don't feed many nuggets or veggies. My piggies eat mainly hay and every night their hutches/cages are filled to the top with hay and by morning most of it has gone.
 
See this appears to be a contentious issue. Perhaps it also comes down to appropriate dosage. We feed our piggins 1 cup between the two of them per day of the pellets which works out to be about 50-60g each, although most the time they don't eat all of this, so we only fill it up roughly every 36 hours. So it's within the tolerance. Perhaps some people have a they've ran out so I must give them more approach and this leads to issues.

I really would be interested in seeing the research that this "woman" (does she have a name?) has done.

If this research exists and you have seen it then please don't keep us in the dark, shine your torch forward that we may see the way!

I did wonder if she had got mg/100g and mg/kg mixed up and swapped round as some measure in one and some in the other.
 
Last edited:
RexandGizmo said:
I'd be interested in seeing a direct link to the research that claims "Burgess are high in calcium"

Bear in mind too that Guinea pigs do need some calcium in their diet to keep their bones and teeth in good condition. Killing calcium altogether can be worse for them!
Click to expand...
I used to get many calcium deposits from my pigs while they were on burgess. Since I switched to vitakraft emotion I very rarely see any. To me that indicates they are higher in calcium. What I do know is that they are full of grains and guinea pigs should have a grainless diet.
 
RexandGizmo said:
See this appears to be a contentious issue. Perhaps it also comes down to appropriate dosage. We feed our piggins 1 cup between the two of them per day of the pellets which works out to be about 50-60g each, although most the time they don't eat all of this, so we only fill it up roughly every 36 hours. So it's within the tolerance. Perhaps some people have a they've ran out so I must give them more approach and this leads to issues.

I really would be interested in seeing the research that this "woman" (does she have a name?) has done.

If this research exists and you have seen it then please don't keep us in the dark, shine your torch forward that we may see the way!

I did wonder if she had got mg/100g and mg/kg mixed up and swapped round as some measure in one and some in the other.
Click to expand...
I'm not allowed to promote other forums and it was through her forum I learned of this.
 
I understand that, but I'm sure there is a way around that.
I'm not saying she is wrong, but according to the figures on their website, (and the figures on my bag) She's wrong, and the calcium levels are lower than the stuff you are giving yours currently by almost a half!

In terms of the deposits, this is not necessarily evidence of too much calcium:

I took this from https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...a-pigs-a-balanced-diet-incl-ca-p-ratio.37030/

Read the line that says:
It is important to work out a diet that suits your guinea pigs. Be aware that it is normal for guineas to have milky/cloudy urine, and for it to dry resembling a powdery substance. The warning signs of far too much calcium in the diet is a thickening of this powder to a sludgy-type substance, and when it feels gritty to the touch.
 
RexandGizmo said:
I understand that, but I'm sure there is a way around that.
I'm not saying she is wrong, but according to the figures on their website, (and the figures on my bag) She's wrong, and the calcium levels are lower than the stuff you are giving yours currently by almost a half!

In terms of the deposits, this is not necessarily evidence of too much calcium:

I took this from https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...a-pigs-a-balanced-diet-incl-ca-p-ratio.37030/

Read the line that says:
It is important to work out a diet that suits your guinea pigs. Be aware that it is normal for guineas to have milky/cloudy urine, and for it to dry resembling a powdery substance. The warning signs of far too much calcium in the diet is a thickening of this powder to a sludgy-type substance, and when it feels gritty to the touch.
Click to expand...
She said guinea pigs should have a grainless, sugar free pellet. I, myself think burgess are high in calcium due to the deposits. I understand some deposits are normal but now I only see one or two a month and before I was seeing them daily.
 
Could you at least provide us with the basis for this opinion of hers, informing us of why she says to avoid grain and sugar?

I know sugar is to be avoided in high quantities, but like calcium it is required as part of a healthy diet.

If they can eat things like carrots and fruits, then surely a little sugar in their food isn't detrimental.

I would like to point out though that you (and she) are definitely wrong about the calcium because Burgess is no higher than bunny or the one you use for your piggins in calcium content.
 
I hope that Burgess is not piggy 'junk' food. I have fed it for quite a few years now (although the other family piggies are on Country value). I like it (not for eating, it just seems a good brand!) and the piggies seem to - they don't go crazy for it and it does not make up the main part of their diet, but they do eat what I give them. I wondered about Science Select, is it better?
 
Yes calcium is required and my pigs get enough calcium. I feed the pellets and a special diet called the I.c diet. I stand by my opinion that burgess is a poor quality food as it contains grains and some contains sugar. I do not feed fruit or sugar as I follow a special diet.
 
Fair enough, but perhaps you should be more careful before scaremongering people with HIGH CALCIUM comments every time someone mentions Burgess that I've found out are not necessarily accurate.

Additionally Burgess contains Oat feed, which is a higher qualifty grain than others as it is cereal based, and so is better for animals than most grains.

Also Bunny contains brewers yeast, which is a food additive that is potentially toxic and that some animals can have an allergic reaction to causing diorrhea so I have read. Whether that claim is substantiated or not I don't know, but I do know it is routinely added to dog foods to help prevent against flea infections.
 
And for reference, I don't believe anything written on forums that charge me to access them before they will let me even view a thread!

I shall be conducting my own research though, and will attempt to keep people apprised of the situation.
 
RexandGizmo said:
Fair enough, but perhaps you should be more careful before scaremongering people with HIGH CALCIUM comments every time someone mentions Burgess that I've found out are not necessarily accurate.

Additionally Burgess contains Oat feed, which is a higher qualifty grain than others as it is cereal based, and so is better for animals than most grains.

Also Bunny contains brewers yeast, which is a food additive that is potentially toxic and that some animals can have an allergic reaction to causing diorrhea so I have read. Whether that claim is substantiated or not I don't know, but I do know it is routinely added to dog foods to help prevent against flea infections.
Click to expand...
I do not appreciate the rude way you are talking to me. I am entitled to my opinion and have given my opinion on how things work with my own pigs. I recommended bunny on good advice given to me and have shared that. Nobody has to listen to me or take my advice. Do not speak to me in such a high handed manner.
 
Apologies. I simply thought you were reluctant to back up your evidence, I apologise for appearing so, but I'm trying to find out what is best for guinea pigs, which I believe should be the aim of all forums. I have seen numerous threads where you have banded around your high calcium opinion which I've proved today to be incorrect.

I thank you for providing me with the ladies email, and I shall contact her to find out what I can, whilst continuing to research things for myself.
 
I am not allowed to recommend other forums and I'm just following forum rules by doing that. I do believe Burgess contains high calcium as my own pigs had many deposits after eating them. In saying that there is nothing wrong with my comments. A forum is a place were people share opinions and I am allowed to share mine. If you do not like my opinions then you do not have to talk to me or comment on my threads.
 
Sorry to interrupt, but the effects of a food on some piggies may be different to others and therefore it is not correct to say a particular food has high calcium if scientifically it does not and in fact it was only your piggies affected. :)
 
Hannah Boyd said:
Sorry to interrupt, but the effects of a food on some piggies may be different to others and therefore it is not correct to say a particular food has high calcium if scientifically it does not and in fact it was only your piggies affected. :)
Click to expand...
I said I believe it to be a high calcium pellet and I stand by what I said. It does not change the fact that it contains grains which is unhealthy for guinea pigs.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top