The Number One Veterinarian-Recommended Hay for Small Herbivores:
Oxbow Western Timothy Hay holds the distinction of being the most widely recommended hay by exotic animal veterinarians globally, a recognition built over three decades of proven nutritional outcomes and rigorous quality standards. For rabbit and guinea pig owners navigating the often overwhelming world of small-pet nutrition, this endorsement represents the collective wisdom of thousands of exotic veterinary professionals who trust Oxbow to do right by their patients.

Supports Daily Digestive Health and Prevents GI Stasis:
The high crude fibre content of Oxbow Western Timothy Hay actively stimulates caecal and intestinal motility in small herbivores, keeping the gut moving continuously as nature intended. Consistent daily consumption of quality long-strand hay is the single most powerful dietary intervention for preventing GI stasis, a condition responsible for a significant proportion of emergency exotic veterinary visits, and Oxbow Western Timothy Hay delivers that protection reliably with every generous handful.

Promotes Natural Dental Wear and Prevents Malocclusion:
Unlike pellets, treats, or processed supplementary feeds, the long fibrous stems of timothy hay require your small companion to perform the wide lateral grinding motion that continuously files down their ever-growing teeth to the correct length and angle. This daily mechanical action is irreplaceable and cannot be mimicked by any other food format, making a constant supply of quality hay the most important preventive dental care tool available to your rabbit, guinea pig, or chinchilla.

Harvested Fresh from a Dedicated Family of Premium Farms:
Oxbow works in direct partnership with a carefully selected family of farms across the Western United States, where hay is harvested at the precise moment in its growth cycle when fragrance, texture, leaf-to-stem ratio, and nutritional content are at their optimal peak. This farm-to-bag commitment means your small companion receives hay that retains its natural sweetness, vibrant aroma, and full structural integrity, qualities that are critical for stimulating the appetite of even the most discerning and selective small herbivores.

Industry-Leading Quality Control Process:
Every bale of Oxbow Western Timothy Hay undergoes a multi-stage proprietary quality process that includes field evaluation, bale-by-bale grading, third-party nutritional testing, food safety analysis, organoleptic assessment (evaluating odour, flavour, texture, and appearance), dust extraction, and meticulous hand-sorting by trained experts before a single strand reaches the bag. No other hay brand on the market subjects its product to this level of scrutiny, which is precisely why Oxbow has pioneered and continues to define the standard for premium small-pet hay worldwide.

Encourages Natural Foraging Behaviour and Mental Enrichment:
Beyond its nutritional function, hay serves as the primary medium through which small herbivores express their natural foraging and exploratory instincts, behaviours that are essential to psychological wellbeing in captive environments. Offering your companion a generous, freely available supply of Oxbow Western Timothy Hay throughout the day allows them to forage, rummage, nest, and forage again as their instincts dictate, transforming a nutritional necessity into a rich source of daily environmental and behavioural enrichment.

100% Natural, Preservative-Free, and Additive-Free:
Oxbow Western Timothy Hay contains absolutely nothing beyond what nature produced: pure timothy grass, sun-dried and carefully packaged, with zero artificial colours, flavours, binders, or preservatives. For small pet parents who are rightly cautious about what goes into the bodies of sensitive herbivores with highly specialised digestive systems, this commitment to absolute purity is not just a marketing claim but a foundational product promise that has remained unchanged since Oxbow's inception.

How to Use:

Offer large, generous handfuls of Oxbow Western Timothy Hay to your rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, prairie dog, or other small herbivore freely throughout the day, ensuring that hay is available at all times without restriction. Hay should constitute approximately 70% or more of your small pet's total daily diet, and the principle of free-choice feeding applies, meaning that if your companion finishes what you have provided, replenish it immediately. Hay may be placed loosely in the habitat floor, in a dedicated hay rack or feeder, or inside enrichment toys and foraging stations to encourage natural exploratory behaviour. For variety and additional dietary enrichment, Oxbow Western Timothy Hay may be mixed with other Oxbow grass hays such as Orchard Grass Hay or Oat Hay to introduce different textures and flavours, which can be particularly beneficial for picky eaters or animals transitioning from a lower-quality hay. Always ensure your small companion has access to fresh, clean water alongside their hay. Discard any hay that becomes damp, soiled, or contaminated by the animal's waste, and replace it with a fresh portion. Note that natural colour variation in the hay, including some browning of leaves, is normal and does not indicate any reduction in nutritional value.

Storage Advice:

Store unopened Oxbow Western Timothy Hay in a cool, dry place below 25 degrees Celsius, away from direct sunlight. Do not freeze. Once opened, roll down the top of the bag and store it in a dry, well-ventilated location away from moisture and humidity to preserve freshness, aroma, and structural integrity. Avoid storing hay in sealed airtight containers, as some airflow helps prevent mould formation. Keep away from other household pets that may disturb or contaminate the supply. Do not use after the best-before date printed on the packaging. Discard any portions of hay that develop a musty odour or visible mould, as these may pose a respiratory and digestive health risk to sensitive small herbivores.

About the Brand:

Oxbow Animal Health traces its roots to 1980, when fifth-generation hay farmer John Miller began growing premium hay on the Miller family farm in Murdock, Nebraska, before formally establishing Oxbow as a pet nutrition company in 1992, becoming the first brand in the world to introduce Timothy Hay as a dietary staple for small pets. Over the following three decades, Oxbow grew into a globally recognised leader in small animal health, with its products now available in over 30 countries and its formulas pioneering what is today an industry-wide revolution in small herbivore nutrition. The brand's research and development philosophy is grounded in an unwavering farm-to-bag quality ethos, with every product subjected to third-party nutritional testing, bale-by-bale grading, and hand-sorting by trained experts, all underpinned by ongoing collaboration with leading exotic animal veterinarians and nutritionists. Oxbow's commitment to purity, education, and the long-term wellbeing of small animals, free from artificial additives and anchored in the science of species-appropriate nutrition, aligns with Animeal's commitment to offering only the most trusted and evidence-based pet health products. Discover Oxbow Animal Health today.

Disclaimer:

Please note that while Oxbow Western Timothy Hay is formulated from 100% natural, preservative-free Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) and is appropriate for rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, prairie dogs, hamsters, gerbils, and other small herbivores of all life stages, it is a complementary and staple forage food and is not a complete diet when offered in isolation. While hay should form the majority of a small herbivore's daily diet, it should be accompanied by species-appropriate supplementary pellets and fresh leafy greens as recommended by your exotic animal veterinarian for a fully balanced nutritional programme. For small pets with pre-existing dental conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, or other diagnosed health concerns, consult your veterinarian before making changes to the feeding routine. Animeal supports your pet's health and happiness journey but does not replace the advice of a qualified veterinary professional.