Rabbits and guinea pigs have become very popular pets. They’re fun and loveable and, naturally, we give them treats to show them just how important they are to us.
But the treats that you find in stores are loaded with preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. These can be harmful to pets. So, what treats can you give your furry little buddies that are delicious and healthy?
Well homemade treats, of course, and here are four recipes you can make your critters delicious treats to enjoy and feel good about it.
Please be sure to limit treats to one a day to help prevent obesity and the various health problems that come with it.
Update: Don’t miss the bonus video recipe below!
Guinea Pig & Rabbit Banana Carrot Hay Biscuits
- 2 carrots
- 1banana
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup timothy hay (great way to use up the pieces on the bottom of the bag)
- Put the oats into a food processor and blend until they form a powder.
- Now place into a mixing bowl.
- Next, put the hay into the food processor and blend until it is in very small pieces and add to the mixing bowl with the oats and stir to combine.
- Place the carrot into the food processor and blend into a purée, and then add the banana and blend until it mixes thoroughly with the carrot purée.
- Add the purée into the dry ingredients and mix until a firm dough forms.
- Place the dough into a 1/4-inch thick sheet and using a knife, score the sheet into 1-inch squares (do not separate) then bake in a preheated 325F oven for 30 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave the biscuits in the oven until it cools to allow the biscuits to dry out.
- Remove from oven and break the sheet into squares along the score lines and place into a freezer bag or container and store in the fridge for up to one week and store in the freezer for longer storage.
Guinea Pig & Rabbit Biscuits
- 1 small carrot
- 1/2 banana
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup of your guinea pigs or rabbits pelleted diet
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- Put the oats and the pellets into a food processor and blend until they form a powder, then place into a mixing bowl.
- Next, put the carrot into the food processor and blend until it’s puréed, add the banana and blend until they are well combined.
- Now place the purée into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until it forms a sticky dough. Place the dough onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and press into a 1/8-inch thick sheet.
- Using a knife, score the dough into 1 inch squares (don’t separate the squares).
- Bake in a preheated 325F oven for 30-40 minutes (watch closely, so they don’t over brown).
- Turn off the oven and leave the biscuits in the oven until it cools to allow the biscuits to dry.
- Remove from the oven and break the biscuits into squares along the score lines.
- To Store: Place the biscuits into a freezer bag or container and store in the fridge up to one week, and keep in the freezer for longer storage.
Guinea Pig & Rabbit Gnawing Biscuits
- 1 cup of your guinea pig or rabbits pelleted diet
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped timothy hay (place into a food processor to chop into small pieces)
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- Put the shredded carrots and applesauce into a bowl and mix well to combine.
- Put the chopped hay pieces into a mixing bowl.
- Next, put the oats and pellets into the food processor and blend until they form a powder, then add to the mixing bowl with the hay and mix well to combine.
- Next, add the carrots and applesauce mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms (if the dough seems too dry, add ½ tbsp of water and mix).
- Place the dough onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and press into a ¼ inch thick sheet and using a knife, score the dough into 1 inch squares (don’t separate the squares).
- Bake in a preheated 250F oven for 45 minutes, then remove from the oven and using a knife separate the squares and use a spatula to turn each of the squares over and place back into the oven for an additional 45 minutes, this step will make the treats extra dry and crunchy.
- Then turn off the oven and leave the biscuits in the oven until it cools.
- Remove from the oven and place into a freezer bag or container and keep in the fridge for up to one week and keep in the freezer for longer storage
Herbal Guinea Pig & Rabbit Biscuits
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup of your guinea pigs or rabbits pelleted diet
- 4oz of carrot baby food
- 4oz of banana baby food
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Put the oats and the pellets into a food processor and blend until they form a powder, then place into a mixing bowl.
- Add the baby food and stir until thoroughly combined and let sit for 10 minutes to allow the dry ingredients to absorb the water from the baby food.
- Next, place the dough onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and press into a 1/4-inch thick sheet and using a knife score the dough into 1 inch squares (don’t separate the squares) and bake in a preheated 325F oven for 30 minutes (watch closely, so the biscuits don’t over brown).
- Turn off the oven and leave the biscuits in the oven until it cools, then remove and break into squares along the score lines.
- Store in a freezer bag or container, for up to one week and or freeze for longer storage.
New Bonus Video Recipe
For you proud guinea pig owners (and rightfully so), the recipe below is easily adjusted. Simply replace the rabbit pellets with guinea pig pellets and you’re good to go!
Treat time is fun for both you and your little piggies and bunnies. Now you have some recipes that you can easily make at home that contain only healthy, natural ingredients.
Homemade treats are cheaper, and you know they aren’t ingesting all of those nasty preservatives and artificial ingredients.
So, let’s get baking, and give your furry friends some delicious and healthy goodies.
Just remember to only give one or two treats per day to help prevent your cherished pet from becoming overweight.
