Frequently Asked Questions

What is the production process of Timothy Gold Hay?
Hay Production: To explain the condition of this hay we will explain the way Timothy Gold is grown and harvested. Timothy Gold grows slowly from mid July to late September. Depending on weather conditions here in Diamond Valley, Nevada, which is 6000 feet elevation, the daytime temperatures can be very warm, then can dip down to close or below freezing at night. Other conditions that can occur are insects, variance in moisture, and available fertilizer/nutrients for the plant. Timothy Gold is a crop that is harvested at the end of the growing season and if it freezes early the hay will be shorter. All these conditions can and do cause a small percentage of brown leaf in it. Timothy Gold could also have golden stems in it, which are simply hay that is raked up from the previous crop. In the winter months, the hay is stored in large, covered barns, which keeps the hay well preserved. In the spring months, the hay starts to dry out and become brittle as the weather starts to warm up. This is the same process our hay has gone through every year. None of these conditions reduces the nutritional value of the hay and therefore are not subject to a refund. Before ordering Timothy Gold Hay please ask for a sample of hay or make your decision on ordering the hay from the description of the current condition of Timothy Gold.

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What is the production process of Timothy High Fiber Hay?
Timothy High Fiber Hay is grown and harvested between April and mid July. Depending on weather conditions here in Diamond Valley, Nevada, which is 6000 feet elevation, the daytime temperatures can be very warm, then are cool at night allowing Timothy High Fiber hay to grow to its normal coarse, long, headed, and bright green condition. The same conditions that occur above with Timothy Gold can occur in Timothy High Fiber, but usually are not as severe. The crop that is harvested in mid July and available to you the first of August. This is the same process our hay has gone through every year.

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Do you have an automatic order program?
Yes, we at American Pet Diner know that it is not always easy to have to phone or go to the computer and order our Healthy Hay Products therefore we have several different options available for automatic ordering. The options that are available are weekly, every 2 weeks, every 4 weeks, monthly, and quarterly. It is very easy to sign up for this program by phoning (1-800-656-2691) or emailing (orders@americanpetdiner.com) your order.

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What is the difference between Timothy High Fiber (1st Cut Timothy) and Timothy Gold (2nd Cut Timothy)?
The difference between Timothy High Fiber Hay and Timothy Gold hay is first the fiber content, 1st Cut Timothy Hay is higher in fiber thus calling it Timothy High Fiber. Timothy High Fiber is coarse, long stemmed, bright green and has lots of seed heads, while Timothy Gold is soft, lusciously green (with the exception of an early freeze and this will cause a small percentage of brown), shorter in length, and little to no seed heads.

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Why does Timothy Gold (2nd Cut Timothy) vary in length and sometimes brown leaves from year to year?
Timothy Gold (2nd Cut Timothy) is harvested later in the year and in the high altitude of Diamond Valley, Nevada the weather is sometimes unpredictable. On years when there is an early freeze the hay has to be harvested before it gets very long in length and before it has a chance to turn lusciously green. On these years the Timothy Gold (2nd Cut Timothy) tends to have a small percentage of brown leaves and is sometimes shorter than that of a full growing season.

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What kind of pellets do I feed my pet Rabbit?
Young or breeding rabbits (when weaned to 6 to 10 months): We recommend feeding our Alffy Rabbit pellets, a complete pellet ration that is Alfalfa Hay Based (no timothy hay) and protein luscious to keep your rabbit healthy, happy, and growing. Feed to young, junior, growing, gestating, lactating, breeding or underweight rabbits. Also feed alfalfa hay and as they start to mature, gradually introduce timothy grass hay.

Adult or Older (a rabbit is fully grown at 6 to 10 months depending on breed): We at American Pet Diner recommend feeding our Timmy Rabbit pellets, a complete pellet ration that is Timothy Hay Based (no alfalfa hay) and fiber luscious to keep your rabbit healthy, happy and prevent digestive tract problems. Feed to adult, senior, fully grown, overweight, and urinary track problem rabbits. See feeding chart below for feeding amounts. Also feed Timothy High Fiber or Timothy Gold hay free choice (all they can eat), as well fresh vegetables, (see list below for amounts of acceptable vegetables and fruits), gnawing treats like the Timbo Snak Treat, fruit twigs/sticks or other chew toys purchased from the pet store.

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What kind of pellets do I feed my pet Guinea Pig
Young or breeding guinea pigs: We recommend feeding our Alffy Guinea Pig pellets, a complete pellet ration that is Alfalfa Hay Based (no timothy hay) and protein luscious to keep your guinea pig healthy, happy, and growing. Feed to young, junior, growing, gestating, lactating, breeding or underweight guinea pigs. The Alffy Guinea Pig pellet includes added Vitamin C and a complete vitamin and mineral supplement that your pet needs to satisfy the guinea pigs daily nutritional needs. Also feed alfalfa hay and as they start to mature, gradually introduce timothy grass hay.

Adult or Older: We recommend feeding our Timmy Guinea Pig pellets, a complete pellet ration that is Timothy Hay Based (no alfalfa hay) and fiber luscious to keep your Guinea Pig healthy, happy and prevent digestive tract problems. Feed to adult, senior, fully grown, overweight, and urinary track problem guinea pig. The Alffy Guinea Pig pellet includes added Vitamin C and a complete vitamin and mineral supplement that your pet needs to satisfy his/her daily nutritional needs. See feeding chart below for feeding amounts. Also feed timothy grass hay free choice (all they can eat), as well fresh vegetables, (see list below for amounts of acceptable vegetables and fruits), gnawing treats like the Timbo Snak Treat, fruit twigs/sticks or other chew toys purchased from the pet store.

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What kind of pellets do I feed my pet Chinchilla?
Young or breeding guinea pigs: We recommend feeding our Alffy Chinchilla pellets, a complete pellet ration that is Alfalfa Hay Based (no timothy hay) and protein luscious to keep your chinchilla healthy, happy, and growing. Feed to young, junior, growing, gestating, lactating, breeding or underweight guinea pigs. The Alffy Chinchilla pellet includes added Vitamin C and a complete vitamin and mineral supplement that your pet needs to satisfy his/her daily nutritional needs and added dental health. Also feed alfalfa hay and as they start to mature, gradually introduce timothy grass hay.

Adult or Older: We recommend feeding our Timmy Chinchilla pellets, a complete pellet ration that is Timothy Hay Based (no alfalfa hay) and fiber luscious to keep your Chinchilla healthy, happy and prevent digestive tract problems. Feed to adult, senior, fully grown, overweight, and urinary track problem chinchillas. The Timmy Chinchilla pellet includes added Vitamin C and a complete vitamin and mineral supplement that your pet needs to satisfy his/her daily nutritional needs and added dental health. See feeding chart below for feeding amounts. Also feed Timothy High Fiber hay free choice (all they can eat), as well fresh vegetables, (see list below for amounts of acceptable vegetables and fruits), gnawing treats like the Timbo Snak Treat, fruit twigs/sticks or other chew toys purchased from the pet store.

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What kind of pellets do I feed my pet Prairie Dog?
We recommend feeding our Timmy Rabbit pellets to a Prairie Dog; this is a complete pellet ration of Timothy Hay. Do not feed alfalfa hay or alfalfa hay pellets as they are too high in protein for a prairie dog. Also feed Timothy High Fiber Hay and growing treats like the Timbo Snak Cube to help keep their teeth worn down, reduce boredom and keep your pet prairie dog happy and healthy.

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What is the difference between Alffy and Timmy pellets?
American Pet Diner has 2 lines of pellets, the Alffy (Alfalfa based) and Timmy (Timothy based) complete pellet ration. It is very hard to find timothy only based pellet and American Pet Diner has produced just that.

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Is there any food I should NOT feed my pet?
Do NOT feed your rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla or prairie dog chocolates, people food, sweets, iceberg lettuce, cabbage, spinach beans, potatoes, or rhubarb. See amounts and list below of acceptable vegetables and fruits.

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Can I purchase a Gift Certificate so I can share your Healthy Hay Products with friends and family?
Yes, you may purchase gift certificates in $25.00 increments either on our website (www.americanpetdiner.com), by emailing (orders@americanpetdiner.com), or by phone (1-800-656-2691).

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Can I get a retail catalog of American Pet Diner?
Yes, please see our downloadable retail catalog in .pdf format on our home page.

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How should I store American Pet Diner's Hay to maintain freshness?
The proper storage of American Pet Diner's hay is to keep it in a cool dark place like a closet, basement, garage, or cupboard. Keep the hay from direct sunlight, as hay can bleach and/or sweat when exposed to heat. Keep your hay in the box and bag that American Pet Diner shipped to you, and loosely fold the plastic bag flaps in to keep air out. Always visually check the hay for any foreign objects like dirt or weeds. Smell the hay for a fresh smell, and do not feed if there is a question whether the hay is fresh or contaminated.

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Why should I be feeding my adult small companion pet Timothy Hay and not Alfalfa?
Alfalfa has too much calcium causing sludge in the bladder. Alfalfa is only recommended to young, underweight, poor eaters, or breeding small companion pets. Timothy Hay provides your adult animal with higher fiber and less calcium, which is what veterinarians of the small pet world recommend.

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Why should I feed my rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or rodent a diet of mostly hay?

Hay should make up the bulk of your rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or rodents diet. The benefits of feeding unlimited hay (all your pet can eat) are many and recommended by veterinarians. They are:
Keeps digestive tract moving
Helps stabilize droppings (reduce diarrhea)
Increases roughage moving through the system which helps digest food
Better food utilization
Helps pet reduce boredom by giving them something to do all day long
Timothy Gold, Timothy High Fiber, and Mountain Grass Hay help reduce calcium and calories in the diet, helping to keep the pet's weight stable and reducing urinary sludge, (urinary track problems)
Helps remove hairballs

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What is C for in American Pet Diner's pellets?
C is for Vitamin C, as guinea pigs and chinchillas have to have it supplemented to them. This is added to our pellets to prevent scurvy in guinea pigs and improve dental health in chinchillas.

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What is Mountain Grass Hay?
Is specialty grass hay grown as an alternative to Timothy Gold or Timothy High Fiber. It is one or more of the following: orchard, fescue or garrison grass hay. Your animal deserves variety in their diet. Also great for those pets or owners that find they are allergic to timothy. Keep feeding grass hay without dealing with your allergies.

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Why do my pellets and/or hay box packaging look different from the last time I ordered?
The folks at American Pet Diner are constantly looking to improve the convenience and look of our products. Our new pellet bags are bright colored poly zip lock bags that allow you to reseal your pellets for freshness. Some of our boxes are now white corrugated to add a very cute look to your hay box.

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What is difference between billing address and shipping address when I am completing my order form?
The billing address is the address that your credit card bill is sent to. Your shipping address may be different from your billing address, this is the address you want your order to be shipped. Make sure you check the address you have typed for accuracy.

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How can I get a sample of each of the American Pet Diner products?
Order the Health Gift Pack for your pet or a friend's pet. The packs come specific for your type of pet: rabbit or guinea pig or chinchilla or prairie dog so you can try each of our five wonderful hay flavors, Timmy Pellet, Timbo Snak Cube, Soft Bedding and Papaya Snak Treat.

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Does my pet need exercise?
YES, YES, YES. Your pet requires lots of room to play and run. Let them out of their cage at least twice a day, (in the morning and in the evening). You and your pet will be happier and healthier by having this playtime for social interaction, reduce boredom and get the exercise they need. You need to have a designated space, having one room that is free of dangers is recommended. Your pet can chew on ANYTHING, so move items that you do not want chewed or that are hazardous to them including: electric or phone cords; dogs and cats or other pets that can harm or scare them; small objects that could be ingested such as marbles or kids toys; and poisonous plants. Playing outside is great fun if your pet is always supervised. An idea for a play space is a child's swimming pool. Chinchillas need a wheel at least 12 inch in diameter to exercise in their living space. Hamsters and other rodents also require an exercise wheel.

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Why should I spay or neuter my pet?
A spayed or neutered pet makes a happier pet. They have less aggressive behaviors, better temperament and they live happier longer lives. They just make a better pet. Also, we have too many unplanned pregnancies and unwanted animals, don't be responsible adding to this problem.

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Why do I need a veterinarian, my pet is healthy?
When you first get a pet, a veterinarian trained to treat your type of pet should look over him to see if he is healthy and is due for any treatments or shots that are needed. Find a veterinarian before your pet is sick. Don't wait until the middle of the night to look through the yellow pages. Some vets have never treated exotic animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, or prairie dogs. Ask friends or the supplier of your pet for referrals.

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I have another pet in the house such as a dog or cat. How will this affect my new rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla or prairie dog?
Introduce your pet to your other pets and family members slowly. These other pets and terrify for your new pet. Keep them separated until you feel they can get along. They may or may not be able to cohabitate. It depends on the temperament of your new pet. Remember to care for the feelings of him as he is in a new environment and everything is scary for him. It is important to handle him often to make a warm and loving pet. The more you love and handle your pet, the tamer, calmer and gentler it will become. Remember to feed and water your pet daily.

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What kind of Bedding should I use?
We have done extensive research on the many types and brands of bedding or litters on the market. We recommend ONE type of bedding, Critter Litter and Bedding, recycled paper bedding, because it is VERY safe for your pet, does not contain any orders, oils or dust to cause you or your pet problems. There are many bedding and litter products out on the market. Use your own judgment or try different brands.

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My pets weight has changed quickly, either dropped or gained weight?
Check your pet's weight weekly to detect any changes in their weight. This is an excellent gauge to determine their health and well-being. If their weight changes, they may be sick, call your vet immediately.

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Do I need to clip the nails of my pet?
A rabbit, guinea pig or prairie dog nails should be trimmed every 6 weeks. Ask your veterinarian.

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My rabbit or guinea pig has long hair. Do I need to do anything to their hair?
Long hair breeds: of rabbits or guinea pigs should be brushed with a soft brush regularly or at least twice a week to keep their hair nice and free of tangles.

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How often do I need to bath my pet?
Don't bath your pet unless it is necessary, as too much soap and bathing can strip natural oils in the animals skin. But, if there is a poop or food mess in the hair you can bath with care. Line a sink with a towel or rag and bathe your pet in a small amount of lukewarm water. Use a pet shampoo only (do not use soaps or shampoos designed for people as they are too harsh). Rinse thoroughly, and dry with a towel or hair dryer set on low or warm.

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What type of animal is my rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla or prairie dog?
It is a herbivore, which is defined as animal that only eats plants or grasses.

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Vegetables in the Daily Diet:
Rabbits: Feed a minimum of 1 cup vegetables for each 4 lbs of body weight. Select a variety of veggies that contains Vitamin A. Add one vegetable to the diet at a time. Eliminate if it causes soft stools or diarrhea. Limit fruits to 1 to 2 Tablespoons for each 5 lbs of body weight.

See www.rabbit.org for lists of acceptable veggies and fruits for rabbits.

Guinea Pigs-find veggies high in vitamin C and dark greens such as parsley, collard greens, beet greens, broccoli leaf, spinach, green & red bell pepper, etc. See www.americanpetdiner.com for a complete listing.

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What temperature should I keep for my pet?
Not too hot or too cold. Keep your pet from cold drafts or direct sunlight. A good temperature to keep them in is 65-75 degrees F or 18-25 degrees C.

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Housing: give your pet plenty of room to move around. Check out these websites:
Rabbits: www.rabbit.org minimum of 24" X 24" X 36".

Guinea Pigs: www.cavyspirit.com minimum of 36" X 36".

Chinchilla: www.etc-etc.com 24" X 24" X 36".

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What should my pet's cage include?

Hay hanger/feeder plenty of hay 24 hours per day
Dish for food high quality fresh pellet
Water bottle hung on cage cold fresh water daily
Mat/rug/board to keep their feet up from the wire
Litter box clean bedding daily, change bedding weekly
Chinchillas: a mineral stone, jumping board, wood hung for chewing, and dust bath twice a week
Fresh vegetables variety given daily
Timbo Cube Treat and fruit twigs for gnawing urges

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What is a Cavy?
Cavy is another name for a guinea pig.

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What is a Chin?
Chin is another name for chinchilla.

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What is a Bunny?
Of course a bunny is another name for rabbit.

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My pet wants to gnaw or chew on everything. What should I do?
Your pet rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla or prairie dog loves to chew. Provide them items so that they can satisfy this urge and help wear down their teeth. If you don't, you will have to take them to the vet to have their teeth clipped and they won't stay happy and healthy. Items to gnaw on are:

Hay
Hay cubes
Fruit twigs
Willow Baskets natural with no finish on them
Card Board tunnels, such as paper towel or toilet paper centers
Chew toys purchased from pet store

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