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Above:
homemade grain mix.
OVERVIEW
So
many of the commercial rat diets out there are full of ingredients that
are either inappropriate for rats or simply aren't liked by rats. This
leads to a lot of waste, and a lot of fat, unhealthy rats. For example,
most mixes contain tiny seeds and alfalfa pellets that do not get eaten.
Rats have a hard time digesting alfalfa, so they rarely eat it. Peanuts
and other nuts, while enjoyed by rats and fine as treats, contain too
much fat and protein to be a staple part of a rat diet. Finally, dried
corn can not only contain fungus, but also creates nitrosamines in the
stomach, which can lead to cancer. Add to that the preservatives many
pet foods contain (namely Ethoxyquin, which is NOT approved for human
consumption), buying commercial mixes is just not the best option.
In an effort
to keep my rats healthy and happy, I have been working on my own homemade
diet. As I learn more and more about rat nutrition, the menu changes,
so this is always a work in progress. Invaluable resources for me include
The Rat Fan Club, the RMCA,
and one of my past veterinarians, Dr. Carolyn Orr in Brockport, New York.
STAPLE
DIET
I
have had a hard time in the past getting my rats to consistently eat
lab blocks, so after reading a lot of dry dog food labels, I have decided
to feed my rats a staple diet of Solid Gold Holistique Blendz dog food. The protein is listed as 18%, and it is all high
quality protein. Compare the ingredients list to other dog foods, and
you will clearly see the difference. Other recommended brands include Wellness Healthy Weight, Natural Balance Vegetarian, Natural Balance Lite, and Blue Buffalo Lite.
I supplement
the Solid Gold with a homemade grain mix, detailed below. I fill the bowl
each evening, at "feeding time," giving them about half Innova and half
grain mix. The grain mix is not complete by itself. It needs to be supplemented with a high quality lab block or dog food
as the staple.
Many people
choose to use a high quality lab block, such as Harlan Teklad, instead
of the dog food, and I highly endorse this. A high quality lab
block, if you have access, is always recommended. I'm limited
in my mail order abilities, so I often have to rely on what is locally
available to me. You can get Harlan Teklad lab blocks from Kim's
Ark Rat Rescue. All proceeds from sales at Kim's Ark benefit the
rat rescue. If you use a high quality lab block, you don't actually need to feed my mix at all. Lab blocks are a complete diet.
GRAIN
MIX
This
is a homemade mix that I have formulated using items from my local supermarket
(pictured above). As often as I can, I buy from the bulk bins or the
store brands. The only item I tend to splurge on is the Total cereal,
because it is very nutritious, and recommended by both the Rat Fan Club
and my vet. Overall, it costs me between $15 and $20 to put together
the grain mix, which lasts me a couple of months, depending on how many
rats I have. The weights listed are approximate.
1/2
to 1 lb. dry rolled oats
Quaker is fine, but may be more expensive; I buy mine in the bulk bin
at the supermarket. Keep in mind that oatmeal is binding, so too much
can cause constipation problems.
(1)
5.3 oz. box puffed wheat cereal
Malt-O-Meal, Quaker or Kashi.
Cheerios are also a viable alternative, if the other two are not available,
but keep in mind that there may be added sugar. I use the Quaker, as
it has no sugar content. The exact oz. amount between brands is not
a big deal. The 5.3 oz is the weight of the Quaker box.
(1)
6.4 oz. box puffed rice cereal
Quaker is the best brand, because it contains no sugar. Rice Krispies
really are not recommended, because of salt and sugar content.
1 12
oz. box Total
Cereal
Highly recommended by The Rat Fan Club and my veterinarian for its exceptional
nutritional content, due to added vitamins and minerals. It's only available
in the United States. If you can't get Total, you can add a children's
vitamin/mineral tablet to their diet, or use small animal vitamins.
Note: some
people think Total has too many vitamins. Keep in mind that on an average
day, a rat will only eat a few flakes of the cereal if fed as a part
of this mix. The US RDA listed on the box is based on a full bowl. A
rat will eat nowhere near this much on any given day.
1/4
to 1/2 lb. roasted, unsalted soy nuts
These are somewhat high in protein, but contain valuable cancer-preventing
agents, so they are a good addition to the mix. Not all rats like them.
May also be called
roasted soy beans -- I think the "nuts" thing is a marketing
ploy for humans! If you can't find them, you can work soy into their
diet in other ways, such as soy milk, tofu, soy crumbles and soy yogurt.
You can also purchase Just
Soy Nuts online. Raw dried soybeans can also be toasted at home
- Roasted Soy Nuts
Recipe.
Note: I
recently read that roasted soybeans are also a good source of vitamin
K.
1/2
lb dried fruits
Dried bananas and cranberries. The bananas offer potassium, and cranberries
are good for the urinary tract. Until recently, I used the banana chips,
which unfortunately are fried. I have since discovered Just
Bananas, which are nothing more than dried bananas. They also have
a lot of other fruits and veggies that make great treats, or additions
to the mix. Recently, I have been including Just Fruit Salad instead of buying separate dried fruits.
If you
don't want to include the fruit, you don't have to. I know some people
prefer to give their rats fresh fruits, instead. I do this when I can,
but we don't always have fruit in the house. Some
people also avoid fruits in general due to high sugar content. Use your
discrection and common sense.
1/2
lb dry pasta
The tri-colored spirals, with spinach and tomato flavor. Nice and crunchy
for the teeth, and a good source of carbohydrates, which helps balance
the protein in the soy nuts. The box I buy is actually 12 oz., a little
more than 1/2 lb.
Whole wheat pasta ia also a good choice.
2/3 cup sunflower seeds
The large sunflower seeds for birds (the black and white ones) are best.
I used to give my boys the unshelled, unsalted seeds from the bulk department,
but they weren't enjoyed as much. Keep in mind that too many sunflower
seeds can add too much fat and protein to the diet. Use common sense.
1/4
lb muesli (optional)
Sometimes (especially in winter), I have a hard time getting the rolled
oats in bulk -- too many people eating oatmeal, I guess. I found a mix
called "muesli" in the bulk department that had a lot of interesting
items in it that the rats really like, including rolled oats, granola,
pumpkin seeds and raisins. It offers a nice variety, but I would use
it sparingly due to sugar content.
Mix everything
together in a huge bowl (or divide ingredients in half and make two
batches if you don't have a bowl big enough for everything -- I actually
end up doing three batches!). Store in an airtight container in a cool,
dry place. This makes quite a lot of mix, and will last you quite a
while if you only have a few rats -- I usually don't have more than
four rats, and it lasts me two months.
TREATS
Of
course, every rat needs and deserves treats! Life would be boring without
treats, and some of the items in the list below are also important dietary
supplements. Fresh fruits and veggies offer a lot of important vitamins.
You should
always give your rats healthy treats... No chocolate or jelly beans
or potato chips (ok, ok, I'm guilty of it, too!). Pretty much anything
that is healthy for humans is healthy for rats. Below is a list of the
various things I feed my rats as treats.
- Gerber
instant baby oatmeal (great for mixing in supplements)
- cooked
pasta or rice
- fruits
(fresh and frozen), including watermelon, blueberries, plums and grapes
- veggies
(fresh and frozen), including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas,
corn, and lima beans
- fresh
wheatgrass - mine love Petgrass,
or you can grow your own from seeds - I get mine from Sprouthouse.
Once it starts to turn yellow-brown, throw it out. If there are any
yellow or brown blades in the pot, don't buy it, as it is already
on its way out. It should be about 2" tall when you purchase
it. This is why I prefer to grow my own.
- wheat
or multigrain bread
- plain
popcorn
- occassional
healthy table scraps
- olive
oil - this helps the coat stay shiny and dandruff-free. I give my
adult boys a small piece of bread soaked in the oil about once a week.
- yogurt
- Dried
fruits and veggies from Just
Tomatoes
- Peanut
Butter Banana Oatmeal Treats
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
As always, this diet is a work in progress, and as I learn more about
what rats need and which foods are the best sources of those needs,
I will be altering and perfecting the recipe.
UK
Version - from Shunamite Rats
For more
information on rat nutrition, I highly recommend the following links:
RMCA Homemade
Diet Information
Rat Fan Club Diet Information
- includes food to feed with caution, and foods to avoid
For more
information on general nutrition, such as what foods contain what minerals,
etc., I highly recommend the following links:
Nutrition.org Nutrient Information
Nutritionfocus.com
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