Are oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruits in the diet of rats good or bad?

Rats are known for their ability to eat almost anything. They can benefit from eating a wide range of different foods, ranging from meat to vegetables. However, although rats are very versatile eaters, there are some foods that are best avoided because they can cause health problems. Knowing which foods are safe and which are not is critical. After all, a rat's happiness and health starts with proper nutrition.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at apples and how they fit into your pet rat's diet. Can rats eat apples? And if so, what precautions should be taken? Maybe you need to peel the skin? We will answer all these and many other questions below.

If you need a quick answer to the question, here it is: Rats can definitely eat apples. They contain high amounts of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, making them a good nutritious snack for your pet, but there are some things you should consider before feeding apples to your rat. The most important precaution is to remove all seeds, as they contain cyanide, which is toxic to rats.

You might be tempted to go out and feed your rat some juicy apples right now, but there's still important information you should know. So, read on.

Fruit seeds and seeds

One of the prohibited foods is fruit seeds. In particular, the seeds and kernels of citrus fruits contain the toxic substance amygdalin. When it breaks down, hydrocyanic acid is released. One bone contains enough poison to kill the animal. Do not feed your rat seeds and pits of plums, apples, peach, oranges, cherries, lemons and other fruits. Rapeseed and mustard seeds are prohibited for consumption. It is allowed to feed your pets watermelon, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. They are used as a supplement to main food. An overdose of seeds can cause serious poisoning.

Nuts

Nuts are full of healthy fats, protein and fiber. They can be given to pets as a healthy treat. However, they should only be offered to rats in small quantities, as they contain too much fat. But the exception is chestnuts, which are low in fat and are considered the most suitable nut for rats.

We suggest adding several types of nuts to your pet's diet and alternating them - treating your rat to one of the types once a day. The following nuts are the best choices:

• Walnuts;
• Brazil nuts;
• Almond;
• Pecan;
• Pistachios.

Chestnuts are the only type of nut that can be given in large quantities and combined with other nuts.

Vegetables

Certain types of vegetables should not be included in your pet rat's diet:

• Vegetables from the Brassica family: turnips, radishes and radishes. They lead to increased gas formation in the intestines;
• any type of cabbage causes bloating in a rat;
• Potatoes contain a huge amount of starch, which is harmful to the rodent’s stomach due to difficulty in digestion. Tops and sprouts are harmful due to solanine;
• legumes (peas, beans, lentils and others) disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If the animal does not have digestive problems, it is allowed to give dried mung beans, chickpeas or peas.
• You should not feed your pet raw artichoke. Reduces pressure due to increased alkali levels;
• beets are allowed to be given only in small quantities. It has a laxative effect;
• Raw eggplants contain the toxic organic compound solanine. You can give the vegetable, previously peeled and boiled;
• It is undesirable to eat cucumbers. They cause stomach upset and diarrhea;
• animals should not eat tomatoes due to the oxalic acid content;
• garlic and onions irritate the gastric mucosa, because... contain biologically active substances phytoncides.

Can rats eat apple peels?

Yes, rats can eat apple peels without any problem. It is not dangerous and is the most nutritious part of the fruit. However, you should wash it well before giving it to your rat. Especially if you have non-organic apples, there are often pesticides on the skin. These pesticides are harmful to rats.

A University of Massachusetts study found that the most effective way to get rid of pesticides is to soak fruit in a mixture of baking soda and water for a few minutes, then rinse under running water. In this study, researchers used about 2 teaspoons of baking soda dissolved in 4 cups of water and soaked the apples for 15 minutes and then rinsed them with tap water, which removed most of the pesticides.

Green food

A caring owner needs to monitor the consumption of greens by a pet rat. List of prohibited green food:

• bugs and horseradish contain substances harmful to animals - essential mustard oils;
• sorrel spinach are a source of oxalic acid, which is dangerous for the pet’s body;
• You can’t feed rhubarb to animals, because it causes disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
• seaweed has a high iodine content.

Can hamsters eat tangerines?

Tangerines are citrus fruits containing acids and sugar. Can hamsters eat tangerines? Rodents are prohibited from any exotic fruits. You can’t give them to an animal for the same reasons: teeth deteriorate, problems with the stomach and intestines, hair loss.

All citrus fruits, without exception, including pomelo and lemon, are unsafe for the animal’s body. It’s better to treat your gourmand to a piece of apple or banana.

Fruits and berries

Citrus fruits are prohibited for consumption; they can cause an allergic reaction that can be fatal. The reason for this is increased acidity. In some cases, you can give a piece of ripe tangerine as a treat. It is not recommended to add grapes and pears to your pet's menu. They lead to digestive problems: increased gas formation or severe stomach upset. Apples and persimmons are a source of poisonous hydrocyanic acid and amygdalin glycoside.

Dried fruits are prohibited, because they cause fermentation in the intestines. Figs, cranberries, rowan berries, green bananas and pineapple should not be given. The rat should not eat plums due to the laxative effect. Chokeberry and bird chokeberry lead to constipation. Garden or forest berries are not produced depending on the acidity level. Melon and watermelon must be fed during the season, because... at this time the amount of nitrates decreases. Fruits and berries are not the main food of rodents. Their consumption on an empty stomach leads to digestive system disorders.

List of prohibited products

Prohibited products include the following:

• Alcoholic drinks contain harmful substances that are addictive;
• carbonated drinks cause increased gas formation in the rat’s stomach;
• store-bought crackers and chips are prohibited because they contain a lot of salt and spices, as well as preservatives;
• mushrooms can cause serious poisoning, because difficult to digest;
• Dry and smoked fish are prohibited. They contain a high content of carcinogens and salt;
• rats cannot eat sweets due to the large amount of sugar;
• Caffeine in coffee leads to dehydration and increases blood pressure. Drinking tea is also not advisable;
• flour products contain a large amount of sugar, salt and butter;
• certain types of plants are hazardous to health;
• many house flowers contain toxic substances;
• Pickled, fried, spicy and smoked foods should not be added to the diet. They cause the development of serious diseases, which can subsequently lead to the death of the animal;
• Store-bought corn sticks should not be given as a sweet treat;
• You should not feed your pet rat honey because of the high sugar content;
• freshly squeezed or canned juices have a high concentration of acids;
• branches of trees and shrubs are a source of glycosides and tannins that are dangerous to the rodent’s body. Linden leaves and bark cause a strong choleretic effect;
• the large amount of oil in peanuts can cause stomach upset, leading to increased gas formation;
• Feijoa is highly acidic and contains iodine, so it is prohibited.

The lifespan of a domestic rat depends on the quality of its diet. A caring owner must carefully plan the rodent's menu to avoid health problems. If the owner wants to provide the animal with a long and happy life, he should pay attention to what foods should not be given to rodents.

Of all rodent species, rats and mice are the most unpretentious in terms of habitat and diet. This is largely due to the fact that they had to adapt to different conditions, and this is especially true for those animals that live in cities. Mice and rats will eat almost anything that humans eat and will willingly coexist with us in almost any circumstance.

If a mouse has settled in your house, you will be curious to find the answer to the question of what it prefers to feast on. Homeowners are also often interested in what attracts rodents to their garden and local area. The answers are all around us, just look at the overflowing trash can on the street or the cesspool. Whether we are ready to admit it or not, people continue to provide shelter and food for these animals without even knowing it.

Milk products

When adding dairy products to a rat's diet, it is necessary to take into account a possible allergic reaction to lactose. It is not recommended to give milk in its pure form. New dairy products should be introduced gradually, and the pet's reaction should be monitored. Cheese, sour cream and cream are undesirable for animals to eat due to their high fat content. Fermented milk products with a fat content of more than 4% are prohibited. Rats cannot have condensed milk, because... it contains a large amount of sugar. It is not recommended to give dairy products with a long shelf life.

How to quickly get rid of mice: 5 ways

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1. Victor® Scent-Away™ Repellents. Rodent repellents are drops containing peppermint oil, the strong smell of which rodents cannot stand.
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The common myth that rats love cheese and cannot live without it is fundamentally untrue. And many people answer the question: “What to feed domestic rats?” There is a ready answer: of course, cheese. This stereotype probably originates from the practice of luring wild rats into mousetraps using odorous and fatty cheese. However, this delicacy, which most rodents really won’t refuse, is very harmful for domestic rats, as it contains a large amount of fat (45-55%), salt and sugar. A rat will not live long on this diet. Obesity, indigestion and high blood pressure are not the worst things that can happen if you feed your rat incorrectly.

What to feed pet rats

Veterinarians unanimously declare that a rat should always have a bowl of food in its cage. It is better if the owner fills it once a day at the rate of a tablespoon of food plus greens and vegetables once every 24 hours.

It is important to note that rat pups up to six months cannot be limited in food and their bowl of food can remain full around the clock. Experienced rodent lovers feed rats as follows: Grain mixture, some animal protein, vegetables and fruits every day, as well as small amounts of dairy products and treats.

Thus, every day you can give your rodent a tablespoon of rat food mixture. Or it could be other cereals that are beneficial for pets. The best options are buckwheat, pearl barley, millet, rice, rye and not too much wheat cereal due to its high calorie content. You can cook porridge from cereals without salt and oil.

You can give boiled or steamed chicken, lean beef, veal, turkey, fish (boneless fillets), as well as low-fat sugar-free yogurt and a little kefir or milk (in very small quantities) three times a week. Fried and fatty meats should not be given. From seafood, boiled mussels, shrimp, and squid are allowed in very small quantities.

Features of rat nutrition

Coming up with a list of what rats eat is almost impossible because they eat everything. The only exceptions are absolutely inedible things, although even wires and polyethylene can be chewed and partially swallowed. However, for all their indiscriminateness, rats treat food in the wild quite reasonably. In the wild, they never overeat, so they do not become obese. If a rat is lucky enough to get a high-calorie piece, it eats less food. If what rats eat is low in nutrition, the amount consumed increases accordingly. If there is a lack of some minerals or vitamins in their body, these rodents look for foods with a high content of the necessary substance.

It should be noted that rats (domestic or wild - it makes no difference) eat all the time. If you forget to feed your pet for at least two days, it will die. Therefore, in the wild, animals are constantly in search of food, and, if possible, they create reserves.

Can a hamster have nectarine?

Nectarine is a product that is harmless to the animal’s health, but there are restrictions on feeding it to hamsters. This is a fairly large fruit, like a peach, so don't feed them whole. Break off small pieces and watch your pet. The large bone is another reason not to give the whole nectarine; it will damage the animal’s teeth.

The nuances of feeding nectarine:

1. Don't give treats more than two to three times a month.
2. If the animal does not eat a piece, immediately remove it from the feeder. Nectarines spoil very quickly, and rotten fruit can poison an animal.
3. Too sweet nectarine should not be given to dwarf hamsters; this type of hamster has a high risk of developing diabetes.

Prohibited

Some foods are generally contraindicated for these animals, although not as dangerous as herbs. Of the things that rats absolutely cannot eat, blue cheese should be mentioned first. And in general, any cheese is fatty and salty, and therefore leads to obesity in pets. But “blue” can even poison your pet.

Green bananas impair the digestibility of starch. These fruits should only be given to rats when they are ripe.

The green parts of potatoes contain solanine, a fairly strong poison for rats. When cooked it is less dangerous, but when raw it can be fatal.

Raw beans and peas are almost guaranteed to cause flatulence in the animal and, as a result, tympany.

Smoked meats, lard (especially salted), fried meat, sausage - your pet will definitely do without all this. The consequences of regularly feeding such products can be very sad.

Chocolate, candy, cakes and pastries should also be excluded from the rat’s diet. If you want to treat her to something tasty, give her a piece of fruit.