Care & Feeding Guide

Caring For Your Rat & Mouse

Rats and mice are omnivores, that is, like us they eat both vegetables and meat. Therefore, they will both accept a wide variety of food stuffs. This has been one of the keys to their success in surviving in the wild. Although they will eat almost anything this does not mean proper feeding is not important.

It is our responsibility as owners and breeders to provide a well balanced diet to our pets. This should include all the essentials not only to maintain their body and health but also to reach their (your pets) full potential according to their genetic makeup (that is your good breeding).

All the effort spent to breed a large, healthy, good-looking and long lived animal can be undone by bad diet and if the bad diet is severe, the damage done may be permanent. A healthy diet can prolong your pet's life.

Nutrients

Nutrients are the parts of a food source that can dissolve in an animal's intestines and when absorbed are useful to the body. Examples of these are fat, protein and sugar. Humans and animals both use nutrients for such things as building muscles, growing hair, to maintain body temperature, to pump blood and so on. Here are the types of nutrients, described briefly.

Proteins; are used to build-up and repair muscles, to make milk, to grow hair, to produce hormones and parts of the blood. Extra protein is turned into energy. Good sources of protein are dairy products, meat, fish, seeds, vegetables and eggs. Fats produce energy, they also form a store of nutrients for times when food is not available or low. They protect the body from cold and are essential for taking up some vitamins so that the body can use them. Despite the bad press of fat, it is extremely important. Good sources of fat are dairy products, seeds, meat and fish.

Carbohydrates; are the major source of energy to your animal. Extra carbohydrates are turned into fat and stored in the body. They are the most important nutrients to your animal. Good sources of carbohydrates are seeds, bread, cooked sweet potato, pasta, fruit and dairy products.

Vitamins; two types of vitamins - fat soluble and water soluble. Examples of water soluble are vitamin groups C and B. They are not usually stored in the body and so an animal will need a constant supply or it will quickly become ill. Fat soluble vitamins are those in groups A, D, E and K. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the fat and so an animal can survive a little longer without them. Some rodents produce vitamins themselves in their intestines and eat their own droppings to get them. Rats and mice both do this (gross, I know). This is also a way to maintain the bacteria in their gut.

Vitamins are important in many processes of the body. They are necessary for the growth, development and well-being of mice and rats (and humans). Deficiency in vitamins can quickly cause problems with your animals health.

Trace Elements; are only needed in tiny amounts but are still important. Examples are iron and manganese. These can be toxic if fed in high concentrations.