jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
Iâve been researching rat nutrition on and off for the last 6 years, ever since getting my first rats.
There are several factors that contribute to happy healthy ratties. Clean habitat, mental and physical stimulation, low caloric diet and proper nutrition.
It has been common practice to give rats a high protein diet. Mine didnât do well on it, not only for the protein levels in dog food but also the lack of proper nutrients in a grain mix diet.
Following my vetâs advice and her top international exotic colleagues and an animal nutritionist, I switched my crew to a block specifically formulated for rats. But even then, it wasnât good enough as most blocks have high protein and fat levels.
My research consisted of several links and articles.
Those that made an impact on me is the Nutrient Requirements of the Laboratory Rat.
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?recor ... 58&page=11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The China Study: the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever conducted by T. Colin Campbell
http://books.google.com/books?id=FIRLLc ... 0#PPA57,M1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The affect of sugar on the body:
http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/s ... discussion" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
FAT
It has been noted that rats fair better on a low fat diet. Research have shown that 5% dietary lipid is optimum for energy retention. Energy retention was smaller when decreased and increased, meaning, if the fat was less than 5% the rats had less energy but⦠if more than 5% again, they had less energy.
An experiment regarding mammary tumours and increased fat showed that mammary tumours are better nourished in rats fed a high fat diet.
Also, lactating rats fed a 5% fat diet demonstrated that rat pups developed equally as well when mom was on a low fat diet.
PROTEIN
Protein requirements decline from 28% at 30 days old to 10% at 50 days old in rats. Studies have shown the maintenance requirement to be 5% when the source is of high quality.
The China Study has shown that rats fed an optimum diet of only 5% protein are less likely to develop cancer even when given a toxin. Rats when fed a 20% protein diet and given a toxin went on to develop cancer. This strengthens the theory that 5% protein is the optimum protein intake for rats.
An animal nutritionist goes on to confirm that rats actually need a lot less protein than what was first developed by Harlan labs for rat blocks. He states that an adult rat only needs about 9 % crude protein or less to function properly.
The effects of a diet high in protein can cause kidney and liver damage.
The breakdown of protein into chemical energy by the body creates by-products of ammonia which is filtered through the kidneys into urea. Too much of this filtering can cause damage to the kidneys. The liver is damaged by free ammonia particles in the blood.
SUGAR
White sugar is a major contributor to several health risk.
Here are just a few of them:
Sugar contributes to the reduction in the defence against bacterial infections.
Sugar upsets the mineral relationship in the body.
Sugar can cause premature aging.
Sugar can cause tooth decay (tooth abscesses)
Sugar contributes to obesity.
Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
Sugar can cause a permanent altering of the way the protein act in the body.
Sugar can damage the pancreas.
⦠and so much more, so think twice before feeding yogies to your rat.
There are several factors that contribute to happy healthy ratties. Clean habitat, mental and physical stimulation, low caloric diet and proper nutrition.
It has been common practice to give rats a high protein diet. Mine didnât do well on it, not only for the protein levels in dog food but also the lack of proper nutrients in a grain mix diet.
Following my vetâs advice and her top international exotic colleagues and an animal nutritionist, I switched my crew to a block specifically formulated for rats. But even then, it wasnât good enough as most blocks have high protein and fat levels.
My research consisted of several links and articles.
Those that made an impact on me is the Nutrient Requirements of the Laboratory Rat.
http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?recor ... 58&page=11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The China Study: the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever conducted by T. Colin Campbell
http://books.google.com/books?id=FIRLLc ... 0#PPA57,M1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The affect of sugar on the body:
http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/s ... discussion" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
FAT
It has been noted that rats fair better on a low fat diet. Research have shown that 5% dietary lipid is optimum for energy retention. Energy retention was smaller when decreased and increased, meaning, if the fat was less than 5% the rats had less energy but⦠if more than 5% again, they had less energy.
An experiment regarding mammary tumours and increased fat showed that mammary tumours are better nourished in rats fed a high fat diet.
Also, lactating rats fed a 5% fat diet demonstrated that rat pups developed equally as well when mom was on a low fat diet.
PROTEIN
Protein requirements decline from 28% at 30 days old to 10% at 50 days old in rats. Studies have shown the maintenance requirement to be 5% when the source is of high quality.
The China Study has shown that rats fed an optimum diet of only 5% protein are less likely to develop cancer even when given a toxin. Rats when fed a 20% protein diet and given a toxin went on to develop cancer. This strengthens the theory that 5% protein is the optimum protein intake for rats.
An animal nutritionist goes on to confirm that rats actually need a lot less protein than what was first developed by Harlan labs for rat blocks. He states that an adult rat only needs about 9 % crude protein or less to function properly.
The effects of a diet high in protein can cause kidney and liver damage.
The breakdown of protein into chemical energy by the body creates by-products of ammonia which is filtered through the kidneys into urea. Too much of this filtering can cause damage to the kidneys. The liver is damaged by free ammonia particles in the blood.
SUGAR
White sugar is a major contributor to several health risk.
Here are just a few of them:
Sugar contributes to the reduction in the defence against bacterial infections.
Sugar upsets the mineral relationship in the body.
Sugar can cause premature aging.
Sugar can cause tooth decay (tooth abscesses)
Sugar contributes to obesity.
Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
Sugar can cause a permanent altering of the way the protein act in the body.
Sugar can damage the pancreas.
⦠and so much more, so think twice before feeding yogies to your rat.