Warning (updated): I no longer endorse gluten free diets for rats and other small mammals. I recently (2020) started feeding my rats commercial food containing wheat and noticed that their health improved greatly. For me, I apparently am not effected by wheat in their diet or even in my house as I previously thought. And the below homemade diet became too costly to keep up with. If you are able to feed your pets a commercial diet with wheat, that is the best option. If you are highly sensitive to wheat, hopefully this page can still help you. Just keep in mind, it is VERY difficult to give an animal proper nutrients if you are not feeding a fortified diet. Please do as much research as possible before trying to make your own homemade diet and I do highly recommend leaning heavily on a gluten free dog food that has a good balance of nutrients rather than mainly relying on the homemade mix.
WARNING: The following recipe is still being studied and modified. Nothing is set in stone and do not take anything I say as complete 100% fact. I am still learning and developing the best gluten free diet for my rats and other small pets. For your pets' heath, I recommend doing extensive research before making a mix. Read multiple websites and opinions. No one can be right 100% of the time, so it is best to read different views. I personally choose to feed gluten free food to my rats because I am allergic to wheat and it was making me allergic to my rats. I am not saying rats NEED to be gluten free to be healthy, just that for MY health, my rats needed to be gluten free.
Grains |
Small Seeds
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Large Seeds
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I used to have more on this list, but they never ate anything but the oats and rice cakes.
Dog Food
Commercial dog foods contain many added vitamins and minerals that rats need that you may not cover with all of the above foods. I noticed a big change in one of my rat’s fur quality when I added a bit of wet dog food to her diet.
I feed mine dry grain free dog food. I avoid foods with potato as well as other ingredients I do not feel is right for my rats’ diet. You should research and use your best judgment when choosing what dog food to feed your rats. Look at the ingredients and protein content. Too much protein isn’t good for rats. Dog food should be fed regularly alongside the homemade mix, as it is fortified with vitamins and minerals that the mix may not be providing. |
Nuts
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Conclusion
Each rat is different and has different needs. There is no "one size fits all" way to do things. The above ingredients and methods work for me, but they might not for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions and try new things. Gluten free diets for small animals are uncharted territories.
This post on the Rat Forum could help if you are trying to make your own mix. I really like what this breeder says at the end of her post, so I will quote it to the left. Click here for the link to the forum post. |
"Someone I massively respect in the rat world once said that feeding rats is part science and part art, and from my experience that is very true. I started out relying on spread sheet and meeting the scientific requirements of my rats, but never got them beyond ‘good enough’ condition, then I relaxed a bit and started doing it more by feel and now my lads are in the best condition they’ve been." |
I do always recommend researching any ingredients before feeding them to your rats. Always educate yourself and know what you are giving them.