Can rats have cheese, milk, cottage cheese and other dairy products

Rats are one of the most unpretentious and undemanding pets and eat almost everything that their owner treats them to. Is it possible for rats to have dairy products and are they harmful to the health of the animal? Indeed, contrary to popular belief that these rodents are omnivores, some foods can adversely affect their digestive system and even cause serious diseases.

Can rats have milk

Due to the content of calcium and vitamins D, E and A, milk is quite useful for tailed pets. But, of course, it is impossible to give it to animals every day or replace milk with fresh water in a drinking bowl, because this can provoke diarrhea in them.

Domestic rats are given milk in limited quantities no more than once or twice a week. Before offering this drink to a rodent, it is first boiled and cooled to room temperature, because hot or cold milk can cause irreparable harm to the pet’s digestive system.

It is desirable to give a rat only cow’s milk, since compared to goat’s or sheep’s, it is less caloric and has a lower percentage of fat content.

Also, it should be remembered that some types of milk are harmful to the health of animals and it is strictly forbidden to include them in the pet menu.

Rodents are contraindicated:

• soy milk made from legumes is not suitable as food for rodents, as it provokes bloating in animals;
• such an exotic product as coconut milk is also not recommended to be introduced into the diet of the animal, because it can cause allergies;
• condensed milk contains too much sugar, so it should not be offered to tailed pets as a treat;
• The list of prohibited foods also includes a drink made from powdered milk.

Important: sometimes rats can suffer from individual intolerance to lactose, which is present in milk. Therefore, for the first time, you should give a drink to a small pet with caution and in small doses, observing if the animal has an allergy to it.

Sour cream in the diet of rodents

Sour cream is not a very suitable product for feeding rodents, because it does not contain any vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the health of the animal. Therefore, it is undesirable to include it in the menu of tailed pets, especially homemade sour cream and heavy cream, which are extremely harmful to the liver of animals.

Can rats have cheese

The question of whether rats eat cheese is beyond doubt for many people, because there is a stereotype that this product is a favorite delicacy for rodents. In fact, the animals really love cheese and will never refuse a piece of this delicacy. But it is often not recommended to give cheese to rats, because due to its excessive consumption, animals develop obesity.

Hard cheese contains a lot of salt and fat, so pamper your little pet with this treat no more than once a week.

In addition, not all varieties of cheese are suitable for feeding rodents and some of them can provoke both an allergic reaction and cause food poisoning.

Prohibited types of cheese:

• suluguni;
• cheese or feta;
• smoked cheeses;
• processed cheese;
• products with a high percentage of fat;
• moldy cheeses.

Important: Cheese cannot be given to ornamental rats in cases where the animal suffers from indigestion or problems with the liver and kidneys.

Cottage cheese – a delicacy for rats

You can also diversify your pet’s diet with fresh cottage cheese. Give animals cottage cheese once every two weeks, without adding salt or sugar to it.

Cottage cheese is especially useful for pregnant females and nursing mothers, as it contributes to the production of milk and significantly improves its quality.

Should I give kefir to pets?

Kefir improves digestion and is easily absorbed by the body of rodents, therefore it is a useful product for tailed pets. But it must be remembered that animals should be fed only fat-free and non-acidic kefir. It is also strictly forbidden to give animals stale or stitched fermented milk products.

Is yogurt good for rodents?

Sometimes kefir can be replaced with yogurt. Yogurt should be natural and free of flavors, sugar and preservatives.

Sweet yogurts with pieces of fruit or berries are not suitable as a treat for rats, as they contain a lot of harmful additives and dyes.

Do not forget that a domestic decorative rat, unlike its wild relatives, with improper feeding, can get sick and even die. Therefore, the daily diet of a pet should be balanced and consist of healthy cereals and vegetables. It is often impossible to pamper a rodent with dairy products and other delicacies, because they are a supplement to their diet, and not the main food.