Feeding Rats Dog Food?

[Fallguy]

Anybody?

I know it says beef, but is that an issue? I am just looking for input on the nutritional value.

[FatBoy]

Well since reading this thread I started mixing my food half doggie bag and half mazuri...the rats will eat around the mazuri to get to the doggie bag. They love it. I will stick to doggie bag, and for $12/40lbs bag I'm not disappointed.

[unrezt]

Looked through every bag of dog food at wal-mart, not one of them didn't have red food dye in it...

[snakesRkewl]

Anybody?

I know it says beef, but is that an issue? I am just looking for input on the nutritional value.

I believe the fat content is way to low at 2% and it's main ingredient is vegetable protein by-products.

[XGetSome]

Do you have a tractor supply store nearby?

If so, you can ask them to order Kent rodent feed. Comes out to about the same per pound as cheap dog food (at least when I was quoted a year ago), and is made for rats.

littleindiangirl Thank you very much I actually found a tractor supply 2 hours away. Also found rodent food in about a dozen other places I frequently visit.

[harm286]

What about doggie treats like milk bones and dog cookies and stuff, is that a no no? My hairless just seem to love the strawberry cream on them.

[littlevic34]

doggie bag is what i use its 11.99 for a 50 lb bag and my rats have had no problems for the last 8 months i love it i get it from tractor supply

[snakelady]

littleindiangirl Thank you very much I actually found a tractor supply 2 hours away. Also found rodent food in about a dozen other places I frequently visit.

The tractor and other farm/feed stores by me only have bait blocks to kill rodents. They look at me like I'm crazy when I ask if they have rodent food.

[tomfromtheshade]

I have been feeding the cheapy dog food from tractor supply.

protein % is the same as Mazuri, but the fat is only 6% as opposed to 9% in the really high octane Mazuri feed. So, I also supplement with sunflower seeds which are dirt cheap here.

All of my rats are growing fast and doing well.

I also supplement their water with vitamins too, so Im sure that helps.

[suzuki4life]

I have been feeding the cheapy dog food from tractor supply.

protein % is the same as Mazuri, but the fat is only 6% as opposed to 9% in the really high octane Mazuri feed. So, I also supplement with sunflower seeds which are dirt cheap here.

All of my rats are growing fast and doing well.

I also supplement their water with vitamins too, so Im sure that helps.

be careful with sunflowers seeds and amounts....

they are super high in fat, if your rats plump up big, back off.

I feed block/hog feed/seed

Seed is the thing that the amount you offer is based on how the rats look.

Rats can live very happily on block alone....hog food stretches the lab block

The seed is more of a treat that anything but it does add minerals