Keto for pet rats

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #1

Serious question here, inspired by the “Keto for Dogs and Cats” thread:

Does anyone on the forum keep pet rats? And is there a keto diet for them? Dr. Phinney gave a lecture in the last few years that I saw on the LCDU YouTube channel, in which he mentioned a study in which the keto-adapted mice outlived the study, whereas the mice on the regular diet died right on schedule. Unfortunately, that’s a lot of videos to wade through just to find one particular slide again.

Pet rats live a lot longer than wild rats, but it’s still a short lifespan: three years max, except in very unusual cases. If I could give my little sweethearts a longer life and enhance their health doing it, it would mean a lot to me.

I checked out the Teklad keto diet for rats, and it’s basically Crisco added to their reguler formula. Surely there must be a better way.

(Tina) #2

Another rodent person! Hi! I have chinchillas which live much longer, into their teens or even 20s. Can’t help with the diet question since my guys live on a timothy/orchard grass based diet. Good luck. 3 yrs is too short a time.

#3

Interesting question. What would be their preferred diet in the wild?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

Funnily enough, I have a couple of chins, too–girls. They are rescues and are slowly getting to trust me, but it’s been a long process. Sweet girls, though, and a real hoot when they get going. When I move to the house, my bedroom will be chin-proofed, so I won’t have to worry so much about letting them out of their cage.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

Rats are omnivores, just like people; and just like people, they tend to prefer the stuff that’s not so good for them. In the wild, they would be eating insects, plants (especially seeds, nuts, and roots), smaller prey (such as mice and voles), and scraps from human leavings. (They love pizza and bread crusts, meat and bones, leftover fruits and vegetables, anything sugary; the list goes on. Like most human beings they become lactose-intolerant in adulthood, so they are not as fond of cheese as the stereotype will have it.)

Rats are commensal animals with human beings, which is why they have spread pretty much to wherever we are. The species that can be domesticated is Rattus norvegicus, the brown, sewer, or Norway rat, the same species used in laboratories. There is another species, Rattus rattus, the black, ship, tree, or Alexandrine rat, which spread out of Asia first, but which has largely been displaced by R. norvegicus in many habitats. R. rattus is somewhat tameable, but not as easily domesticated as R. norvegicus. The latter are like tiny, barkless dogs: unique personalities, extremely intelligent, people-loving, and all-round fun.

#6

Interesting. A bit like foxes in that way then re scavenging human food and getting a liking for carbs? I guess all our bodies are the same in recognising highly palatable, rewarding foods, which would be a great thing if we were about to go into a long, hard winter with scant food. I would say then that your instincts are right and you should feed them keto. I have a friend who used to keep rats and she adored them - very bright. My go to food for mice that get brought in alive and survive are sunflower seeds - always seemed the perfect food for them. I had one who lived under the floorboards for ages because I would drop a little pile down there for him!

(Tina) #7

Sweet! Yeah its fun to watch them run around the room. Enjoy!