| Rats are naturally opportunistic omnivores. If they | | | | As you might gather from the foregoing, even |
| have the opportunity, they will indulge in insects | | | | USDA certified organic rat foods aren’t |
| and other small invertebrates, such as snails or | | | | necessarily perfect foods for your pet rat, |
| caterpillars. However, as any farmer will attest, | | | | particularly those containing refined ingredients or |
| rats can also thrive on a predominantly | | | | ingredients that have been processed at high |
| plant-based diet made up of grains, corn, fruits, | | | | heat, which destroys the nutrients contained in |
| vegetables, and other plant material. So, not | | | | those ingredients. Even though in such cases, |
| surprisingly, a pet rat’s food can be primarily | | | | excesses of supplementary nutrients may have |
| vegetarian, if supplemented with fresh | | | | to be added to achieve minimally acceptable |
| animal-based foods to provide additional beneficial | | | | nutrient levels after heat processing, these |
| nutrients. | | | | nutrients are generally synthetic and of |
| Currently, most available rat foods are of | | | | questionable quality, and are also easily degraded |
| mediocre quality, containing mostly low quality | | | | and deactivated when exposed to air or light. |
| plant-based, and low-grade animal-derived | | | | Therefore, the nutritional value of organic rat |
| ingredients which may be unhealthy over the long | | | | foods that have been supplemented with isolated |
| run. Even if higher quality, safer, and more | | | | nutrients may rapidly fall below promised levels |
| nutritious organic ingredients are used, these are | | | | soon after these foods are manufactured or |
| usually processed at high temperatures, which | | | | purchased by pet owners. |
| devitalize endogenous nutrients in the pet food | | | | An alternative to supplementation with isolated |
| products that contain them. High heat is used for | | | | synthetic nutrients is to provide nutrients through |
| most extruded rat food, i.e., pellet foods or | | | | the primary food ingredients and to preserve |
| ‘lab block’-type foods, even those | | | | these nutrients by using a gentle processing |
| products that are USDA certified organic. | | | | method, such as freezing or gentle dehydration. |
| A more ideal rat food would be composed of | | | | Currently, we know of only one pet food |
| unrefined USDA certified organic ingredients and | | | | manufacturer which uses such a mild processing |
| would not contain any artificial ingredients. These | | | | method to provide live raw dehydrated pet foods |
| quality ingredients would not be exposed to, and | | | | for pet rats and other pet rodents. |
| therefore devitalized by, high heat processing. | | | | If you don’t have the time or resources to |
| USDA certified organic ingredients are healthier | | | | provide your pet rat with fresh, healthy, and safe |
| because they are free of pesticides residues, are | | | | foods, then you would be well advised to search |
| not genetically engineered, and are significantly | | | | for the best available foods on the market and |
| more nutrient-rich than non-USDA certified organic | | | | actively support those companies that supply such |
| ingredients. Moreover, organic certification assures | | | | foods. Only in this way will more companies that |
| that no toxic pesticides or cleaning agents are | | | | are providing quality pet foods survive and be |
| used during the handling, storage, and processing | | | | able to compete in the pet food market. In the |
| of food ingredients or final products. Currently, | | | | case of rat foods, since there seems to be a |
| only organic certification assures that the pet food | | | | general lack of interest and demand on the part |
| manufacturer uses the organic ingredients as | | | | of many rat owners, the market for such foods |
| claimed. Non-USDA certified organic claims are not | | | | tends to be underexploited or even ignored by |
| yet regulated or enforced by US law. | | | | the majority of the pet food manufacturers. |