What foods should not be fed to white rats? - briefly
Do not feed white rats sugary treats, processed snacks, dairy products, raw meat, citrus fruits, avocado, onion, garlic, or any toxic plants.
What foods should not be fed to white rats? - in detail
White rats require a balanced diet that mimics their natural nutritional needs. Certain items can cause acute toxicity, chronic health problems, or digestive distress and must be excluded from their feeding regimen.
- Chocolate, cocoa products, and any food containing theobromine – rapid onset of cardiac arrhythmia, seizures, and possible death.
- Caffeine‑containing substances (coffee, tea, energy drinks) – stimulant overload, tremors, hyperthermia.
- Alcoholic beverages and fermented foods – central nervous system depression, hypoglycemia, organ damage.
- Onions, garlic, leeks, chives – organ‑specific toxicity leading to hemolytic anemia.
- Avocado flesh and pit – persin toxin induces respiratory distress and myocardial damage.
- Citrus peels, large quantities of acidic fruit – gastric irritation, ulcer formation.
- Raw or undercooked beans, especially kidney beans – phytohaemagglutinin causes severe gastroenteritis.
- High‑fat or sugary human snacks (candies, fried foods, pastries) – obesity, insulin resistance, dental decay.
- Salty snacks, processed meats, cured products – electrolyte imbalance, hypertension, renal strain.
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) – lactose intolerance leads to diarrhea and dehydration.
- Moldy or spoiled feed – mycotoxins trigger hepatic failure and immunosuppression.
- Small bones, hard nuts, seeds with shells – risk of choking, gastrointestinal perforation.
- Foods high in oxalates (spinach, rhubarb) – potential kidney stone formation with prolonged exposure.
Feeding protocols should restrict these items entirely and replace them with commercially formulated rodent pellets, fresh vegetables (carrots, broccoli, leafy greens), limited fruit (apple slices, berries), and occasional protein sources such as boiled egg whites or lean cooked meat. Regular monitoring of body condition and stool consistency helps detect inadvertent ingestion of harmful foods early.