Can Rats Eat Peaches

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Can Rats Eat Peaches

Fruits and vegetables are healthy for us and provide vitamins for our pets too but some of them can be problematic so can rats eat peaches? The fruit of this deciduous tree has been cultivated in China as early as 6000 BC and then it spread to the rest of Asia and in all the world, making it one of the most appreciated fruits today. They are symbolic in many cultures and they are also delicious so it is only natural that you would want to share the joy of eating them with your pet, but let us find out what effects you might expect.

Nutritional Value

100 grams of peach will contain many essential nutrients for us humans (and for rats too) but they all come in quite small quantities. They contain carbohydrates like sugars and dietary fiber, a few proteins and a bit of fat. The predominant vitamins are A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E and K while the minerals that come in the highest quantities are potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and iron.

Can Rats Eat Peaches

The benefits that these fruits provide come from their low calories, their antioxidant capacity and their low cholesterol. A good source of dietary fiber, they help digestion through the alkaline content and they will prevent constipation. Due to the potassium they can help avert muscle cramps but giving too much to a pet as small as a rat can lead to diarrhea so make sure you take their laxative properties into consideration.

The antioxidants like lutein, zeaxanthin or beta-cryptoxanthin will help to remove the free radicals and protect the body against many diseases, preventing skin care and improving the eyesight as well as the skin of your pet.

Possible Problems

Peaches don’t contain any harmful elements for rats but their pit can cause serious harm. They are difficult to open and can lead to teeth injuries but the interior is even more dangerous. The peach pits contain small amounts of cyanide and even if it is probably very unlikely that your pet rat will reach the inside of the pit and eat it, it is still a more cautious approach to keep the pits away from them.

Poisoning with cyanide is obviously a very serious problem and with the small body of a rat the problem will only increase so take all the precautions to prevent it.

Can Rats Eat Peaches

Vegetables and fruits should be a part of the diet of rats but only a small part as the core of their nutrition should be food made specifically for them. Around 10-20% of their diet could be in the form of fruits or veggies but each of them should be introduced gradually to ensure that there are no side-effects. Start with very small bites and ensure nothing bad happens before increasing the dose. If your pet has some special conditions then see if they have anything they should stay away from.

Short Answer

Peaches are fine as long as you remove the pits but they should only be offered in small amounts as treats and not become a core dish for your pet rat.

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