You know what they say: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. After all, apples are extremely nutritious, providing us with a host of vitamins and minerals necessary for good health.
But does the adage hold true for rats? Can rats eat apples?
Here’s the good news: yes, rats can eat apples! And like humans, they can benefit from their rich nutritional content, as well.
The bad news: the apple seeds, or pips, are toxic to rats, so never give these to your pet. Also, thanks to these fruits being so sugary, rats should only consume apples in moderation.
Keep reading to learn more about why apples are good for rats, and how you can ensure your pet’s safety when feeding it this delectable fruit!
Why Are Apples Good for Rats? They’re Nutrient-Dense Fruits!
Apples are good for rats because they contain substances that these rodents need to maintain excellent health. These substances are as follows:
Vitamin C
Apples are an excellent source of many health-boosting vitamins.
They’re particularly rich in vitamin C a.k.a. ascorbic acid – a nutrient that plays a key role in keeping the immune system healthy and thus warding off illnesses and diseases.
In addition, vitamin C is important to the wound healing process; the formation and maintenance of muscles, skin, blood vessels, cartilage, bones, and teeth; the development, growth, and repair of all the tissues in the body; and the absorption of iron, which is required in the process that keeps the body’s cells oxygenated.
Here’s the thing: like most rodents, rats make their own vitamin C, so eating apples isn’t necessary for them to enjoy the benefits of this nutrient.
However, vitamin C supplementation via the consumption of apples can still help as it gives them a welcome health boost. Such supplementation especially benefits rats that are sick, frail, old, or recovering from physical trauma such as injury.
Other vitamins
Smaller amounts of other vitamins can be found in apples.
Vitamin A helps keep vision healthy and maintains proper cell and immune system function. It also supports healthy growth, making it especially useful to young rats.
An antioxidant, vitamin E works alongside other antioxidants to prevent the damage free radicals cause to cells – a process that keeps the immune system in good health, allowing it to protect the rat from illnesses and diseases.
Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is critical for healthy growth and development. It also provides a rat with the metabolic energy it needs not only to survive but also to remain capable of mobility.
Riboflavin, which is also called vitamin B2, assists in the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into energy so that the rat can stay alive and physically active.
Niacin, otherwise known as vitamin B3, keeps the skin and nerves healthy and helps produce the energy required for movement.
Pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, is essential for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system, muscles, skin, and blood. It’s also involved in the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
Folate, a.k.a. folic acid or vitamin B9, is crucial for many processes, including the maintenance of a healthy immune system, the formation of blood cells, and rapid cell growth.
Vitamin K helps makes proteins, which provide the building blocks necessary to develop and maintain healthy muscles, blood, skin, fur, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
Potassium
Apples contain a fairly good amount of potassium.
Potassium helps keep a rat’s heart and blood pressure healthy, thus preventing cardiovascular diseases. It also plays an important role in the development of muscles.
But the advantages don’t end there. This nutrient performs various metabolic tasks, keeps nerve function and muscle activity normal, and helps balance a rat’s diet. It’s an essential electrolyte and participates in keeping cell functions healthy.
Potassium also supports muscle and bone strength as the body grows older, prevents dehydration by regulating fluid balance, and makes many bodily functions possible by allowing the brain to convey information throughout the body.
Other Minerals
In addition to potassium, apples come with smaller amounts of other minerals.
Magnesium maintains a steady heartbeat, keeps the bones healthy and strong, and supports the immune system to defend rats against various illnesses and diseases.
Calcium helps develop and maintain strong bones and teeth. It also keeps a rat’s fur thick and lustrous. It even assists in muscle contractions, which are vital to bodily functions such as the heartbeat.
Phosphorus works together with calcium to keep a rat’s bones and teeth healthy and strong. It’s also crucial to protein and amino acid synthesis, cell growth, and energy use and storage.
Iron is a key player in the creation of hemoglobin, a protein that red blood cells use to transport oxygen from the lungs to every other part of the rat’s body. Oxygen then converts food into energy, making movement and continued good health possible.
Manganese helps ensure healthy growth and bone development as well as supports carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
Zinc is heavily involved in cell growth, protein formation, healthy immune function, the healing of damaged tissue, and enzyme actions needed for many critical biological processes.
Fiber
Apples contain dietary fiber, which is vital for a healthy digestive system. It comes in two varieties: soluble and insoluble.
Soluble fiber helps control the body’s blood sugar level, which aids in reducing the risk of diabetes. It can even help prevent heart disease. It also feeds the good bacteria in the rat’s gut, further improving digestive health.
Insoluble fiber keeps the digestive system functioning properly, thus reducing the risk of constipation, diarrhea, and other stomach issues.
Fiber also makes the rat feel fuller, discouraging it from overeating. This is a great way of preventing obesity, which rats are prone to due to tending to eat too much.
Feeding Apples to Rats: Safety Tips
So we’ve established apples are good for rats. Nevertheless, it pays to be cautious when feeding our furry friends this fruit.
Below, you’ll learn how you can ensure the safety of your pet rodent when feeding it apples.
Wash apples thoroughly prior to feeding
You should thoroughly wash raw, fresh apples – especially the non-organic varieties available at supermarkets – before feeding them to your pet rat. This is because their skin may have chemicals such as pesticides that can harm rats. Washing apples will get rid of these chemicals, making these fruits safe for your pet to ingest.
According to a University of Massachusetts study, the best way to remove pesticides from apple skin is to soak the fruit in a mixture of water and baking soda for around 15 minutes, then rinse said fruit using cold water. In the study, the researchers specifically used a solution containing four cups of water and around two teaspoons of baking soda, then tap water to rinse the apple.
Feed your rat in moderation
Feeding a rat an entire apple or several apple slices per week can be more dangerous than beneficial. This is because apples are high in sugar. While this sugar is natural and therefore healthier than processed sugar, it can still contribute to weight gain if these fruits are eaten regularly. And as we previously mentioned, rats are prone to obesity.
As discussed above, apples are also rich in fiber, which gives rats a sense of fullness. Feeding your pet plenty of apples will make it feel extremely full, thereby reducing its appetite for other foods it needs for a balanced diet. This can lead to malnutrition and a wide range of associated health issues that can diminish its quality of life.
To avoid all these issues, feed your rat apples in moderation only.
But what does “in moderation” mean? Simple – don’t feed your furry friend apples every day, and instead of giving it an entire apple, give it a couple of slices only.
Slice or chop up an apple and give your pet a few pieces as a treat. You may also add these pieces to its meal. Wait one or two days before giving it slices again.
To determine the exact number of apple slices your rat can ingest per week, consult a veterinarian.
Feed your rat apple skin
When feeding your rat apple slices, don’t peel off the skin (a.k.a. rind). This is because the skin contains more nutrients than the pulp itself.
Compared to a peeled raw apple, a raw apple with the skin still intact has up to 115% more vitamin C, 332% more vitamin K, 19% more potassium, and 20% more calcium.
Keep in mind to wash the skin thoroughly, first!
Remove the seeds
Before feeding your pet apple slices, make sure you remove all their seeds first, as they contain a chemical known as cyanide.
The amount of cyanide in apple seeds won’t hurt a human. As rats are much smaller than us, however, it can be enough to poison them.
Acute cyanide poisoning symptoms in rats include:
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
- Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Apnea (brief cessation of breath)
Seek veterinary aid as soon as possible if your pet exhibits any of the above symptoms after eating apple seeds. Untreated cyanide poisoning can kill rats!
Throw away uneaten apple slices
If your rat isn’t interested in the apple slices you’ve given it, remove them from its cage especially before it starts to go bad. Stale or rotten apples may become home to dangerous microorganisms or attract insects, both of which can harm rats. Moldy apples are particularly dangerous, as some mold species contain chemicals called mycotoxins, which can lethally poison rats.
Avoid feeding baby rats apple slices
As baby rats are still growing and don’t have the same nutritional requirements as adult rats, they’re better off not consuming any apple slices.
Bay rats survive on milk or formula alone. Once they’ve weaned, you can feed them vet-approved rat pellets.
Consult a veterinarian to determine when a young rat can start dining on apples.
Don’t feed your rat apples only
While apples are nutritious, they don’t contain all the nutrients rats need to enjoy good health. For this reason, you shouldn’t give your rat a diet consisting of apples only, as this will result in nutritional deficiencies and therefore malnutrition. And a malnourished rat is prone to a slew of health problems.
For a rat to enjoy the best of health, feed it vet-approved commercial rat pellets as well as a rich assortment of vegetables, fruits, and meats. Which brings us to…
Other Healthy Foods Rats Can Eat
To enjoy a balanced diet, a rat needs to consume a broad array of foods, including various vegetables, fruits, and meats. This will ensure it obtains all the nutrients it needs to remain healthy.
Below, we list some of the best foods you can feed your rat.
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Beef (cooked)
- Berries
- Bread
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cereals (check the ingredients for toxic ingredients first)
- Cheese
- Chicken (cooked)
- Cucumbers
- Eggs (hard-boiled or scrambled)
- Grapes
- Kale
- Lettuce (preferably romaine)
- Mealworms
- Melons
- Mushrooms (cooked)
- Parsley
- Peaches
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Raspberries
- Rice
- Soy
- Strawberries
- Sunflower seeds
- Tomatoes
- Turkey (cooked)
- Watermelon
Before feeding your rat any of the above foods, ask a veterinarian for advice, as they can determine what it can eat as well as how often and how much it can eat.
Conclusion
Yes, rats can eat apples! These fruits are high in vitamin C, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals, ensuring your rat enjoys a robust immune system that protects it from various diseases and illnesses; healthy muscles, organs, bones, and fur; and the energy it requires to survive and move around.
Apples also contain lots of fiber, which is great for digestion and can even help prevent heart disease and diabetes.
With all that said, you should exercise caution when feeding your pet apples. So have your rodent eat apple slices in moderation, wash the skin thoroughly to prevent the ingestion of toxins, remove the seeds as they contain a dangerous toxin known as cyanide, and throw away any uneaten apple slices.
Don’t forget to give your rat various fruits, veggies, and meats as well, as this is key to ensuring it enjoys a balanced diet!