[ratfan2023]

an essential pet rat supplement is Green Mush--Pet Rat Supplements

Does anyone know of a similar product like this sold in Canada?

 

[Cheesefather]

Supplements aren't necessary at all for rats! As long as you're feeding a good lab block, supplements will either do nothing or do harm.

 

[ratfan2023]

I read differently, it can lengthen their life span and prevent respiratory.

 

[Cheesefather]

I read differently, it can lengthen their life span and prevent respiratory.

It won't, especially if it's one that you dissolve in water. Water supplements are even more dangerous as you can't control how much each rat drinks. What type of food are you feeding? And have you taken them to the vet for the wheezing?

 

[ratfan2023]

Food: Complete Verse Laga and I give them veggies everyday like carrots, tomatoes and peppers. The respiratory issues came from the store, we didn't know at the time. Cannot afford the vet for 5 rats. The treatments they are on are working, I want to include natural home remedies. They have a 4 tier cage and paper bedding.

 

[ratfan2023]

It won't, especially if it's one that you dissolve in water. Water supplements are even more dangerous as you can't control how much each rat drinks. What type of food are you feeding? And have you taken them to the vet for the wheezing?

It won't, especially if it's one that you dissolve in water. Water supplements are even more dangerous as you can't control how much each rat drinks. What type of food are you feeding? And have you taken them to the vet for the wheezing?

That is why I am asking for more information. I'm sure there is a way to control the dosage.

 

[Cheesefather]

Food: Complete Verse Laga and I give them veggies everyday like carrots, tomatoes and peppers. The respiratory issues came from the store, we didn't know at the time. Cannot afford the vet for 5 rats. The treatments they are on are working, I want to include natural home remedies. They have a 4 tier cage and paper bedding.

Verse Laga is alright. Paper bedding is most likely making the issue MUCH worse, paper bedding isn't good for rats at all. Aspen, pine, equine-grade cardboard, and hemp are the only good bedding options. I'm not sure if they have Tractor Supply Co in Canada, but you should be able to find one of those beddings somewhere! They're much cheaper than paper and are very good for the rats. As for the supplements, I'll let someone else answer, but they won't help much or at all. I would definitely stay away from water supplements, they're super dangerous. No supplements are necessary and they won't help, but changing bedding will likely help a lot.

 

[Cheesefather]

Are the antibiotics they're on prescribed by a vet? You can't prescribe them yourself, it's really dangerous.

 

[Cheesefather]

Even using a dosage guide online is dangerous. Things like Clavimox, Doxy, Meloxidyl, Enro, etc can only be prescribed by a vet.

 

[ratfan2023]

Verse Laga is alright. Paper bedding is most likely making the issue MUCH worse, paper bedding isn't good for rats at all. Aspen, pine, equine-grade cardboard, and hemp are the only good bedding options. I'm not sure if they have Tractor Supply Co in Canada, but you should be able to find one of those beddings somewhere! They're much cheaper than paper and are very good for the rats. As for the supplements, I'll let someone else answer, but they won't help much or at all. I would definitely stay away from water supplements, they're super dangerous. No supplements are necessary and they won't help, but changing bedding will likely help a lot.

I don't know where you are getting your information but Pine Shavings are highly dusty and not recommended.

 

[Cheesefather]

I don't know where you are getting your information but Pine Shavings are highly dusty and not recommended.

Pine shavings are very safe! They are recommended as much as aspen and are not dusty. On the other hand, paper bedding has microscopic dust that scars the lungs of rats and is definitely making their respiratory issues worse. The pine bedding being bad is a myth. I can find studies if you'd like, but tons of information on the internet about rats is wrong.

 

[ratfan2023]

Even using a dosage guide online is dangerous. Things like Clavimox, Doxy, Meloxidyl, Enro, etc can only be prescribed by a vet.

Yes as I said I have some.

 

[ratfan2023]

Pine shavings are very safe! They are recommended as much as aspen and are not dusty. On the other hand, paper bedding has microscopic dust that scars the lungs of rats and is definitely making their respiratory issues worse. The pine bedding being bad is a myth. I can find studies if you'd like, but tons of information on the internet about rats is wrong.

Please send me those studies.
What I have is recycled paper bedding.

 

[Cheesefather]

Please send me those studies.
What I have is recycled paper bedding.

Recycled paper bedding is dangerous. You should change as soon as possible, it's seriously harming your rats. I'll get the studies.

 

[Cheesefather]

This study goes over ammonia levels in different types of bedding. Here are the results of pine and paper. 2004 July Ref. Section.pmd (afrma.org)

 

[Cheesefather]

This study goes over ammonia levels in different types of bedding. Here are the results of pine and paper. 2004 July Ref. Section.pmd (afrma.org) View attachment 310736

That's the most relevant one.

 

[Cheesefather]

Pine bedding used to be called unsafe because it was thought to have toxic phenols that harm rats. However, kiln-drying the pine removes all of the toxins. ALL pine bedding is required by law to be kiln-dried, making all pine bedding sold for animals completely safe and it essentially acts the same as aspen.

 

[ratfan2023]

Recycled paper bedding is dangerous. You should change as soon as possible, it's seriously harming your rats. I'll get the studies.

Pine shavings are very safe! They are recommended as much as aspen and are not dusty. On the other hand, paper bedding has microscopic dust that scars the lungs of rats and is definitely making their respiratory issues worse. The pine bedding being bad is a myth. I can find studies if you'd like, but tons of information on the internet about rats is wrong.

According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety

Cedar (western red)

Asthma, allergic contact dermatitis, sensitizer, decrease in lung function, eye irritation and conjunctivitis, rhinitis

Aspen

No health effect reported

Pine (white, lodgepole, jack)

Skin irritation, contact dermatitis, Wood-Pulp Worker’s disease (mould in bark), rhinitis, asthma

 

[Cheesefather]

According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety

Cedar (western red)

Asthma, allergic contact dermatitis, sensitizer, decrease in lung function, eye irritation and conjunctivitis, rhinitis

Aspen

No health effect reported

Pine (white, lodgepole, jack)

Skin irritation, contact dermatitis, Wood-Pulp Worker’s disease (mould in bark), rhinitis, asthma

Is this in rats or in humans? That sounds like the pine isn't kiln-dried. I sent studies on rats, if you don't want to believe me or the studies, then I don't know how to convince you. That doesn't change the fact that paper is dangerous and causing your rats harm. If you don't want to try pine, do aspen or equine-grade cardboard. Paper is absolutely dangerous for rats.

 

[ratfan2023]

Pine bedding used to be called unsafe because it was thought to have toxic phenols that harm rats. However, kiln-drying the pine removes all of the toxins. ALL pine bedding is required by law to be kiln-dried, making all pine bedding sold for animals completely safe and it essentially acts the same as aspen.

The laws may be different in Canada.