If somebody were to tell you that rats eat pears, you would probably get surprised.
Being rodents, many expect rats to feed on fruit, vegetables, meat, and other types of food found in homes.
In the case of pet rats, the ideal diet contains special pellets with all the essential nutrients.
Although feeding on regular foods can keep the pets alive, they will not be as healthy as those consuming the specially made food.
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On the contrary, pears are mostly eaten by humans.
This tasty fruit comes from the same family as apples, explaining why they have an almost similar appearance and taste.
What is a Nutrient Composition?
Similar to apples, pears can remain fresh for an extended period.
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Even better, they are also available in cans, as well as dried variants.
For every 100 grams of the fruit, your body gains 57 kcal of energy.
It also has a substantial amount of carbohydrates, fibers, and water.
Also, pears have a range of minerals and vitamins that can significantly improve your pet rat’s immunity.
These include vitamins B, C, K, and E and calcium, iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
While pears have a wide range of nutrients, they are only available at low levels.
Moreover, they are accessible from other food sources, which makes pears a non-essential addition to your pet rat’s diet.
On the downside, the high levels of carbs in pears cause adverse conditions such as high blood pressure and digestive tract complications.
Excessive consumption of fruit can also cause issues such as diarrhea.
Experts recommend keeping a close eye on your pet rats every time you introduce a new food, including pears.
That said, rats tend to be cautious naturally.
However, it would help if you still controlled what they consume to avoid the potential issues mentioned above.
How do you Feed your Pet?
The best way to feed your pet rat is by ensuring that seeds and pellets make up most of their diet.
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Fruits, such as pears, should only contribute a paltry 10% of what these animals consume.
If your rats have never taken pears, it is advisable to introduce them to their diet gradually.
Ideally, you should start with small amounts and increase it daily.
This process enables the rats’ bodies to slowly adapt to the new diet without experiencing severe side effects.
Keep in mind that rats have smaller throats than humans, which makes them more vulnerable to choking.
For this reason, it is important to chop the fruit into small pieces that are easy to swallow.
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Make sure that you remove all the seeds because they also increase the risk of choking.
Even worse, some contain traces of cyanide, which is a toxic compound.
Lastly, pears can rot or become moldy quickly, especially if the storage methods are inadequate.
These further increase the harmfulness of the fruit.
Conclusion
Pears are a useful addition to your pet rats’ diet.
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However, they can only serve as a nutritional supplement and not a meal replacement.
